Locking it down
Campbell brings defensive mentality to Island Storm training camp
Alex Campbell is looking to bring defensive toughness to the Island Storm this season.
The 25-year-old Brampton, Ont., native will be attending camp looking to earn a spot after completing his first full professional season in Barcelona, Spain, in 2017-18.
“Defensively tough. Defensively sound. I feel like defence wins basketball games,” he said when asked to describe himself.
Campbell was a combo guard for the Niagara College Knights of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association before transferring to the University of Windsor. He was drafted second overall in 2016 by the National Basketball League of Canada’s Windsor Express, and played eight games there before suiting up with the Saint John Riptide late in the season.
Campbell said he’s becoming a pure point guard and has one goal for this season.
“I want to win,” the six-footthree, 200-pound guard said. “I know the Island Storm has been a good, solid program on that side (of the league) and I just want to add to it . . . and put more wins on the board.”
Storm head coach Tim Kendrick said Campbell can score but has a well-rounded game.
“I think he can be more of a traditional point guard,” he said. “He can move the basketball, he can really penetrate and pass, makes good decisions and he’s a
really good defender.”
At six-foot-two, Campbell has good size and is athletic.
“I think he’s going to have a chance to compete for the starting
job,” Kendrick said. “Hopefully we got a bit of a steal.”
Campbell played with the 3D Global Sports team, which competed at the R. William Jones Cup
in China. The squad included NBL players Terry Thomas, Shaquille Keith and Logan Stutz.
“I had known of Alex when he played at Windsor, but I was really impressed by how well he played in the Jones Cup, against the high level of competition,” Kendrick said. “I am excited to see him play live here in training camp.”
Campbell said he is excited by what he hears about the Storm roster, but doesn’t know the players personally.
“I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates and get it going in camp,” he said.
Camp opens Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Colonel Gray High School.