X-Men basketball season preview

Basketball X-Men shooting for return to playoffs

Antigonish, N.S. – On the strength of a strong recruiting class and the return of its starting five players from last season, the StFX X-Men are shooting for a return to the AUS playoffs.

"We want to get back to playing X-Men basketball, which is a transition game, a lot of ball movement in the half-court offense," head coach Steve Konchalski, who is entering his 42^nd season leading the program, said.

"I think what we have added from last year is – we have the experience back, which is important, with the nucleus of seniors and juniors that we have; the two transfers that we have coming in are going to be immediate impact guys, for sure, and the freshmen have great potential.

"We have added depth and outside shooting to what we had last year," he added.

This season, Konchalski noted, his "biggest focus," in the early going and throughout the season, is "our off the court, locker room, general team culture."

"Keeping our focus on team goals and creating harmony within the group. I don't think I did a good enough job in the last couple seasons in that area," he said.

"I think there's a number of reasons why we have had a couple of uncharacteristic years for our program the last two years [no playoffs], but certainly one of them is that we have to build on is winning in the locker room having the right combination of guys that are playing for each other and playing the right way."

Back in the line-up

Leading the way will be senior Kevin Bercy (Kanata, ON), a 6'7" forward, who averaged a double-double last season in points (18) and rebounds (10). He was the only player in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's basketball to accomplish that feat.

"He had a great season last year, coming off injury (back)," Konchalski said, noting Bercy averaged the most rebounds per game in the conference.

"He has worked really, really hard on his game. He has gotten bigger and stronger, worked on his outside shot.

"We are, for sure, expecting some big things from Kevin. He is our leader, no doubt about it. He is our leader, on the court, and certainly one of our leaders, off the court," he added.

Another key senior anchoring the X-Men's starting line-up will be 6'3" guard Julius Antoine (Woodbridge, ON), who averaged 16 points, five rebounds and three assists last season.

"The last two years we were really counting on him to score the ball for us," Konchalski said.

"He plays a very aggressive game, offensively, and gets to the foul line a lot, which obviously is a big factor. Julius plays bigger than his size; he is really aggressive and will get to the offensive boards, as well."

Davonte Provo (East Preston, NS), a 6'0 senior point guard, averaged an AUS second-best 6.3 assists per game last season, while adding eight points.

"He came into his own last year and, I think, he has continued his development, going into his fourth year, as well. He gives us experience at that point guard position," Konchalski said.

Cameron Walker (Dallas, TX), a 6'7" forward, will also don the blue and white for a fourth season.

"He has been a workhorse for us for the last three years – he gives you everything he has every night," Konchalski said of the veteran, who averaged 10 points and six rebounds last season.

"Cameron has come back for his senior year in great shape and poised to be a leader, on and off the court."

Lightning quick Akil Charles (Glenn Dale, Maryland), who rounded out the X-Men's starting five last year, will return for his second season.

"He is one of the fastest players in the league and he can get to the rim. I think that's one of the things he did, when he came back off his injury," Konchalski said of the 6'0 guard, who averaged nine points per game in 2015-16.

"I don't think it is a coincidence that we, kind of, went 0-for-January when he was out with his broken hand. When he came back, we were a different team."

Konchalski noted Charles averaged six points or so per game, up until he was injured.

"In the month of February, in the last seven games, when he returned, he averaged 15 points a game, so he was key for us and he will continue to be so this year," he said.

Topping the list of other returnees for the X-Men is 6'2" sophomore shooting guard Tristen Ross (Truro, NS), a member of the AUS all-rookie team.

"I was disappointed, in a way, in the second half of the year. In the first half of the year, he busted out and showed everybody that he could shoot the ball, but then everybody else in the league knew he could shoot the ball, and they played him accordingly," Konchalski said, noting Ross "didn't make the necessary adjustments to compensate for opposing teams leaning on his three-point shot."

"But, over the summer, he has worked really hard building up his body. He can now get to the rim and he is a tougher player to defend now that he is multi-dimensional, as opposed to just a three-point shooter."

Daniel Passley (Mississauga, ON), a 6'6" junior forward, returns for his second campaign with StFX.

"After consuming a year of eligibility at Guelph, but not really playing because of some health issues, he wasn't eligible until November [of last season] and it really took him a while to get into any kind of a groove," Konchalski said.

"Like Akil, he had some big games, down the stretch, including an 18-point game in a win over Saint Mary's, where he showed his three-point shot, and also a 10-plus rebound game against Memorial, which also showed his toughness inside.

"Daniel is going to give us that inside-outside presence off the bench," he added.

Junior guard Jason Hatch (Arzo, Switzerland), off the bench, will continue to provide "high energy" for the X-Men, particularly when they unleash their pressure defense.

"He really triggers those pressure defenses with his athleticism, his hard-nosed effort," Konchalski said, describing Hatch as "a great locker room guy and practice player."

"He brings a lot more to the table than his stats show, in terms of his overall contribution to the team."

