Soren Erricson had no intention of playing college basketball.
Not this season.
But Dan Zimmerman, his longtime Duchess Park Condors teammate, signed last May with the Vancouver Island University Mariners and two months later Erricson decided to reconsider the Mariners' offer and they now play together for the defending Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association champions.
"I like it a lot, it's a really good group of guys, easy to settle in with, for sure," said Erricson, who subs in at point guard. "There's good chemistry. It definitely helps with the transition, Dan and me hang out a lot down there. It's easier to ease in with someone that I know.
"I was going to to take a year off. It seemed life was going too fast and I wanted to slow down a bit. They told me that they wanted me and gave me a week to decide but I told the coach I wasn't feeling it. But with Dan there I decided to play."
The Mariners returned half the roster that won the national title, with one fifth-year player, Greg Gillies, and three four-year veterans, Tyus Barfoot, Cameron Gay and Landon Radliffe. Among a crop of three rookies, the former Condors don't get a lot of playing time - Erricson is averaging 7.8 minutes and Zimmerman is getting 12 minutes per game - quite normal for college freshmen.
Erricson is enrolled in the fisheries and aquaculture program at VIU, while Zimmerman, an aspiring teacher, is in general studies.
"I'm really enjoying it so far, I'm having great start to the season," said Zimmerman, who provides depth as a small forward/shooting guard. "I'm enjoying the basketball a but more than the school but school is going well, too.
"We always talked about playing postsecondary together and we're having a lot of fun doing it. When I got there immediately I could there was a big difference. It's a lot more physical and faster but already I'm feeling more comfortable out there. I've kind of figured out my role with the team. We're pretty solid."
Currently ranked fourth in Canada, the Mariners lost their Pacific Western Athletic Association season-opener to the Douglas College Royals but have since reeled off five straight wins and they heading into the break with a 5-1 record, second to Douglas (6-0).
"It's awesome knowing you're going in to a culture where there's guys that want to win and that's the culture," said the six-foot-three Zimmerman.
Last March at the triple-A boys provincial championship in Langley, the Condors lost a nailbiter semifinal to the North Delta Huskies, the eventual B.C. champions, who took the lead on a three-point sinker with nine seconds left. The Condors got the ball to Erricson for one final shot with two seconds left but the ball bounced twice off the rim and out, ending Duchess Park's dream of a banner season.
"I think about that game a lot," said Zimmerman.
The two Mariners had a chance to practice at Duchess Park gym with the Condors just before the Condor Classic tournament that wrapped up Friday.
"They're looking really solid this year, I think they're about to move up to Number 1 in the province," Zimmerman said.
The Mariners are back at home this weekend for a pair of exhibition games against Whatcom Community College of Bellingham, Wash. They resume their PacWest schedule Jan. 11-12 against Douglas.
