Cougars welcome Hebert to the fold
Mar. 17, 2010 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton
The University of Regina Cougars have given one recruit a Royal welcome.
Cougars head coach James Hillis said Tuesday that Riffel Royals point guard Brendan Hebert -- a Regina Intercollegiate Basketball League all-star this season -- has committed to the U of R men's basketball team. Hebert's Canada West career is to begin next season.
"This is a very timely graduation (from high school) for us," Hillis said. "With Paul Schubach graduating (from the U of R this season), we're definitely going to need some help at that position. This is a great opportunity for Brendan and it's a great opportunity for us.
"He's not the biggest guy, but he has demonstrated that he's athletic. I saw him in the Canada Games. He faced full-court pressure all the time and didn't turn (the ball) over -- and he does the same thing in high school."
Next season, the 5-foot-11 Hebert will get an opportunity to do the same thing at the U of R.
"I grew up watching Bryden Wright and Joel Hunter and, more recently, Jamal Williams and Jeff Lukomski and you could say I idolized them," Hebert said, referring to former and current Cougars. "When you grow up watching players like that, you start to think you want to be like them.
"How could you not want to play for the Cougars?"
Hebert has represented Saskatchewan in the Western Canada Summer Games (in 2006) and the Canada Summer Games (2009), as well as in under-15 and under-17 national championships.
He helped Riffel win the 2007 RIBL junior boys city title and reach the '08 junior city final. Hebert and the Royals made it to the 5A senior boys final at the 2009 Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association championship tournament and are in Hoopla again this weekend in Saskatoon.
This season, the 17-year-old averaged 17.7 points (he shot 47.2 per cent from the floor, including 34.3 per cent from behind the arc), 8.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He registered 21 assists in Riffel's 82-74 loss to the LeBoldus Golden Suns on March 10 in the RIBL senior boys third-place game.
Hillis likes the fact Hebert has a pass-first mentality as a point guard, but the head coach also is impressed with Hebert's shooting ability. With Schubach gone, Darius Mole stands to be the Cougars' starting point guard next season.
"We think Darius has something to offer," Hillis said. "(Mole and Hebert) are a little bit different. Brendan shoots the ball better and, in certain situations, we think Brendan can slide over to the wing and shoot it from there."
Hebert said he has to become more consistent with his shot to play at the next level. As well ...
"I've got to get in the gym and get a little bigger and stronger," said the 148-pounder. "I also have to get a feel for the team dynamic."
"He can handle the pace of the play; that's why we're happy to get him," Hillis added. "That's why he had other options. He was recruited by other teams because they saw he can handle the speed of the game at this level."
For one more weekend, though, Hebert will do his utmost at the high school level. Riffel is to open Hoopla on Thursday against Saskatoon's top-seeded team, the Holy Cross Crusaders.
"It's going to be a tough road like last year," said Hebert, whose '09 squad knocked off the Aden Bowman Bears (Saskatoon's top seed) and Balfour Redmen (Regina's second seed) en route to the final -- in which the Royals lost to the Campbell Tartans.
"My mindset is to work as hard as I can and bring as much energy as I can to my team and hope everything falls in place for us."