With the Canada West conference schedule just over two months away, University of Lethbridge Prpnghorns men's basketball head coach Mike Hansen is pleased to announce the signing of three players.
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Tyson McIntyre and Jesse Hilleary will join the ‘Horns for the 2014-15 season, while guard Kyle Peterson transfers to the University of Lethbridge from the University of Victoria but will have to sit out the season as per CIS transfer regulations.
Returning to the program after his two-year LDS Church mission, six-foot-six inch forward Tyson McIntyre looks to build off a solid freshman year during the 2011-12 season. As a first-year player, McIntyre averaged four points and 2.6 rebounds per game coming off the bench. Prior to joining the ‘Horns, McIntyre was a standout in the Southern Alberta High School Basketball league as a SAHSBL first team all-star and averaging 18.9 points during his grade 12 season.
“It is great to have Tyson back in our program, he was heavily recruited while on his LDS mission and having him re-commit to the U of L was extremely important to the future of the program,” says Hansen. “He is one of the most athletic players ever to come out of southern Alberta. His ability to play above the rim, his length, and the tenacity with which he plays will create a lot of problems for teams in Canada West.”
Hilleary, a six-foot-four inch guard from Trinity College, a Catholic secondary school in Beenleigh, Queensland, joins the ‘Horns after a short stint with the Trinity Western Spartans in 2012. Hilleary went through the non-conference schedule with the Spartans that season before returning to Australia.
During his final high school season, Hilleary was the top scorer in the Queensland U18 State Championship, averaging 28 points and more than eight rebounds a game in the state final four. He was also named an All-City first team All-Star.
“Jesse has had a long road in trying to fulfill his dream of playing university basketball,” says Hansen. “We’re excited to have him here. He has grit, which is what we look for in all our players, and his ability to shoot the ball helps fill the void of losing Morgan Duce and Alex Fletcher.”
Edmonton product Kyle Peterson transfers to the ‘Horns after two seasons with the Victoria Vikes.
As a freshman at Victoria, the six-foot-two inch point guard started 19 of the Vikes' 22 conference games, averaging 7.5 points and 3.3 assists per game. In his second season with the Vikes, Peterson started all but two games and upped his points to an average of nine per game and finished 12th in the conference in assists with 3.1 per game.
“We’re incredibly thrilled to be welcoming Kyle into our program,” says Hansen. “With the graduation of both Fletcher and Dallon Martin at the point position, we had a huge void to fill and Kyle’s play-making ability and unselfishness are an incredible fit with our program. With two years of CIS experience and two trips to the CIS national tournament under his belt, he is going to step in and be a great leader for our program.”
The ‘Horns will open the Canada West schedule on the road, facing the Brandon Bobcats October 31 and November 1, before returning home the following week to host the Winnipeg Wesmen.