Article By: Kajan Thiruthanikasalam 
Photos By: Yvano Antonio  
Photo Album Link: https://flic.kr/s/aHskDybLjV

SCARBOROUGH, ONT.- After a gut-wrenching 83-74 loss in the 2017-18 playoff qualifier in February at the hands of the Lambton Lions, Centennial Colts head coach Trevor Challenger quickly went to work recruiting this past summer and has assembled a strong mix of players.

A total of six student-athletes were officially introduced as the newest members of the men's basketball team on Saturday August 25 at the Athletic and Wellness Centre. The group includes guards Isaiah Adeboboye, Quentin Herbert, Isaiah Cromwell Wright, and Kyrin Henlin as well as forwards, Darnell Richards and Dieu Merci Betoukoumessou

"With this group of players, we are bringing in some guys that I believe will be a huge part of our future success. They are coachable, have high character and are willing to learn," Challenger said. "These young men will mesh very well with our returning group, and I am very excited about their potential. Our goal is to continue to build the Colts into an elite program provincially."

Dieu Merci Betoukoumessou

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Height: 6'8
Position: Post
High School: St.Mary's High School
Last School: Western Texas Junior College
Class of 2017

STRENGTHS: Inside scoring, finishes well with either hand, passing 
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Outside shooting, ball handling

Dieu Merci (DM) Betoukoumessou's story is unique, to say the least, as he's coming to Centennial for a fresh start after a year at Western Texas.

"I didn't really like the environment was, how the coaching was, and the school, as a whole," Betoukoumessou said about Western Texas. "When I came across Trevor and saw what he does here with this program, I agreed to be a part of it."

Standing at 6'8, Betoukoumessou, whose name means 'Thank you God' in French, has a lot to offer the program as he brings much needed height to the team, providing a low post presence on both ends on the floor. He is currently in the recreation and leisure program.

"I'm excited to bring DM into the team," Challenger said. "He's a skilled big man who passes well. He's very polished and he can finish with either hand on the blocks or face up."

Betoukoumessou described college basketball in America as intense.

"They play really quick and aggressive," Betoukoumessou said. "Refs barely call anything."

After experiencing college ball in the States, Betoukoumessou says that he was worried of what to expect or how it would benefit him heading into Canada but all that went away once he met up for Centennial's coaching staff.

"I see how the coaches want to help me and I've seen the other guys on the team," Betoukoumessou said. "I'm excited and I can't wait to see what this season has to offer."

Quentin Herbert

Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
Height: 6'3
Position: SG
High School: Birchmount Collegiate Institute
AAU: Hoops Canada
Class of 2018

STRENGTHS: Shooting 
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Strength

This 6'3 guard played his high school career at Birchmount Collegiate Institute and played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) ball for Jermaine Holness, Program Director at Hoops Canada Elite. Holness is also an assistant coach with the Ryerson Rams men's basketball program.

"Q is a dedicated player who puts in the time required to master his craft and he's a great teammate on and off the court," Holness said.

Challenger says that the skills on the court were not the only things that stood out when he saw Herbert.

"Quentin's personality and quality of character are big influencers for the coaching staff," Challenger said.

With a team that is undergoing somewhat of a makeshift change this season compared to last, Herbert is excited to see what is next for this upcoming season.

"It's definitely going to be a learning experience playing against older players. When I was in high school, I was the oldest," Herbert said. "I'm excited and I can't wait to play."

Herbert and his parents chimed in on the decision to come to Centennial, as well as what to expect from the student-athlete, who also takes recreation and leisure, in the future.

"His rep team coach thought Centennial would be a good fit for him," Dean Herbert, Quentin's father, said. "There's room for him to grow, so with the next level of coaching, he will be able to bring that out."

"He has aspirations to play at the university level or at Europe but it's also about academics as well, and to go further with that and get a job," Heather Herbert, Quentin's mother said. "Just grow in that sort of sense."

In terms of his basketball future after college, Herbert had one word: "Overseas."

Kyrin Henlin

Hometown: Pickering, Ontario
Height: 6'5
Position: CG
High School: Dunbarton Secondary School
Class of 2016

STRENGTHS: Defense, playmaking, shooting, scoring  
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Running the offense                                                                                                                                                  

Kyrin Henlin has been on Coach Challenger's recruiting list for the last few years. And finally the wait is over, as he heads to Centennial.

"I felt comfortable here and it felt like a family," Henlin said. "It was an easy decision for me."  

Henlin played his high school basketball at Dunbarton S.S in Pickering, Ont., where he starred there for four years. He also showed out at the OnPoint Summer League Pro Am in the Toronto Pan Am Centre two months ago.

"Kyrin had an impressive showcase, averaging 15.0 ppg (and) 7.0 rpg in four games at the Pro Am," Challenger said.

Henlin describes himself as a chill and laid-back person, who plays basketball and video games. The expectation for him this season is for Centennial to go far as they can.

"I want to go to the championship; I want to win it all," Henlin said. "That's what my expectations are, and to go hard and get better every single day."

With many faces on the team, Henlin understands that he needs to stand out in order to make a lasting impact and he feels that his leadership and winning attitude will do just that. Also, he hates losing.

"Losing is the worst thing. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's losing; it bothers me the most and that's my pet peeve," Henlin said.

His mother, Amber, sees him working in a field that is related to basketball, five years from now.

"Kyrin just lives, dreams, sleeps and eats basketball," Henlin's mother said. "I can see him playing basketball professionally, maybe in Europe. That's what I envision for him."

Isaiah Cromwell-Wright

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Height: 6'4
Position: CG
High School: St. Mary's High School
Last School: Stephen Lewis Secondary School
Class of 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        

STRENGTHS: Inside scoring, finishes at the rim with contact, playmaking  
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Shooting consistency

Isaiah Cromwell-Wright has been one of those guys that has made an impact anywhere that he has gone, making high school stops at Jean Vanier, Central Tech Prep, Rise Prep, and Stephen Lewis.

