The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team received an early Christmas present Monday when southern Alberta product Scott Mazutinec verbally committed to play for the Horns for the 2016-17 season.

Mazutinec, from Stirling, AB, is a six-foot-four inch guard who starred for the U17 Alberta team this past summer, averaging 18.7 points and 5.8 rebounds at the U17 Nationals in Halifax.

"Scott is another terrific southern Alberta talent and we're ecstatic that he chose to stay home to play basketball,” says Pronghorns head coach Mike Hansen. “His size and athleticism are rare in high school and he will fit well into our style of play and positionless basketball.”

Hansen says that as much as Mazutinec is a talented athlete, his off-the-court attributes played a big role in his recruitment.

“What drew us to Scott more than his basketball skills was his outstanding character, his grit, and the way he fit with our team culture,” says Hansen. “He proved this past summer at U17 Nationals that he can compete with anyone in the country and I can't wait to start coaching him."

Mazutinec led the Stirling Lakers to 2A zone and provincial championships in grade 11 and averaged 25 points and eight rebounds per game last year, his Grade 12 season. He was also named a Deep South Basketball League first team all-star.

Mazutinec is a second generation Pronghorn, following in his father Darren’s footsteps, who played for the men’s hockey team from 1985 to 1989. Scott’s sister Kylie also suited up for the women’s basketball team last season.

The Horns are on semester break but will travel to Winnipeg to compete in the Wesmen Classic, December 28-30. The Horns first home game in 2016 will be January 22 when they host the University of Manitoba Bisons.