Julia Gallant is making the jump to Canada's top university basketball league and she'll do that wearing a UNBC Timberwolves uniform.
After two seasons playing for the Quest University Kermodes in the Pacific Western Athletic Association, the five-foot-six point guard has been recruited by the T-wolves to compete in the U Sports Canada West conference.
"I love the game, so I am really excited. This has been a dream of mine for years, so this will be a big jump," said Gallant in a T-wolves release, after watching the team in a spring workout on a visit to the UNBC campus.
"They really mesh well as a team. They play fast, which is exactly how I like to play. I thought I would be a good match, and I think I will amalgamate really well into this team."
Gallant is a graduate of Mount Douglas secondary school in Saanich and she started 17 of 18 games for Quest last season, averaging 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
She was forced to find another place to play when she learned in February that Quest was shutting down its athletic programs, which included men's and women's basketball and soccer.
According to Timberwolves head coach Sergey Shchepotkin, Gallant passed her UNBC audition with flying colours and he is looking forward to seeing her in action on the court when the exhibition season begins late this summer.
"Julia brings a lot of really valuable experience to our team," said Shchepotkin. "She has proven at her time at Quest that she processes the game quickly, and plays with aggressiveness. I am thrilled to add an intelligent player like Julia to the roster."
Gallant, who makes her home in Victoria, will resume her studies toward an arts degree at UNBC with the goal of leading the T-wolves into the Canada West playoffs for a third straight season. She has three years of eligibility left.
"I love the game because it brings a team together and you make a family. It's fast and it's fun. I want to help us get some buckets, and get some wins," Gallant said. "I like to shoot the three, and when I get hot, it's hard to stop me. I like to push the ball, play hard defence, talk a lot on the court, and I am a team player."
The T-wolves men's team has recruited Saymon Loki, the six-foot-five star forward of the Smithers-based Bulkley Valley Christian Royals. Loki led the Royals to their first berth in the single-A boys provincial championship in March and was the MVP of that tournament.
In the final, a 65-53 loss to the Heritage Christian Saints, Loki led his team with 31 points and 21 rebounds. He went into that game having averaged 34 points and 20 rebounds in three provincial games.
