Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops has announced Elan Kimpton-Cuellar of Roberts Creek as their second high school recruit for the 2019-20 Canada West men’s basketball season.
Kimpton-Cuellar, a 6’5” forward, will graduate from Elphinstone Secondary in June.
The Cougars finished 37-7 this season and placed tenth at the BC AA championships after winning the Howe Sound AA division playoff tournament.
Kimpton-Cuellar has also been playing this season with the Van City Elite club team at tournaments throughout Canada and the United States.
“I wanted to play at TRU because I like their basketball program as well as their educational programs,”said Kimpton-Cuellar in a release announcing his intent to play for TRU. “I love the campus, and the facilities are amazing.”
“He is quite an athletic guy,” said Wolf Pack head coach Scott Clark “He has very good shooting mechanics. Good set of shoulders. He is strong. A good athlete and has the makings of being a good basketball player.”
Bob Hoy, who’s coached Kimpton-Cuellar off and on over the last six years said he was one of key leaders on the team. “He led us not only on the scoreboard on many nights but also in practice with his hard work and willingness to push himself and his teammates. Elan was a regular game star and all-star in tournaments we played in. He would change the game with a thunderous dunk, a monster rebound or a huge block,” Hoy said.
The university said Kimpton-Cuellar, whose older brother already studies at TRU, will be working toward a science degree with the long-term goal of going into the Bachelor of Nursing program, and he’s already given TRU a demonstration of his determination.
Kimpton-Cuellar and his mother were scheduled to visit the campus on March 26 – the day the Queen of Surrey smashed into the dock at Langdale. The university said instead of cancelling, they hopped a water taxi to the Lower Mainland and borrowed a friend’s vehicle to drive to Kamloops.
