Five days before the start of the 2013-14 Canada West season, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team is already looking to the future, adding its first commitment for the 2014-15 season.

First-year Pronghorn bench boss Mike Hansen announced today the signing of local product Mike Pierzchala.

Pierzchala, a six-foot-two guard, is entering his final season of high school basketball with the Winston Churchill Bulldogs and looking to build off a stellar grade 11 campaign. Last season, he was named a Southern Alberta High School Basketball League first team all-star and led the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 21.3 points per game.

"Mike is a versatile and skilled player, which is rare to find in a high school player,” says Hansen. “His work ethic is tremendous and he has continually improved over the past three years.”

During his high school career, Pierzchala has been a part of two Bulldog teams that have earned berths in the Alberta high school provincial championships. During his grade 10 season, the Bulldogs went to 3A provincials and then last season he was part of the first ever Bulldog team to go to the 4A provincials.

In addition to his high school success, Pierzchala represented Alberta this past summer as a member of the Alberta provincial team that competed at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que.

Pierzchala has also played in the Junior Horns program, and attended the Fab 48 tournament in Las Vegas.

“To have Mike commit to us early means a lot to me personally and to our program. Our success has always hinged upon the skill of our local players and Mike is no exception," says Hansen. “He represents a bright future for the Horns."

The Pronghorns will open the Canada West season this weekend with road games against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades and Trinity Western University Spartans.