The offensive potential of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team in 2015-16 has received a major shot in the arm. Head coach Scott Clark and the WolfPack are pleased to announce that 19 year old guard Kaleel Faiz (pronounced Fay-z) of Toronto, Ontario has committed to the program effective immediately. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] Kaleel Faiz (photo courtezsy of Olds College Athletics)[/caption] Faiz was one of the top scorers in the Alberta College Athletic Conference with the Olds College Broncos. The 6’3” graduate of Vaughn Road Academy in Toronto led the league in scoring averaging 22.46 points per game and scoring 584 points overall.  He was 10 th in the ACAC Southern Division in three point field goals made per game (1.69) and in steals per game (1.42). He was also the Basketball Alberta rookie of the year and a first team A.C.A.C all-star. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="604"] Faiz dribbles up court (photo courtesy of Olds College Athletics)[/caption] “It was a very positive experience,’ Faiz said about his visit to Kamloops and Thompson Rivers in April. “ The campus is very modern and spacious. The city felt welcoming.  It was clean and the air was fresh: different from where I’m from. It seems like a good environment for school and basketball. The players were very positive when I interacted with them. I’m looking forward to knowing them better and adding to the winning atmosphere I see Coach Clark is putting together.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="427"] Faiz goes to hoop (Photo: Olds College Athletics)[/caption] Faiz will be taking courses aimed at securing a Bachelor of Business Administration at TRU. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] WolfPack head coach Scott Clark (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] “Kaleel is a very skilled player and fits into the mold of what we want our WolfPack players to be,’ states Clark. “ He is a good person and a good player.  I have to give credit to Joe (Enevoldson, TRU assistant coach) who was the key person in recruiting him to come to TRU.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="427"] TRU Assistant coach Joe Enevoldson (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] “When you are recruiting you research all avenues to find good players,” said Enevoldson, who got word of Faiz who played in Olds this past year for his friend, Olds coach Ben Julius.  “Ben told me we have a guy I should look at.  Ben likes to help his players be the best they can as student/athletes.  I saw him Kaleel play a couple of times during the end of the season and his first round playoff game. “ [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="426"] Olds coach Ben Julius (photo: Olds College Athletics)[/caption] In that playoff game, Faiz scored 41 points in a victory over the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. “He can really score,” Enevoldson stated. “They ran some different stuff than we do so there will be an adjustment there.  He is very good.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="427"] Brett Rouault (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] Enevoldson believes Faiz comes to TRU at a good time. “He fills a hole with Rou (Brett Rouault) and Parker (Brett Parker) graduating.  Those were two pretty big pieces of our puzzle. His scoring ability is similar to that of Rou.  We are looking forward to seeing how he performs in our system.” Clark says the reaction from his returning players when Faiz had his visit was positive. “He and the guys seemed to hit it off right away.  Where we are in the program, chemistry is key.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="429"] Faiz with the lay in (photo contributed)[/caption] “I look forward to building trust with the players and coaches both on and off the court,” Faiz explains.  “It is really important to me that I do that. The chance to be a role model with the WolfPack’s community efforts is another thing I am looking forward to being a part of.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="439"] Faiz in game action with Olds (photo contributed)[/caption] Faiz had a season total of 42.1 per cent for field goals and 70.1 per cent from the free throw line. He averaged 3.19 rebounds per game (83), and 3.04 assists per game.  Olds College finished fourth in the ACAC South Division with a record of 14-10. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] fellow TRU recruit Evan Helgason[/caption] He becomes the ‘Pack’s third recruit for the coming year joining Evan Helgason (guard, Kamloops, BC) and Jeff Tubbs (guard, Kelowna, BC). “Even though Kaleel has a year of college experience that doesn’t necessarily mean that he will move ahead of anyone on the depth chart,” Clark explains. “Everyone comes in at the same level. Playing time will be determined on how well and how hard each player works on his game and conditioning during the off season.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="427"] Reese Pribilsky will go into his fifth year in 2015-16 (Huskie Athletics)[/caption] “Does he have the capabilities of being a very good basketball player in our program? Absolutely,” states Enevoldson.  “Knowing who we lose the following year- Josh (Wolfram, forward, Kamloops, BC),  Reese (Pribilsky, guard, Victoria, BC) and Gerard (Gore, forward, St. John’s, Antiqua). Again, three components. This is a year where we can really bring in guys and nurture them.  In two years, we aren’t doing the exact same thing: recruiting five or six guys.   Depth will be huge for us.”