"Cromwell-Wright is a big strong guard that can handle, rebound and get to the rim," Challenger said. "He's creative offensively and can get his own shot.  As he continues to evolve, he will be a force in the CCAA."

"I was approached by Coach Challenger; he told me about his coaching style and what he wanted from me," Cromwell-Wright said about his decision to come to Centennial. "He told me about some of the guys coming in and I thought we had the opportunity to be a really good team. It was something that I really wanted to be a part of."

The combo guard, who was originally from Nova Scotia and now resides in Toronto, Ont., also turned heads at the 2017 Toronto North Pole Hoops Showcase as he was named Upperclassman Game MVP, in a pool filled with potential D1 and junior college players.

"It was a good place to really test my ability and I guess I did pretty good," Cromwell-Wright said. "They (NPH) really helped me get exposure to different schools."

"Isaiah has always been blessed with a strong frame and defenders bounce off of him," Elias Sbiet, NPH Director of Recruiting, said.

In a team that will be filled with a lot of new faces, Cromwell-Wright hopes to stand out with his developing leadership skills.

"In the past, that was one of my main things that coaches told me to work on," Cromwell-Wright said. "Hopefully, I can get it started up to the level where people start to recognize it as a part of my game."

When asked about where he would see himself in five years, Cromwell-Wright says that he would like to be finishing his last year of college eligibility, wherever he is.

"Hopefully, I've grown and developed into a productive member of society and get a professional contract because that's everyone's end goal as a basketball player," Cromwell-Wright said.

Isaiah Adeboboye

Hometown: North York, Ontario
Height: 5'9
Position: PG
High School: Central Tech Prep
Class of 2018

STRENGTHS: Defense, finishing
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Size, streaky shooting

This past season, Isaiah Adeboboye completed his high school career at Central Tech Prep that competed in the NPH Prep League. Adeboboye averaged 10.1 ppg and 2.3 rpg for the Eastern Conference 2nd place 11-1 Blues led by Kevin Jeffers, who called Adeboboye a pleasant surprise.

"He immediately brought toughness, grit and desire to win to our program.  His defensive prowess coupled with his attack to the basket gave our program the needed edge in many games," Jeffers said. "Isaiah's mantra was God, family, school and team – can't argue with that. Colts got a gem."

Adeboboye said what it really came down to was how Centennial wanted to help him grow not only as a player but as a person.

"I had two options between Centennial and U of T," Adeboboye said. "They really brought me in as family and I felt like they really wanted me; it's a really great culture and atmosphere."

"That's what really sealed the deal for us, too," Dr Tai Adeboboye, Isaiah's father, said. "The welcoming personality of Coach Challenger and Coach Chris (Stewart) and just the goals they have for the students that this isn't only about basketball but that we want a student athlete. And I love that."

"I compete when I'm out there, especially on the defensive end. I'll get in on guys with full court pressure," Adeboboye said on what he brings to the table in terms of intangibles. "My teammates feed off of that (energy) and I bring positivity to the table."

Adeboboye said his future from college will be day-to-day and in the words of Drake, God's plan, as he works towards his paramedics degree. As for what should become of the guard in five years time from the perspective of his parents, Marian Adeboboye, Isaiah's mother, said this.

"He'll be graduated and working," Isaiah's mother said, laughing. "But I think in the future, with all the basketball that he has, it's something that he can use later on in life working with people, mainly youth."

Darnell Richards

 

Hometown: North York, Ontario
Height: 6'7
Position: TF
High School: Downsview Secondary School
Class of 2017

STRENGTHS: Shooting, interior defense  
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Strength, physicality

Darnell Richards, another one of the big men that Challenger recruited, is a stretch forward that can knock down the 15 footer and beyond, who also prides himself on rebounding and blocking shots.

"Darnell is a really genuine guy. He fits really well into what we're developing our program into and I'm excited to see what he can do for us this year," Challenger said.

The calm and soft-spoken 20-year-old was known by friends as Kevin Durant, AKA KD, since ninth grade. Sharon Richards, Darnell's mother, says she didn't know what that meant at all.

"One day, I just made a joke and was like, 'KD. What is that; Kraft Dinner?'" Richards' mother said. "And he was like, 'Do you know what that even means?'"'

Richards' mother, a chairperson at his old high school, says that he is known as an outside shooter which comes effortless for him and that no one would expect it coming from him. But she took academics very seriously as proven when she didn't allow him to play basketball in Grade 11 to work on his grades.

"If you're not going to be where you should be (academically), then you can't play," Richards' mother said. "I believe that it was for the better to show him that he needs to focus."

About what his expectations for himself this season would be, Richards says, "Just go hard and work on and off the court."

Richards' mother says she was initially worried about the college environment considering that her son was at an academic level. However, she says that Challenger played a major factor in the decision to come to Centennial.

"Trevor is very caring and convinced me that the team would work with him academically and on the court," Richards' mother said. "Based on the team here, I think he's going to be fine."

Richards' mother believes that her son, if he concentrates academically and with the right mindset, can get to whatever height he wants to reach and that he could reach his goals within five years. When asked what he would bring to the team with a roster filled with change, Richards had this to say.

"Just straight buckets," Richards said. "(But) I would have to show you that."

If you want to witness Betoukoumessou's inside scoring, Herbert's sharpshooting, Henlin's two-way play, Cromwell-Wright's finishing with contact, Adeboboye's tenacity, and Richards' "buckets", head on over to the Athletic and Wellness Centre on Friday Oct. 19 at 8:00 pm as they face off against the Fleming Knights in their season opener.