U.B.C. swingman Kyle Russell was named recipient of the Moser. It’s often said that great players respond when their team is most in need. Over the course of the current basketball campaign, U.B.C. guard Kyle Russell has repeatedly met that stern test, never more significantly than in the Canada West championship game against Alberta, when he poured in 43 points to lead the Thunderbirds to the title and a berth in the national championships. The Moser capped a circuitous basketball journey which took the Richmond native from the tutelage of legendary Colts coach Bill Drisbow to the hardwood courts of the University of Calgary (1996-97), the University of Northern Arizona (redshirt 1997-98), Utah’s Snow College (1998-99) and then the University of San Diego (1999-2000) before joining coach Kevin Hanson’s Thunderbirds for the past two seasons. “I’m honored,” Russell said in an interview, adding the award was the ultimate validation of his travels. “It just kind of felt like it was right for me to come back. When I heard that Kev got the job at U.B.C., that was a big part of it. I knew playing for him would be a lot of fun.” Although undergoing surgery to trim cartilage and remove a cyst from his knee prior to the start of the current campaign and missing seven weeks of the season, Russell led the CIS in scoring with a 25.6 points per game average and was selected Canada West MVP for putting up even more impressive league numbers, including 29.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Important though those numbers might be, Russell would trade them for the Thunderbird’s third national title, but first since 1972. Second-seeded U.B.C. will open its bid for the national crown today with a quarter-final match against seventh-seed Guelph. Thunderbirds coach Kevin Hanson said the Moser award validated Russell’s decision to return to Canada. “Kyle’s done an awful lot for our program and for myself. I’ve really appreciated him, a guy that went down to the States and had a decent career down there but coming back, can honestly say now, he had a career at U.B.C. I’m very proud of his accomplishments. To get player of the year, you have to be a special type of person, a special type of player and that’s exactly what Kyle is. He’s such a competitor. He brings it to the floor every day and he competes in practice. He competes in the classroom. He competes at every facet of life,” Hanson said. “A different personality comes out of him on the basketball court. I classify him as a complete winner. He does what it takes to win.” Hanson added that Russell’s contribution to the team measured well beyond the numbers that registered on the scoresheet. “He’s the guy that’s diving on the floor for loose balls and when things aren’t going our way, he really is a coach out on the floor. When the guys need to hear it, he certainly gives it to them. Some guys are task leaders and some are social leaders. He’s both of those. Kyle, during his whole career, has been able to get it done.” But Russell claims he’s tempering that competitive streak and becoming more mellow with age. “I’m an intense person. Just anything I do I kind of throw myself whole-heartedly into it. And I’m like that in basketball too. That’s just one part of my life. But as I’ve aged, I’ve realized what’s important and when competitiveness can be detrimental. Sometimes it’s stupid to be competitive over little things. I’m starting to realize that balance.” Russell adds that he hopes to take his special brand of leadership overseas next season. “I’m going to try to sign a pro contract somewhere. I’ll try out for Team Canada this summer and then if someone wants me somewhere in Europe next year, I’ll go. If they don’t, then who knows? Maybe I’ll go to India or something like that.”
Carleton coach Dave Smart was awarded the Aberdeen, vindicating the faith of Raven fans, who long believed it was only a matter of time before the fourth-year coach began collecting national laurels and titles as readily as kids pocket rocks. Smart noted his award was a reflection of the effort of his players. “It’s a team award rather than an individual award. All I really did was recruit quality kids.” Ravens assistant coach Bill Arden said winning the Aberdeen was a tribute to Smart’s work ethic. “He’s technically sound and he doesn’t want his own lack of preparation to be the reason. He watches video religiously. We’re as prepared for games as any team in the country is. And he doesn’t seem to get lazy or complacent with success.” Since assuming Carleton’s helm four years ago, the Queen’s graduate has posted a 61-5 record in OUA play and an overall record of 81-16. Carleton has captured the last three OUA East regular season titles, with Smart collecting the loop’s coach of the year award in each of those campaigns. The Ravens entered the CIS draw as OUA champs, winning the regular season title with a 21-1 record, defeating Guelph in the Wilson Cup, and sporting a glittering overall record of 32-2.
York forward Dan Eves was named the Mullins winner. The 6-7 forward from Barrie averaged 12.3 ppg and 5.23 rpg as he earned OUA East rookie of the year laurels. The kinesiology student was an instant starter for the yeomen and finished second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding.
Joining Russell as 1st team All-Canadians were: Robbie Smart (Carleton); Michael Ayanbadejo (Guelph); Phil Scherer (Alberta); and Gabriel Goree (St. Mary’s). …………………………………………………… Smart, a Napanee native, stepped up from all-Canadian second-team recognition in 2001 and all-Canadian honorable mention in 2002. The fifth-year MBA student averaged 15 points and five assists per game in leading the Ravens to a 31-1 record. “It’s nice to get the recognition. But there’s something else I’d like (a national title),” Smart said. Smart was a three-time OUA East first-team all-star and the league’s MVP in 2001. …………………………………………………… Ayanbadejo, a Guelph native. …………………………………………………… Scherer, a St. Albert native. …………………………………………………… Goree, a Halifax native.
The 2nd team selections were: Jim Grozelle (Western); Ryan French (York); Charles Fortier (Laval); Adam Friesen (Trinity Western); and Brenan Schwartz (Regina). …………………………………………………… French, a Burlington native, was selected OUA East MVP. …………………………………………………… Grozelle, a Ridgetown, Ontario native. …………………………………………………… Fortier, from Amos, Quebec. …………………………………………………… Friesen, from Abbotsford. …………………………………………………… Schwartz, from Regina, was selected MVP of the Great Plains division of Canada West and finished eighth in conference scoring. He topped playoff scorers with 19.8 ppg. Regina head coach James Hillis said that Schwartz — over his five seasons with the Cougars — was “one of the purest scorers I’ve ever coached. At times, he was unguardable. He had some of the greatest games and greatest halves I’ve ever seen. He scored 36 points in a half against Winnipeg (in the 2002 playoffs). He created shots for himself and he was a good enough passer that he created shots for his teammates as well.”
Honorable mention was awarded to: Pasha Bains (Simon Fraser); Graham Hewitt (McMaster); Kevin Dulude (R.M.C.); Phil Miguel (Bishop’s) and Dan Zapior (Lakehead). …………………………………………………… Hewitt, from Hamilton. …………………………………………………… Bains, from Richmond. …………………………………………………… Dulude, from Ottawa. …………………………………………………… Miguel, from Aylmer, Quebec. …………………………………………………… Zapior was also named recipient of the Ken Shields-TSN award for athletics, academics and community involvement. The fifth-year forward closed out his career as Lakehead’s all-time leading scorer with 2303 points. The Thunder Bay native was second in the OUA and third in the country in scoring with 22.21 points per game, fifth in the conference in rebounds with 9.54 per game (8th CIS), and 16th in blocks with 13. He was named an OUA West first team all-star and participated in charities ranging from a ‘learn-to-read’ literacy promotion campaign and a basketball camp work, including a ‘Hoops for Hunger’ program.