Darren Zary
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
The Saskatchewan Rattlers are taking their game beyond the arc to Regina.
When the Canadian Elite Basketball League team holds training camp next week, part of it will be held in the Queen City for the very first time.
Training camp will open May 7-8 in Saskatoon before heading south to Regina May 9-10. The team returns to the Bridge City to conclude training camp prior to their CEBL season-opener May 15 against the Vancouver Bandits at SaskTel Centre.
The Rattlers — who already include associate head coach Steve Burrows and U Sports development player Isaac Simon from Regina — are looking to spread out across Saskatchewan and improve their provincial identity while working on their “perimeter” game.
They’ll also be looking to improve on their 6-14 record from last season and get back into the playoffs.
General manager Barry Rawlyk says they are pretty optimistic about the guys they’ve assembled — calling it “a blend of players that we’re going to be able to play to a specific style.
“We want to be a defensive-oriented team, a team that can get out and play fast and run, and a group that’s going to be unselfish — not the type of players that we’re used to being real ball-heavy, and having the ball in their hands all the time,” Rawlyk says, stressing that they’ll have the ability to share the ball offensively.
“Through the interviews I’ve had with these guys — I’ve talked to them pretty extensively through the off-season, just to know them — I’m really pleasantly surprised about their enthusiasm for coming to Saskatchewan, and being here and getting this whole thing going. I think there’s some chemistry that’s building amongst the group, even though we’re not all together yet. They’re coming in with the proper attitude that hopefully can be sustained throughout the course of the season.”
Among the holdovers are Simon, Cody John, Jaden Bediako and Anthony Tsegakele. The Rattlers also welcome back forward Shane Osayande, a CEBL veteran who returns to the squad after a stint with the Winnipeg Sea Bears.
Among the newcomers is guard Jamir Chaplin, who spent time in the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks organizations. He’s joined by NBA G League veteran Nate Pierre-Louis, Australian import Grant Anticevich, Dondre Reddick, Deon Ejim and Elijah Ifejeh, plus U Sports developmental draft picks Declan Peterson (Calgary Dinos) and Easton Thimm (Saskatchewan Huskies) as new additions announced so far.
A couple more players are expected to be announced in the next few days.
Rawlyk expects team strengths to be an ability to play fast and defend.
“I think that’s something that we’re going to be able to do,” Rawlyk says, while adding that another team strength will be an ability to share the basketball.
“Some people don’t like the way the game has evolved, myself included, where it’s become kind of a two-man game — where it’s really become ball-heavy dependent between a guard and a big (forward) and that’s kind of how they play.”
A year ago, the Rattlers began the season with an impressive roster that featured the likes of former NBAer Jalen Harris, current NBA Utah Jazz prospect Elijah Harkless, Italy national-team player Grant Basile, NBA G League signee Emmanuel Bandoumel, G League vet Bryson Williams and Maurice Calloo, along with John, Tsegakele, Simon as well as Adong Makuoi and Julian Roche.
The team got off to a great start and looked to be a championship contender early on.
Unfortunately for the Rattlers, a number of players left for other basketball opportunities and a promising season quickly derailed.
The Rattlers look to keep their core group intact this season.
“That was part of the vetting process,” Rawlyk says.
“We knew there was a strong chance, not a perfect chance — because other opportunities do arise — but one of the things we placed a priority on were players we thought we could maintain throughout the season. I think we found guys like that.
“Jamir is an example. He has played at a very high level. He was in the NBA with the Mavericks but got injured and didn’t play this last season, and hasn’t been playing for a significant amount of time. So I think that’s unfortunate for him that it’s limited some of his opportunities right now, but I think he also sees this as being a platform for him to develop himself and get back into the highest level of play.”
The Rattlers will open camp with 11 to 15 players, as some are still finishing up their winter seasons in Europe or Australia.
dzary@postmedia.com
