18 teams and ninety starting jobs at the 2014 OFSAA championships being held March 3rd through 5th in Mississauga, Ontario. Only one starting freshman (grade 9 student) in the whole field. He is #1 seed St. Michael’s Blue Raider Danilo Djuricic. A 2018 talent standing 6’6″ tall who ‘rebounds and blocks shots above average for being so young’ according to CIA Bounce boss Tony McIntyre.

Before St. Michael’s College begins there quest for back-to-back OFSAA titles, HHC counterparts caught up with the promising young talent from Brampton, Ontario.

HHC: For your freshman season in high school you decided to take your talents to St. Michael’s College. Not only hockey but it’l is notorious for all sports. 2013 defending OFSAA champions & this years #1 seed. What separates SMC not only to become provincial contenders but also able to recruit top notch talent like yourself?

DD: The coaches especially coach Zownir are incredible coaches, they push you everyday in practice and are great to learn from. The discipline and structure that they have in basketball are great to have. Our reputation at this school was a great factor, being top for academics and athletics was a big factor in coming here. The academics at this school are a great prep for later on… there is lots of work to do. Also just looking at the SMC team the last couple years, they have been great, looking at the talent that they had, it just keeps going up. Now that I’m here I have great mentors from everyone on the team being the young boy. The coaches and seniors give me great advice and have been a huge help throughout the year, especially from Coach Zownir, and Godwin [Boahen], and Nelson [Kaputo] they took me under their wing and they’ve been my biggest mentors in my first year here.

HHC: About yourself. Earlier this season caught peoples attention for a willingness to rub shoulders in the paint with opposing front courts which is rare for a freshman, towards season end your outside shot is noticeably improving. Any players pro or collegiately you compare your game too? Which position or role do you vision yourself playing at the next level?

DD: I think my game models Chandler Parsons with a inside game and still working on my outside game. Even though it’s too early because I’m in grade 9 my goal is playing D1 university, and wherever that takes me, I mean it’s every ballers dream to go to the NBA, just school first then basketball, and you never know.

DIAPER DANDY: Danilo Djuricic with #1 seed St.Michael’s will be the only starting grade nine at the 2014 OFSAA basketball championships.

HHC: For those that don’t know your a Brampton, Ontario native, you also play AAU ball for Brampton based CIA Bounce. For folks across the country and coaches reading can you try to explain why Brampton has become such a hot bed for D1 talent?

DD: Brampton has been slept on a lot lately, if you look at the talent pool that has come out of Brampton the last couple years, Just to name a few, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett, Tyler Ennis, just naming a few I know there are many more. These guys are guys that us kids in Brampton look up to knowing they’ve been in the same area, we’re just trying to make it like they are. And a club like CIA Bounce’s focus is nothing but development and is everything for us players. CIA Bounce gives us players a great opportunity to achieve our goals, it’s great playing for them.

HHC: About your CIA Bounce team… You look at what Grassroots (Tristan Thompson & Cory Joseph) did ath the 17U level, what CIA Bounce (Bennett, Wiggins, Ennis) 16U did, even what YAAACE 15U (Justin Jackson & co) accomplished last summer it seems like Canadian teams travelling AAU are finding more success now at earlier ages. When you talk to Canadian recruitment & scouting experts the consensus is that your 2018 class may be the best class ever when it’s all said and done. Allready the accolades are accumulating south of the border with your squad, any team mates we should keep an eye out for in terms of 2018 talent?

DD: Looking at the 2018 class there are lots of high caliber players. If you look at our 2018 Bounce team, everyone of us are top talent players, that’s why we are so successful together, everyone should keep an eye on our team, Simi, Jonathon, KeShaun, John, just to name a few, our whole team are top notch players.

HHC: Before AAU OFSAA 2014! Your Blue Raiders enter as the #1 seed and incredible feat considering your starting 5 are all underclassmen. What kind of basketball does St.Michaels hang their hat on and what will it take to become back to back provincial champions starting with #12 seed Mother Teresa Monday?

DD: Takes our determination, and our drive for the back to back. We have been working for the date of March 5th 8:00pm all year, we’ve had it down on our calendars all year, that will be the night. We just have to play together how we’ve been playing and that’s all that matters.

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