St. Clair snags two Kennedy Clippers stars
It was a successful high school partnership that will now continue in college for Ali Mansour and Glynn Willis-Paris.
The two helped the Kennedy Clippers to back-to-back OFSAA appearances, including a bronze medal this past year. Now, the two will stay together next year as teammates with the St. Clair Saints men’s basketball team.
“It’s big, big deal,” new Saints head coach Ricardo Tate said. “For us, personally, they’re local kids where other high school kids in the community can see that these guys were standup players this year. They can also come out here and do the same thing in following years to come.”
The five-foot-nine Mansour was co-MVP of the WECSSAA Tier I division and helped the Clippers to a WECSSAA AA title. His team narrowly missed a shot at the gold medal at OFSAA. They lost by a single point in the semis, but rebounded to take the bronze.
“It was actually done in quick time,” the 19-year-old Mansour said in choosing St. Clair, where he will study biomedical engineering technology.
“I felt like staying here was the best option for me both schoolwise and basketball-wise.”
The dynamic point guard, who averaged 21 points per game at OFSAA, is happy to spread the ball around.
“I like to get my teammates involved, too,” Mansour said. “I’m playing with much bigger and stronger guys. I just have to work harder and get ready to try and fit in with the boys.”
Mansour became good friends with Willis-Paris when the sixfoot-six forward moved to Windsor from Scarborough.
“It’s nice to have someone to come in with me,” Mansour said.
In two seasons with the Clippers, the two have grown close on and off the court.
“We’re super close,” the 18-yearold Willis-Paris said of his relationship with Mansour. “Even outside school, we hang out.”
Willis-Paris credits his time at Kennedy with helping him learn to enjoy the game.
“When I came from Toronto, I wasn’t really in school playing basketball. Coming here was different. People supported me to get better,” said Willis-Paris, who will be in pre-health science with a possible future in nursing. “I like the coaches here and the support system as well.”