Christmas has come early for the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball team.
Wednesday afternoon the Horns announced they had landed prized recruit Logan Reiter for the 2011-2012 Canada West season. Reiter, an Iron Springs, Alta. native and Picture Butte High School product, is a key contributor to the Lethbridge College Kodiaks program. He'll make the move across the river next fall.
"When you look at the Horns and what we want to do in creating continued success here, we believe it's got to be organically grown from our own community," says Horns head coach Dave Adams. "People in southern Alberta want to support the Kodiaks and the Horns, and we need to give them some reasons to do that."
The Kodiaks have seen a lot of success this season, posting a 9-1 record and earning recognition as one of the top college programs in the country. Reiter, the Kodiaks rookie of the year last season, is averaging 16.5 points, 2.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. The six-foot-one inch guard says he'd always envisioned wearing the blue and gold of the Pronghorns.
"I knew all along that this is where I wanted to be, and it's good to get this decision out of the way before the second semester," he says. "Now I can just focus on playing in the second half."
Reiter says he grew up watching the Horns play.
"I always came to the games when I was young and always wanted to play here – it's been a goal of mine my whole life. I've always been a fan of the U of L and I'm just really excited to be here."
Adams says the positive relationship established between the University and Lethbridge College programs is valuable to both schools and the community as a whole.
"I really love the message this sends to the community. We appreciate, respect and value the work being done by Mike Hansen at Lethbridge College and we want to continue a bridge relationship with them in terms of player development," he says.
Adams also credits Hansen for emphasizing the academic side of the student/athlete equation. Reiter, who is studying business at the college, expects to pursue business and accounting at the U of L.
"Mike's put a focus on academics in his program, on top of the layers of excellence he's added to the program athletically," says Adams. "When players come over here, the courses transfer smoothly. It's really a great opportunity for kids in this area to go get some outstanding coaching, and get the reps in the games that they need to develop before they come over here. Then they're ready to play at the CIS level."