(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds men’s basketball team is tapping a familiar and well-serving source, adding guard Ben Gilbert to the team’s recruiting class of 2020.
The 19-year-old Gilbert is a product of Calgary’s elite Genesis Basketball program, which also produced current Reds forward and 2019-20 Atlantic University Sport 1st Team All-Star Ibrahima Doumbouya.
“I like the style of play the team has, and how committed they are to each other on the court,” said Gilbert. “I try to be an encouraging teammate and lead by example. I’m ready to push my teammates so that we can achieve our goals.”
Gilbert is finishing his Grade 12 year at Calgary’s renowned Edge School, earning the school’s prestigious Mountaineer Award for performance in academics and sport.
He was part of the Genesis team that won the boys Platinum Division at the club’s 2019 Genesis Classic, one of the most notable high school tournaments in western Canada.
“We like the fact that he’s a proven leader,” said Reds head coach Brent Baker. “Ben gives our program a boost as we build a culture based on strong work ethic and accountability to teammates.”
Previous to his time at Edge School and Genesis, Gilbert was the captain and MVP of the junior boys team at Calgary’s Western Canada High School, earning Western’s Citizenship of the Year Award in his Grade 10 and 11 years. He played with Calgary Basketball Academy teams in 2017 and 2018.
“I’m a floor general,” said Gilbert. “I like to distribute the ball and set up my teammates. I enjoy playing defence and guarding other team’s best players.”
“He’ll definitely compete for minutes at a number of perimeter positions on our squad, and add to our depth,” said Coach Baker.
Among the goals Gilbert has set for his Reds career, winning AUS and U SPORTS championships.
Gilbert will study Business while attending UNB.