Todd Jordan has found more inside size.
Jordan, head coach of the UNBC Timberwolves men's basketball team, has added six-foot-six Navjot Bains to his roster. Bains can play at either forward or post and will give the Timberwolves some much-needed height around the basket as they enter their first season in the higher-level Canada West Universities Athletic Association, part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
"At this point in the summer especially, that was the spot that we were looking to fill," Jordan said. "We're definitely excited to bring someone else in that can help us up front."
Sahota will join a UNBC front court that includes returning players Kevan Madsen (six-foot-nine) and Gabe Aubertin (six-foot-six). Josh Jebose, who checks in at six-foot-eight, will also be in uniform for the Timberwolves after an absence of one season.
Bains will be in his first year of eligibility. He graduated from Surrey's Tamanawis secondary school in 2011 and was recruited by the Douglas College Royals of the PACWEST Athletic Association -- UNBC's former league. But, because of a neck injury, he only played in exhibition contests with the Royals.
For the coming season, Bains had also drawn interest from the Royals and the Kwantlen Eagles, a fellow PACWEST team. When he was contacted by Jordan, he decided he'd rather run with the Timberwolves.
"UNBC needed a big guy and I've played power forward and centre my whole life so I think it will be a perfect match," he said. "And with us going CIS, I'm pretty good at defending big guys too.
"I'm really happy," added Bains, who shot around with UNBC players on Wednesday. "I like the guys on the team and the team's looking pretty strong too so I'm really happy I decided to come up here."
Bains's former high school mate, perimeter player Gagan Sahota, committed to the Timberwolves in June. The presence of Sahota was a factor in Bains's decision to join the UNBC program.
In his final year of high school basketball, Bains averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. At the triple-A provincial championship that year, he led the tournament in rebounding.
At UNBC, Bains has registered as a general arts student.
The Timberwolves will start their inaugural Canada West year Nov. 2 on the road against the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack of Kamloops.
