Power Sign Five Including Top Draft Pick, Three Canadians
Published on September 28, 2011 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Mississauga Power News Release
(Oshawa, ON) The Oshawa Power announced the signing of five players at a press conference at the Travelodge Hotel in Oshawa, Ontario on Wednesday September 28, 2011. National Basketball League of Canada number one overall draft pick Morgan Lewis and Canadians Tut Ruach, Antwi Atuahene and Paul Blake were introduced to the public and media. Aaron Perry, a Detroit, Michigan native was also signed by the Power.
Lewis, a 6'5" shooting guard from Painesville Ohio attended the University of Findlay and is coming off two seasons of playing professionally overseas. He was selected as the NBL Canada's #1 overall pick in its inaugural draft by the Oshawa Power on August 21 2011. Last year Lewis was the fourth leading scorer in the German Pro A league averaging 18.1ppg and 8.6rpg for ETB Wohnbau. In 2009 Lewis was named the MVP of the NCAA Division II basketball tournament in which the Oilers won the Division II National title. He was also selected to the All-Tournament team.
Lewis loved the energy in the Travelodge Hotel Oshawa Whitby, "Feels good and blessed. I'm excited to get the season started. It's fun but we all know it's time to work. Some of the opportunities that this experience is bringing like meeting the Mayor and my future teammates and Oshawa Family is amazing. We want to continue to spread the word and fill the General Motors Centre to capacity. We visited the Arena and it's exactly what we need and we know if we fill it up there will be a lot of energy in there. "
6'2" combo guard Ruach, is a graduate of York University and although not selected in the inaugural NBL draft, Ruach came back with a determination and hunger to do well in the Power's Showcase on September 10 to September 11 at Durham College. Ruach had a solid weekend and thus earned himself the opportunity to be signed by the Power. In 2010/2011 Ruach averaged 20.5ppg, 5.4apg and 4.3rpg for Itzehoe in Germany
"Excited...anxious and ready to go. I'm not one to get excited but just being around Oshawa today I feel the Power has the chance to be something really big.", said Rauch.
6'3" guard Antwi Atuahene(pronounced antwee antwa-heen) is a Mississauga native who attended Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School. Was named the Toronto Sun's Mr. Basketball by the time his high school career was done, averaging 34.5ppg, 11.5apg and 10 rpg. He went on to play at Arizona State University in the Pac-10 Conference and averaged 7ppg in his two best years. He has played professionally, including a stint in Mexico for Leones Regios de Monterrey. Atuahene would not want to be anywhere else than Oshawa today, "It was an uplifting feeling. To be able to play in front of friends and family would be great. I'm really looking forward to representing the City of Oshawa to my highest ability. We will bring some exciting basketball to the city!"
6'5" Blake, is a Toronto native who played his collegiate basketball at Cape Breton University in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He was a conference All-Star in his last three seasons for the Capers and is the team's all-time leader in 3-point field goals made with 138. In his final season the forward averaged 16.6ppg and 6.6rpg from Cape Breton. Blake impressed Power Management with his shot making ability and energy during the team Showcase at Durham College. Blake felt really proud to be there today and expressed his feelings,
"Excited, happy, shocked and just thanking God for this opportunity I've been blessed with. Oshawa is nice, everybody is happy for the team. People are excited for the outcome and I think it will be great. I got to meet the Mayor of Oshawa, Hon. John Henry. I've never met a Mayor before and it was a great opportunity to talk about the community and the league and his support for the Oshawa Power."
6'8" Detroit, Michigan native, Aaron Perry. Perry had a very strong showing at the Oshawa Power Showcase at Durham College where he showed toughness and defensive tenacity and a consistent ability
to knock down mid-range jump shots for his size. He played two years of college basketball at Sacramento State. In 2004-2005 he played in 28 games for the Hornets.
Perry was not in attendance at the Press Conference.
SPORTS DAY DRAW
As part of their ongoing commitment to the community, the Oshawa Power attended the Civic Recreation Complex grand re-opening event on Saturday September 17 2011, part of Sports Day in Oshawa and asked business owners to drop their business cards off for a chance to win prizes. One business card was selected at the press conference.
The winner was Charlotte Wolfenberg!!
The Oshawa Power will play their first home game of the season on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at the General Motors Centre, where they will tip off against the Moncton Miracles.
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from September 28, 2011
- Power Sign Five Including Top Draft Pick, Three Canadians - Mississauga Power
- Saint John Mill Rats Dance Team Hosts Public Auditions - Saint John Riptide
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