LATE BLOOMER
Osayande playing key role in the paint for Highlanders.
Shane Osayande admits the matchups in the paint have been tough every game in his first National Basketball League of Canada season, but the Toronto native has stepped up.
“It’s been a good transition,” said the 6-6 forward with the Cape Breton Highlanders. “I think my (university) coach, Barry Rawlyk, really got me prepared. My teammates, everybody is good in this league, everybody wants it, and everybody’s physical.”
Osayande said his Nigerian father, Bright, wanted him to focus more on academics than sports, which is why he only started playing in his Grade 12 year for the Father Henry Carr Crusaders in Toronto. He credits his early coaches who taught him the game of basketball. He moved on to play at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was an all-Canadian with the Huskies.
Osayande also wanted to follow
in his older brother’s footsteps, Amen Osayande, who played pro overseas.
“Once I started, a lot of coaches used to tell me I had raw talent and the potential,” said Shane. “I was just working on it, working on skills, my footwork and being a sponge, just trying to soak in everything you can from the coaches, alumni, and veterans.
“I feel like the sky’s the limit and if I keep continuing putting in the work, anything can happen.”
Highlanders coach Rob Spon said Osayande has done well to catch on to the pro game in his rookie season. He’s come off the bench to lead the team — and is seventh in the league — with 8.3 boards per game, while putting up 10.9 points per game.
His 10 blocks are sixth most in the NBL of Canada.
“From Day 1, he works hard, he goes to the boards. He’s got a good shot that’s starting to fall for us, but his intensity, he’s playing hard,” said Spon. “He knows he can guard in this league.”
The Highlanders (2-7) will look for a full game effort tonight and Wednesday when they host the Moncton Magic (5-5) for back-to-back games at Centre 200. Tonight’s tipoff is at 7 p.m., with Wednesday’s special youth day game to get underway at 11 a.m.
Cape Breton hope to contain a veteran Moncton squad that includes the likes of top gun Terry Thomas (24.4 PPG) and
the league’s all-time leading scorer, Anthony Anderson. But they’ll need a consistent effort over four quarters, something that was lacking in Sunday’s 113-109 overtime loss to the Niagara River Lions. The Highlanders held a 60-50 lead at the half and was up by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, but the Lions roared back in the second half.
“Our defence has to be there for four quarters,” said Spon. “Consistency with defence and getting stops is key.”
NOTES: The Highlanders will be without Jamal Reynolds (fractured fingers), who’s out three weeks, and leading scorer Haakim Johnson (illness).