Ujullu Obang receives Moser MVP Award
Cameron Heights star follows in footsteps of brother Ladera, a two-time winner at Eastwood
He’s the total package on the basketball court, a player who leads by example, scores from anywhere in the offensive zone, and takes pride in defending the opposing team’s top player.
For those reasons and others, Cameron Heights guard Wanawani (Wani) Ujullu Obang is this year’s Mike Moser Memorial Award recipient as the Waterloo County (WCSSAA) senior basketball league’s most valuable player. The Grade 12 student received the prestigious award, given to the player who demonstrates exceptional talent and contributions to his team, at halftime of the WCSSAA all-star game at Conestoga College.
“He’s an outstanding young man. He’s kind, he’s polite, he’s competitive, he’s reliable, he’s respectful,” said Cameron Heights basketball coach/teacher Nazim Ramzan.
“He’s someone everyone roots for; his smile is contagious, and he’s got such a great personality.”
The six-foot-two Ujullu Obang played a starring role for the Golden Gaels this season, helping his team win its second consecutive WCSSAA championship and then its first Central Western Ontario (CWOSSA) championship since 1994.
Cameron Heights then posted a 1-2 record at the all-Ontario (OFSAA) championship in Stoney Creek.
“Winning MVP means a lot,” said Ujullu Obang. “It helps put Cameron Heights on the map and shows that we know how to compete.”
Ujullu Obang’s older brother Ladera is the only two-time winner of the Moser, achieving the feat while playing at Eastwood in 2018 and ’19. Two other brothers, Cham and Hanani, also played at Eastwood, and all played a role in helping Wani become the player he is today.
Wani, the second youngest of seven brothers, has fond memories of playing in the Gresham Place gymnasium after the family relocated to Canada from Kenya.
He also mentions Telloy Simon, formerly of St. Mary’s High School and the University of Windsor, as one of his basketball mentors.
“They made me a lot more competitive, gave me that drive to be better,” he said. “They were much older than me, and I was always up against them, so I’ve always been competitive.”
What happens next remains to be seen.
Ujullu Obang intends on returning for a fifth year of high school but is uncertain whether that will be at Cameron Heights or a prep school that could help him reach the next level.
Ladera, Cham and Hanani played for community colleges in Ontario, and Ladera expects to relaunch his career later this year at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa.
“I want to play at any high-level university,” said Ujullu Obang.
Wani and Ladera are the third brother combination to win the Moser Award, following in the footsteps of Matt and Cam McIntyre of KCI in the 2000s and Bob and Alex Urosevic in the 1980s. Bob attended KCI, and Alex achieved the feat with St. Jerome’s.
Ujullu Obang was also recognized as a WCSSAA first-team all-star at Conestoga College, along with teammate Said Mohamed, Hayden Barnes of Forest Heights, David Chokor of Laurel Heights and Duncan VanKoughnett of Bluevale.
Second-team nods went to Kareem Aljaibat of Grand River, Liam Baechler of Bluevale, Galin Moore of Waterloo, Andrew O’Toole of Forest Heights and Leif Pleau of Laurel Heights.