By Armen Zargarian
The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s basketball team has clear aspirations for the 2022-23 season—to win big.
The Bold had a 9-7 record last season, eventually losing to the Carleton Ravens in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs. Their focus returning from the pandemic was to start building a team identity, one that never fully formed.
“Last year was an odd year in a lot of ways,” said head coach David DeAveiro. “Coming back from not playing for a year, not being able to recruit, get out there and build relationships because of COVID-[19] still.”
“We kind of put a team together last year and hoped we could make it work,” he added.
DeAveiro and his staff took over at TMU in the spring of 2020, making this season their first with a full training camp, pre-season and 22-game regular season OUA schedule.
“We’re in a tough conference, tough division,” said DeAveiro. “But that’s going to prepare you for what it’s going to be like at the national championships.”
TMU has eight returnees from last year’s team and the majority of this year’s group has been training together since July. Last year’s team didn’t practice together in full until the Labour Day long weekend.
“No hate to my guys last year, but with this year’s group, there’s more intention, more hunger to be in the gym and work,” said team captain Aaron Rhooms.
Rhooms averaged 19.3 points and eight rebounds per game in his debut season at the university. This helped him earn U Sports Rookie of the Year.
“There’s more intention, more hunger to be in the gym and work”
He also spent the summer playing professionally for the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Scarborough Shooting Stars. Rhooms teamed up with TMU alum JV Mukama and Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole.
“First thing I told my teammates this year was that we’re winning a championship,” said Rhooms. “Playing these pre-season games, seeing the potential of this squad, it just reassured me that it’s possible.”
Rhooms worked on improving his basketball IQ this offseason to manage the defences that will be scheming to stop him. But his assurance about the team’s potential stems from the early camaraderie.
“On defence we’re able to move as a unit, I think that’s something really special,” said Rhooms.
Third-year guard Ankit Choudhary has his sights set on being the best point guard in the country and said the path there is through team success. Choudhary averaged 13.7 points, 3.1 assists and shot over 40 per cent from the three-point line last season.
TMU’s familiar duo of Choudhary and Rhooms will be complemented by guard David Walker and forward Simon Chamberlain in the starting rotation.
Chamberlain spent last season on the Bold’s bench as a redshirt. He and Choudhary spent early summer at TMU’s campus gymnasiums, working on their ball handling skills, shooting and conditioning.
Walker’s arrival for his debut season was right on time for TMU. The guard scored 25 points on 68 per cent shooting in his first pre-season game with the squad on Oct.1.
He spent last season at California State Bakersfield of the National College Athletic Association, a Div. 1 school—the highest level of college basketball in the world.
“Seeing the potential of this squad, it just reassured me that it’s possible”
“I called TMU because they have a history of winning,” said Walker. “And I know Coach Dave is a great coach. I got to take the best coach, the best team.”
DeAveiro said Walker has been a role player throughout his collegiate career following the Oct. 1 pre-season game. But at TMU he’ll be a featured part of the team’s offensive attack.
“David is dynamic in terms of his one-on-one scoring,” said DeAveiro. “He might be one of the most elite in the country.”
Walker attributes his explosive style of play to growing up playing in Toronto’s northwestern community of Jane Street and Falstaff Avenue.
“It’s just how we hoop,” said Walker. “That’s how I’ve always been.”
DeAveiro sees the Bold posing a lot of problems for opposing defences this season, with dynamic scoring abilities throughout the rotation.
“Who are you going to stop?” he said. “Our bench is good in their supportive roles too and understanding what they’re good at will help us be successful.”
The season begins on Nov. 5 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
Armed with offensive weapons and a good mix of veteran and rookie players, TMU will look to use chemistry to their advantage this season.
“No drama, just straight business,” said Rhooms.
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