The Nipissing Lakers men's basketball team has secured a strong recruit from Northern Ontario who has a connection with its head coach.
The Lakers added Elija Suffel, a small forward who will join the program for the 2021-22 OUA season.
Suffel will join the team after wrapping up his successful career at St. Mary's College in Sault Ste. Marie, which is also the hometown of Lakers bench boss Thomas Cory.
"I chose Nipissing University because Coach Cory has been a mentor to me, they offer the program I wanted to take and it's close to home," Suffel said of the decision to become a Laker.
Enrolling in a BA, with an interest in policing, Suffel comes to the team with a strong resume in the north.
He claimed league MVP in both 2017-18 and 2019-20, he was a tournament all-star in 2018 and 2019 and earned the Rotary Award in the 2019-20 season.
Suffel also finished his high school career with the highest mark in physical fitness and the highest mark in the physical education program.
As a player, Suffel brings a number of different skills to the court.
"I am able to shoot the ball well, finish well at the rim and be quick on my feet," he said.
"I like to include all my teammates during the game and be a team player."
Suffel knows the transition will be a unique challenge, but it's one he's ready for and looking forward to.
And the familiarity with Cory and the coaching staff will go a long way to helping his continued development.
"My expectation as a student-athlete is to excel in school first and basketball second," he said, noting the importance of academics.
"I want to be able to gain the knowledge and skills to be the best player I can be at the university level."
For Cory, the addition of Suffel gives his team a well-rounded player and someone he knows very well, which will help integrate him into the OUA, as well as the team.
"There are a lot of things that we really like about Elijah including his ability to rebound at both ends of the floor and his ability to shoot the three. Elijah's willingness to be coached and pushed will help with his transition to USports," Cory said of his newest recruit.
"Elijah has consistently improved year in and year out. Elijah's dedication to academics the last two years is the place we have seen the biggest growth from him."
