Tommies Men's Basketball Season Preview
Season Preview: Men’s Basketball team eyeing a bounce back year with a re-tooled roster
Last season was an up and down one for the St. Thomas University (STU) Men’s Basketball team. The squad started the year on a high note, winning three of their first six games and finished the first half with a .500 record. However, things changed when the Tommies entered the second half of the season.
STU went 5-7 down the stretch. The team lost their final two games of the season at home to the Crandall Chargers, but not before winning four matches in a row. The team finished the season with eight wins and ten losses.
The squad were narrowly defeated in the quarterfinals.
Fast forward to the 2025-26 ACAA season. Despite having a lot of turnover on their roster, the Men’s Basketball team has re-tooled and is ready to make a run for the title. They are also on a mission to bounce back from last season’s disappointing result.
John Hickey is the head coach of the STU Men’s Basketball team. He has been in the position for the past seven seasons. He believes the team has grown as a group during the offseason and is coming in with a “shared vision” of success.
“Returning players and new recruits alike logged countless hours in the gym and the weight room to ensure they were in the best position to compete this fall,” he said. “As a group, we must trust the work we do every day and believe it is putting us in the best position to compete and battle any adversity that comes our way. Our depth and our shared vision put us on the best path to do this.”
Three players from last season’s squad have moved on from the program. Those included Owen Amos, Ethan Tumwine and Noah McCarthy. McCarthy was the Tommie’s Player of the Year last season.
To offset the losses, STU brought in five recruits during the offseason. All five will wear the green and gold for the first time in their basketball careers.
Jeven Eddy and Jeremy Coria played down the hill for the UNB Reds Men’s Basketball team last season. Meanwhile, Ceejay Hanson played for the Cape Breton University Capers, and Marcus Wilson came from the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George.
Jack Gimby, the team’s only true rookie, comes to the Tommies after having success at both the high school and provincial levels of basketball.
Joining the recruits will be eight players from last year’s roster.
Hickey thinks the recruits brought in during the offseason are high quality individuals. For the team, bringing in players who are dedicated to the program on and off the court is of paramount importance. He also believes the newcomers bring a unique range of skills and backgrounds.
STU also added a new face behind the bench. Will Boomer was named an assistant coach for the team. He replaces Kenny-Jean Louis, who was with the program since 2022.
“Our roster has great depth and versatility. These factors, with our style of play, mean that anyone can have an impact and be a key player on any given night. Our group’s experience combined with the influence of key veterans...give us a great foundation for leadership,” said Hickey. “This allows for anyone to step up and lead by voice or example.”
Evan Valanne is a fifth-year forward for the Tommies. He is someone who Hickey will rely on this season to be a difference maker and provide veteran leadership.
During his five seasons with the green and gold, Valanne has been to the finals on three ocassions, with no wins to show for his efforts. Therefore, the hope this season will end with a trip to Nationals.
Valanne felt last season was “underwhelming” for him and the rest of the squad. He through the squad weren’t able to string together the solid play to get to their desired goal. At the same time, STU featured a young roster that allowed players to get experience in larger roles on the court.
This experience has shown itself in the early part of this season.
“We believe that we have a team to compete for a championship,” he said. “And as long as we stay after that common goal, come March, we will be a tough team to beat.”
One of the challenges Valanne feels will plague the team is getting used to playing together. STU brought in five new players, each working to play in bigger roles this season. Having such a large roster turnover is causing the team to focus much of their attention on learning everyone’s playing style.
This challenge is something that Valanne thinks will grow and improve as the season progresses. Every new player has brought a different element that others may not have.
“It’s still early, but practices and games have been very competitive, and guys are getting after each other,” said Valanne. “Obviously, there is still a lot to improve on but I think with time, some of those challenges will go away.”
Valanne, as well as Hickey, shared similar messages to Tommies fans. They want everyone to go to the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium to watch some top-notch action this season. The support the team has received only helps the team perform at a high level.
Two hundred fans packed into “the Pit” can sound like five hundred.
“Our team loves to get out in transition, and the gym is always filled with a ton of energy. It’s also just a fun team to play with and to watch,” said Valanne. “I think our playing style is entertaining for anyone.”
The Tommies start their season with a pair of games this weekend. Saturday will feature a game against the MSVU Mystics at four, while Sunday offers an afternoon tilt against the UKC Blue Devils. Tip-off is at three.
By: Leo Czank