NCAA taps Ont. b-ball talent, says Doug Fox

Kathleen Peroff
Sports Reporter

Basketball talent at Humber isn’t what it used to be as the NCAA has swooped in to recruit local players looking to fulfill their hoop dreams.
In the 1990s, the Humber men’s basketball team won six consecutive provincial titles and five straight national titles. But since then, the talent hasn’t been the same, said athletic director Doug Fox.
“Ontario was a pretty well-kept secret until about 15 years ago,” Fox said. “Humber was used to getting players that would have been eligible today for Division One (NCAA) schools. But, we haven’t had that level of player for a while as a result of the NCAA recruiting them down south.”
Fox said, when it comes to choosing post-secondary education, American and Canadian universities come before Humber.
“We’re that third cousin who’s just trying to keep afloat,” he said.
But, it’s impossible for Humber to compete with the high-powered NCAA because they’re a “machine,” said varsity basketball co-ordinator James DePoe. “They’re always on the hunt.
“We also don’t have near the amount of money they offer for scholarships,” he said.
Humber’s athletic scholarships are based on league rules, said Fox.
“Our athletes can only get a maximum scholarship of $1,000 for first year, $1,200 for second year, $1,500 for a third year and $2,000 for a fourth year. That’s barely enough to make an impact on someone who needs to move into residence and pay tuition,” he said. “But in the States they offer them full scholarships. We’re looking at about $40,000 to $50,000 a year. We just can’t compete with that.”
Darrell Glenn, head coach of the men’s basketball team, said Humber also can’t compete with the exposure students get playing in the NCAA.
“They’re giving kids the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and be discovered. We can’t waste our time chasing students who are set on that one goal of making it big.”
“They all have a dream,” said DePoe. “The NCAA will give them the right exposure and from there, they’re all just chasing the big dream of playing in the NBA.”