Athletically and academically, the University of Northern British Columbia was the ideal fit for Cevanna Carlson.
Carlson, a six-foot-one post player originally from the Northwest Territories, has committed to the UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball team for the 2018-19 Canada West season. Carlson is a proud member of the Deninu K'ue First Nation and likes the idea of playing her home games on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T'enneh.
"I am representing a lot of native kids who can't play, and that's who I am playing for," Carlson said. "That is the reason I play. I think about it before big games, I think about it after big games. It's really important to me and it is important to my family, as well."
Away from the basketball court, on the scholastic side of her life, Carlson is looking forward to being part of UNBC's First Nations Studies program. UNBC has been a Canadian pioneer of the program and is the first post-secondary institution in the country to offer a masters degree in it.
Carlson is on the verge of completing her Grade 12 year at Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks, Alta. With her high school team, she was an impact player at both ends of the floor. UNBC head coach Sergey Shchepotkin sees Carlson as a player who will be able to make a smooth transition from high school basketball to the Canada West game.
"I am really happy to have Cevanna join our program," Shchepotkin said. "She has the size, but more importantly she has the work ethic to develop into an impact player. She is focused, and loves the game, and we are excited to have her in Timberwolf gold for the next five years."
The 18-year-old Carlson visited the UNBC campus last winter and had a chance to see the T-wolves sweep the UBC Okanagan Heat in a pair of league games. When she steps onto the court herself, she plans to work as hard as possible and dedicate herself to playing a team-oriented style.
"I have really good footwork and I would really like to improve on my shooting," she added. "This will help me get better and make me even tougher down low."
Carlson will join a team that has made the Canada West playoffs for two consecutive seasons.
"The basketball here has been progressing and I really want to be a part of it," she said.
"I am super excited."
Last month, the UNBC athletics department announced the commitment of guard Julia Gallant to the women's basketball program. Gallant has already played two seasons of post-secondary basketball, both at Quest University in Squamish. Quest announced the termination of its athletic programs in February.
