With the unexpected defeat of the Father Henry Carr Crusaders in league playoffs this past week, J. Clarke Richardson H.S. from Ajax goes in as the number one seed at Quad "A" OFSAA. They had the best record in the province which included wins in six quality tournaments. The also split wins with Carr in two games over the season and had the longest winning streak in Ontario from mid-November to mid-February. No one was talking about them early on in the season and they have clearly supplanted Pickering H.S. as the best program in Durham region this year. Other contenders at Quad "A" in March should be Pickering, d'Youville & Campion H.S. From Peel Region and Toronto schools Oakwood, Eastern Commerce and Mother Teresa. The medals will come from the aforementioned group.

If Loyola survives the GHAC/ROPOSSA playoffs, they will go in as the #1 seed at Triple "A" OFSAA in Kingston. Other contenders should be Toronto's Martingrove, Thornhill's Vaughn H.S., Whitby's Anderson H.S.,, Hamilton's Orchard Park, Brantford's North Park and Sarnia's St. Christopher's providing they all escape unscathed from their various associations.

Two Hamilton area teams have a strong chance at a medal at the Double "A" tournament in Windsor. ACMT has moved up to Double "A" after three winning efforts in the Single "A" tournament and Parkside, with a banged up starting five may survive SOSSA but needs to get healthy in a hurry. Oakville's St. Thomas Aquinas is the darkhorse at Double "A" this year having lost heavily to graduation the year before but may still have enough horses in the barn to grab a medal for first year coach Joe.

The Orchard Park Patriots have a lot to prove on the provincial scene this year after flaming out in two games last year in Ottawa. The Patriots lineup is now healthy and more experienced. Anything less than at least a quarter-final appearance would be a disappointment to Hamilton-area fans.

UNIVERSITY

If Keenan Jeppesen doesn't win the most valuable player award in the OUA West this year then the conference coaches need to be given a saliva test. Jeppesen has clearly been the best player in the conference all season and with his knee injury, the Marauders charge through the conference in January and February came to a screeching halt. Jeppesen is an All-Canadian this year and without his untimely injury in mid-February, would have led the Marauders to the Final Eight in Ottawa in March in my opinion.

Clinton Springer-Williams' 40pt, 13 rebound effort against Laurier late in the season gets him the OUA West Rookie of the Year award in the OUA West and clinches the CIS Rookie of the Year award in the CIS. He is the best high school player to come into the OUA since Sean Van Koughnett back in 1990 at Waterloo. Spoinger-Williams could easily be a four time All-Canadian before he is finished at Brock and perhaps the greatest player in Brock history before he is done.

The OUA East MVP should be a very tight race between Carleton's Kevin McCleary, Ottawa's Josh Gibson-Bascombe and Queen's Mitch Leger. All three are deserving and all three could wind up as CIS All-Canadians.

If York coach Bob Bain is indeed retiring after being at the helm of the Lions/Yeomen for thirty-five years, a tip of the hat is due from the whole Canadian basketball community. Bob has always been an intense but classy coach who had a great deal of success at York. His body of work over a long career speaks for itself. The "Bainner" as he's known around Toronto maybe the longest serving coach at any CIS school I'm aware of. A job well done Bob and the entire basketball community's gratitude for the many young men you have taught along the way.

THE RECRUITING TRAIL

Trinity Western University in Vancouver have commitments from Hamilton REDA centre Lucas Nugteren 6'10" and White Rock Christian Academy swingman Eli Mara 6'3" who is a top five player in B.C. high school ranks. Nugteren is the second quality big man to leave the province of Ontario for the West coast joining Oakville Abbey Park HS 6'9" centre Chris McLaughlin who declared for UVIC in January.

The McMaster Marauders have a commitment from Stoney Creek Orchard Park forward Satar Wahidi 6'6" and appear to be a near lock for his teammate Taylor Black. Both forwards will bring size, athletic ability and scoring potential to the Marauder front line next year.

Hamilton Bishop Ryan forward Cody Anthony-Mazza 6'6" is leaning heavily towards McGill but is still considering Lakehead who have laid a lot of cash on the table with Anthony-Mazza, who is a superb student.

Dundas Parkside H.S. swingman Quinn Henderson 6'3" will chose between Western and McMaster this spring. Quinn's father is on the faculty at McMaster and he can attend with minimal tuition but may want to attend school outside the city.

Loyola H.S. shooting guard Adam Pressuti has told McMaster, Toronto and Ottawa that he will return for a fifth year of high school

University of Toronto Varsity Blues have commitments from Cornell transfer Alex Hill, Toronto Jarvis H.S. guard Aaron Shadrach and Hamitlon Brebeuf guard Matt Savel.

The Calgary Dino's have a commitment from Calgary Sir Winston Churchill centre Brad Clark 6'8", one of the best young big men in Alberta.

Ajax J. Clark Richardson H.S. Guard Aaron Redpath 6'4" is leaning heavily to returning for a fifth year of high school even with a 90% average in grade 12.

Ottawa Gee Gee coach Dave D'Aviero continues to raid Peel Regions schools where he has had much success over the past two year. He is heavily involved with Mississauga H.S. guard Jalmal Jones, the best point guard in the senior class and Mount Carmel H.S. swingman Chris Anderson 6'0".