Rounding out the list of returning players is 6'1" junior guard Cameron Crieghtney (Toronto, ON), who Konchalski described as a "tenacious defender."

"Cameron is caught in that combo guard situation, where he is not really a point guard, he is not really a shooting guard, but I think he has adjusted to it. I think he is playing at a lot more consistent level than he has in the past," the veteran bench boss said.

"I have a lot more confidence in him going into the season than perhaps in past years. I think he has picked up his game. Even though he is kind of a 'tweener,' between the 1 and the 2, he understands his role, off the bench, a lot better." 

New in blue and white

Highlighting the recruiting class for the X-Men is Nick Russell (Mississauga, ON).

"He is going to be a special player," Konchalski said.

While recruiting Russell, he noted he "didn't have a lot of hope that we were going to get him."

"I figured he would land somewhere in the U.S. at maybe a Division 1 [school] but, if not, I thought, for sure, a Division 2 or junior college because Nick is something we don't see in Canada that much – a 6'7" wing player that can really shoot the three," Konchalski said.

"He is a lefty and he is long. He has got a huge upside, especially as he puts on some physical strength, which is what is holding him back, as is the case with 90 per cent of the freshmen that come into your program; he has to develop his body.

"But, again, he is going to be a special player for us," he added.  

Gavin Pearce (Scarborough, ON), a 6'4" junior wing, arrives in Antigonish after two seasons with Northwest Kansas Junior College.

"He brings some experience and some toughness," Konchalski said, noting his use as a "role player" in the United States.

"Gavin is a really hard-nosed defender, a physical player. I think his strength will be getting to the offensive boards, guarding some tough, physical perimeter players. He is athletic in the transition and he is a great team guy, as well.

"He brings a lot to the table. Again, it may not show up in stats – he is not a guy who is going to average 15 or 20 points a game, but he is a player who is going to do the little things," he added.

Mark Fernandes (Calgary, AB), a 5'11" point guard, is a transfer from Keyano College in Alberta, where he played two seasons.

"He is a heady guy who plays smart. He is one of the hardest workers; he is a gym rat, who is in there all the time and always trying to improve his game," Konchalski said, noting the player's shooting ability.

"At the point guard position, he is clearly our best outside shooter. He doesn't get to the rim as much and as well as some bigger guys might, but, at the same time, he is really crafty and knows how to run an offense."

Nick McKee (Newmarket, ON), a 6'5" forward, is one of four true freshmen joining the club this season.

"He is, kind of, a wide body player that I recruited because of his savvy and also the fact that he is an extremely vocal player. He is very vocal, not only off but also on the court. He is constantly encouraging his team-mates, calling out defensive assignments and so forth," Konchalski said, noting, at this point, conditioning is an issue for McKee.

"I think he is a very good player, who has an exceptional feel for the game, in terms of – especially passing the basketball. He distributes the ball as well as any big man that we have had in a while. Again, the issue, right now, is getting Nick into condition to play at this level and the speed that we are going to play at."    

Justin Andrew (Hamilton, ON), a 6' shooting guard, was a team-mate of Russell's at Hill Academy prep school in Brantford.

"He is a shooter, and you can't have too many of those. He is going to add to our firepower," Konchalski said, adding Andrew is one of the players who will contribute to the X-Men improving their long-range shooting.

The final piece of the Class of 2016 for the X-Men is Azaro Roker, a 6'6" forward, who Konchalski said is a "high flyer" with "sky is the limit" potential.

"He was a late pick-up, who I didn't find out until just around the time of our basketball camp in early August. I had interest from several, kind of, small forward type of players that I didn't feel were the right fit for us. But, when Azaro came to my attention, I recruit him hard, right away," the head coach said, noting he was looking for one more front court player to fill out the roster.

 "He is a great kid, who has a tremendous upside. He is as good an athlete as we have ever had here in my 42 years. He is a little raw; he is only 19 years of age. He needs to build up his body and just refine some of his skills, but the raw potential is there and he plays hard; he has got a high motor. When you have a kid who is an athlete, with a high motor and a willingness to learn, you have a great future ahead of you for that particular skill set.

"We are excited about Azaro and what he is going to bring to our program. He is certainly going to bring some excitement to Oland Centre, with his jumping ability," Konchalski added. 

Pre-season action

The X-Men will be tested when they tip-off the pre-season this weekend at the Stu Aberdeen Memorial Tournament, hosted by the rival Acadia Axemen, in Wolfville.

On Friday, Sept. 30, at 8:15 p.m., they will play the host team, while the Laval Rouge et Or will be the opposition Saturday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. The X-Men will wrap up the tournament with a match-up against the defending CIS champion Carleton Ravens Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m.

Along with the Ravens and Rouge et Or, the X-Men will face a pair of highly-ranked CIS powers from last season – the Brock Badgers and McMaster Marauders – in early October pre-season play.

The X-Men will host the annual StFX Invitational Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15, at Oland Centre.

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