JEANTY TAKES HOME EAST MVP HONOURS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

HAMILTON, Ont. – The 2005-2006 Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, has once again been a dominate force on the court in 2007. As the Carleton Raven’s men’s basketball team fight to retain their national champion status, fifth year guard, Osvaldo Jeanty (Gloucester, Ontario) has, for the second consecutive year, been honoured as the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East Most Valuable Player and first-team all-star. Jeanty has unquestionably been the leader of the Ravens, helping them to a 19-3 record, and the east division regular season leaders. The Commerce major finished sixth in league scoring with an average of 17.14 points per game and thirteenth in assists with an 3.10 points per game average, while he boasts an 82.1 free throw percentage.

Toronto Varsity Blue’s forward Mike Williams (Brampton, Ontario) has also for the second consecutive season been named the East Defensive Player of the Year following an exceptional campaign. The Varsity Blues continue to be one of the best defensive teams in the OUA allowing just 63.45 points per game (fifth in the CIS) and Williams is a large contributor at the defensive end of the court for his team. A 6’6 Phys Ed major, Williams finished the season with team highs 146 rebounds, 27 steals, and 47 blocks, as he led Toronto to a 15-7 record, good enough for third place in the east division.

The Ken Shields Nominee for the east division, presented annually to the CIS student-athlete who best exhibits outstanding achievement in basketball, academics and community involvement has been awarded to Ottawa Gee-Gees Alex McLeod (Lindsay, Ontario). In his fifth year McLeod is Ottawa’s all team leading scorer, and is the all time three point field goal leader. He has captained the Gee-Gee’s for five years and has been instrumental in helping rebuild the Gee-Gees into a top ten program in the CIS. McLeod is currently working towards finishing law school and continues to showcase his impressive leadership skills. He is the coordinator of the Gee-Gees visits to elementary schools in the Ottawa Region and has participated in over 20 visits in the last three years. McLeod has taken his younger teammates under his wing and leads them in study hall providing valuable support. On the court McLeod finished the season with a 10.9 points per game average and also tallied 46 assists, 15 steals and 52 rebounds to lead the Gee-Gees to an 18-4 record and second place in the OUA east division.

Boris Bakovic (Toronto, Ontario) was a welcomed addition to a struggling Ryerson Rams men’s basketball team. In just his first year of OUA competition Bakovic finished fifth in OUA scoring averaging 17.43 points per game, and was second in the OUA in rebounds pulling down 210 on the year. He was a constant defensive threat on the court, as 143 of his rebounds were on the defensive glass, and he also tallied 31 steals and 14 blocks. Wasting no time making his mark on the OUA, Bakovic will be a player to watch in the coming years.

Joining Jeanty on the first team all-stars is York powerhouse Dan Eves (Barrie, Ontario). In his third all-star appearance Eves did not disappoint in 2007. Eves finished the season third in OUA scoring averaging 19.85 points per game, and his accuracy is what sets him apart, shooting an impressive 53.5 percent from the field. 2005-2006 OUA East Rookie of the Year, Josh Gibson Bascombe (Ottawa, Ontario) also joins Eves on the first-team all-stars. Finishing the season with a 14.5 points per game average, Gibson Bascombe also lead the league in steals with an average of 2.7 a game. Aaron Doornekamp (Odessa, Ontario) makes his second consecutive appearance on the first-team all-stars as he had a phenomenal year playing along side Jeanty, finishing with a 12.8 points per game average. Rounding out the first-team is Ben Katz (Toronto, Ontario) who makes his first appearance on the all-star list. Katz lead the Varsity Blues in points per game (13.1) and also hauled down 104 rebounds on the year.

Ottawa Gee-Gees Head Coach Dave Deaveiro has been named the East Coach of the Year, as recognized by his peers. Deaveiro led the Gee-Gees an 18-4 record for the second consecutive year, and a birth into the east division final to date in the playoffs. Most notably, Deaveiro lead the Gee-Gees to a regular season series sweep of the dominant Carleton Ravens. The series sweep was a first for Ottawa in over a decade.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Osvaldo Jeanty- Carleton

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Williams- Toronto

KEN SHIELDS AWARD
Alex McLeod- Ottawa

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Boris Bakovic- Ryerson

COACH OF THE YEAR
Dave Deaveiro- Ottawa

FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Osvaldo Jeanty- Carleton
Daniel Eves- York
Josh Gibson Bascombe- Ottawa
Aaron Doornekamp- Carleton
Ben Katz- Toronto

SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Mike Williams- Toronto
Jordan Foebel- York
Alex McLeod- Ottawa
Rohan Steen- York
Curtis Shakespeare- Ottawa

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Boris Bakovic- Ryerson
Mitch Leger- Queen’s
Mike Kenny- Carleton
Andrew MacIntosh- RMC
Jason Hoult- York

24 teams, 4 CIS berths, 2 OUA champions - the OUA basketball playoffs, presented by Investors Group.

- OUA –

Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics

Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca