After a tremendous season that saw him take yet another major leap forward, University of Northern British Columbia Men’s Basketball forward Fareed Shittu has been named a 2022-2023 Canada West All-Star.
The Edmonton product was recognized by the conference on Friday morning, earning a CW Third Team All-Star nod, becoming just the third UNBC men’s basketball player to be recognized as a conference all star. Shittu joins Franco Kouagnia (2014-2015) and Jovan Leamy (2018-2019) as the lone T-Wolves to be picked by the Canada West coaches as the conference’s best.
“We are incredibly proud of Fareed. Being named an All-Star is a major accomplishment for him and it’s big for the program,” said UNBC coach Todd Jordan. “It shows that we have an environment here where players can thrive and develop as both people and student-athletes. This is something we take a lot of pride in, and Fareed has been committed and all-in as a Timberwolf since the day he committed to our program.”
The electrifying forward averaged 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game, while establishing himself as an elite defender at the rim, and on the perimeter. While his scoring and rebounding numbers did improve, it was his playmaking and offensive efficiency that blossomed this season.
He led the T-wolves with 21 points and 17 rebounds in their 88-74 playoff loss to the Regina Cougars Feb. 17 in Victoria.
Last season, Shittu registered 17 assists; a number he more than doubled this year with 39. In 2021-2022, he went 63/135 from the field, good for 46.7 per cent, while going 4/19 from beyond the arc for a 21.1 per cent clip. This year, the third-year went 109/207 from the field for a 52.7 per cent rate, and shot 21/54 from long-range, making 38.9 per cent of his looks from three-point land.
“His time spent in the weight room, hours spent shooting the basketball, and improving his skills, basketball IQ, and mindset is all paying off,” said Jordan. “He is definitely deserving of this award. He has been extremely coachable, and me and our coaching staff are all extremely proud of him for all he has done to achieve this recognition.”
Timberwolves fans have grown accustomed to Shittu throwing down his signature dunks, electrifying the crowds at the Northern Sport Centre and striking fear into opposing rim protectors. In fact, the man known as the “Edmonton Elevator” led the conference in dunks for the second consecutive season.
However, Coach Todd Jordan points to the work done in the off season and in training that has allowed Shittu to continue to take massive strides. From picking up a basketball in Grade 11 to the game’s elite.
“It has been extremely rewarding to see the growth in Fareed to this point. It wasn’t that long ago that he was a skinny kid who didn’t always start for his high school team in Grade 12, and now he has been named as one of the top performers at the university level,” said Jordan. “When he arrived at UNBC, he had a lot of work to do as far as getting stronger, improving his shooting, and learning how to attack the rim. Now, he is a Canada West All-Star. Very proud and very rewarding.”
