A big man is coming back to campus.
Josh Jebose, an imposing six-foot-eight and 235 pounds, will be in uniform for the UNBC Northern Timberwolves men's basketball team next season. Jebose was a freshman on the 2010-11 club but, for financial reasons, went back home to Calgary after that school year ended.
Jebose's return to UNBC couldn't be more perfectly timed. He'll play for a team that will be a first-year entry in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association, which is part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The CIS represents the highest level of post-secondary competition in the country so Jebose's towering frame and his talents around the basket should help the T-wolves as they battle against Canada West powers like the UBC Thunderbirds and University of Victoria Vikes. He'll join six-foot-nine Kevan Madsen and six-foot-six Gabe Aubertin as front-court options for head coach Todd Jordan.
"I think he definitely adds to what we can put out on the floor," Jordan said. "He's a longer guy, he rebounds the ball pretty well. The big thing with Josh is he's got a lot of upside. He's reasonably athletic and he does have that length. He's still got a long way to go but I think long-term he can definitely be a pretty good big guy for us.
"At this point I don't have him slotted into any particular role," Jordan added. "We'll see how he is when he comes up and how he responds the first couple weeks of practice."
Jebose has the potential to be a shot-blocking menace. From fingertip to fingertip, his wingspan measures about six-feet, 10 inches.
In Jebose's first tour of duty with the T-wolves -- who were defending national champions in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association -- he saw limited minutes on the court. As a raw rookie, he played behind veterans Dennis Stark and Jesse Smith and soaked up as much knowledge as he could.
"I improved my big-man skills down low and also I learned how to be a role player, instead of being the star player coming from high school," Jebose said Friday from Calgary. "It really humbled me."
Jebose, who played his high school ball at Notre Dame, spent the last year running the floor in a Calgary men's league and said he's bigger and stronger than when UNBC basketball fans last saw him. He's excited about returning to the Timberwolves and especially pumped up about the chance to test his game against Canada West opponents.
"It's going to be the best basketball experience of my life and I cannot wait for that," he said.
"I'm ready to take on those bigger CIS guys right now."
Jebose is the third off-season addition to the Timberwolves. Other newcomers are Nolan Hanson of Prince George and Elliot Rowe of Victoria (see other story). Hanson and Rowe are both guards.
Jordan was also trying to recruit the ultra-talented Steven Wesley, a six-foot-six swingman from Spokane. But, Wesley looks like he'll be heading to the University of Winnipeg instead.
In general, Jordan still wants to add more size to the Timberwolves. He said he hopes to bring in "a couple" players for individual visits.
