DORIAN GEIGER
Sports Editor

Following the Huskies men’s basketball first-ever national title in the spring, there was concern that the team’s large turnover of all-star players and the temporary absence of head coach Greg Jockims heading into the 2010 CIS season may hinder the team from repeating such a monumental feat.

    Some of this concern has been alleviated by the arrival of the new recruit and point guard Jamelle Barrett.

   Barrett is poised to fill the shoes of Showron Glover, a player largely responsible for helping bring home a trophy to the halls of the U of S in 2010. Glover opted to play the 2010-11 season overseas in Europe.

In addition, two other important components to the Huskies roster last season, CIS championship tournament all-star Michael Linklater and veteran head coach Greg Jockims, will not be returning this season. Jockims is only exercising a professional leave of absence and will hand the reins over to assistant coach Barry Rawlyk. Linklater completed his fifth and final year of eligibility in 2009-10.

    Similar to how the Huskies acquired Glover, the Dogs dipped into the California market to bring Barrett to Saskatchewan.

    The Sacramento-born point guard recently arrived in Saskatoon and since his first visit to the city of bridges, has been ecstatic to come play for the national champs.

    “On my visit to Saskatchewan I felt really comfortable and I really like the situation,” Barrett told Huskies Athletics recently.

    “I felt really comfortable with the team and city. I like Coach Rawlyk and the teammates I met,” added the 21-year-old.

    Barrett is no stranger to championships either. As a senior, Barrett led his Sacramento high school basketball team to a 30-3 record in his senior year. He also clinched two league championships and a regional championship during the early phase of his athletic career in California. Following high school, Barrett played for a prep school in North Carolina and later with the College of Southern Idaho and the Consumnes River College in California.    

Barrett’s time with the Consumnes River Hawks was his most successful stint following high school graduation. Playing with the California organization, Barrett aided the team to 23-6 regular season record, collected 246 assists, 59 steals, averaged 18.69 points in 26 games and scored more than 30 points in a single game, four times throughout the season. Moreover, the 5’11, 189 pound point guard was named to the all-star team and was dubbed conference player of the year while playing for the River Hawks.

   Barrett and the Huskies will get the ball rolling this fall when they travel to the University of Alberta’s Non-Conference Tournament for pre-season action Oct. 7 to 9.

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image: Gord Waldner / The StarPhoenix