Josh Mayorga is taking his basketball talents to Kamloops starting in the fall of 2014.
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men芒鈧劉s basketball team have signed the 6芒鈧劉5芒鈧� forward, who was a member of the 2013 B.C. Triple A senior boys high school champion Walnut Grove Gators.
Head coach Scott Clark announced that the team has signed Josh Mayorga to a letter of intent for the 2014-15 season.
Mayorga is the WolfPack芒鈧劉s second recruit for the upcoming Canada West season.
A native of London, Ont., Mayorga was a first team all-star at last March芒鈧劉s provincial tournament held at the 91原创 Events Centre.
芒鈧揌e is a really good basketball player,芒鈧� Clark says about Mayorga, who played Grade 11 at H.B. Beal Secondary in London, Ont. 芒鈧揇uring that time, he was a junior national team invitation player. He didn芒鈧劉t make the team but was invited to the tryout camp.
Mayorga moved to B.C. in Grade 12, Clark added.
芒鈧揌e does a lot of things well,芒鈧� Clark continued. 芒鈧揌e can shoot from the perimeter, he can dribble it and rebounds. He has some grit and toughness in the area of rebounding.芒鈧�
Clark explains what he liked about Mayorga when he scouted him: 芒鈧揧ou look for guys who can play multiple positions offensively and can guard multiple positions defensively and Josh can do that. He is a really good kid and that is a great thing as well. I also thought he was a top five kid coming out of high school in B.C. last year. We are pleased to be able to sign him.芒鈧�
Mayorga will take Bachelor of Arts courses at TRU with an eye to majoring in history.
He was succinct in describing why he chose Thompson Rivers to go to university: 芒鈧揢p and coming program, good coach, and great guys.芒鈧�
Mayorga believes he has to improve every aspect of his game in order to make the jump to CIS.
Veteran Gators head coach George Bergen says he wished he could have had Josh Mayorga for all five years of his high school development.
芒鈧揓osh is capable of shutting down anyone. He could defend against every position. His strength is his toughness. He is very effective in tough situations on the basketball court: rebounding, passing, defending, getting after loose balls.芒鈧�
Bergen believes Mayorga will adapt quickly to life in the Canada West.
芒鈧揌is game should suit the CIS perfectly,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揑 believe he could step in right now and contribute in many ways both offensively and defensively. Josh never backs down.芒鈧�
Mayorga played a definitive role on Bergen芒鈧劉s championship Walnut Grove squad in 2012/13.
芒鈧揌e could play the point guard position if he had to. He could play shooting guard or small forward, but he played a power game for our team.芒鈧�
Clark says Mayorga and other recruits for 2014/15 come in at a good time in the 芒鈧劉Pack cycle with three veterans: Brett Rouault (Vernon), Tallon Milne (Vanderhoof) and Brett Parker (91原创) all set to enter their fifth year of eligibility.
芒鈧揥hen you get into a pretty good situation your turnover is similar to what you are bringing in. You hope your older guys will teach your younger players about the culture. The culture is created by the players: their attitude, their effort and the environment they create,芒鈧� Clark said. 芒鈧揑t is more about them and not the coach. You hope your older players leave a legacy for the younger players by teaching them.芒鈧�
FREE THROWS: Bergen coached Parker in high school. He and Mayorga are similar.
芒鈧揃rett is an all time favourite of mine,芒鈧� he said.
芒鈧揃oth players will never stop working and both have the ability to make teammates believe they can get better and win.芒鈧�
