St. Francis Phoenix Are 23-1 Overall, Led By Rising Star Abu Kigab
St. Francis Phoenix are the biggest surprise in Canadian high school basketball. On Saturday evening they picked up their third domestic championship of the season at the 27th annual St. Benedict Saints Invitational. They knocked off the back to back champions d’Youville Panthers 71-60. 2017 5’11” Cele Kasamba registered a game high 28 points and rising 2017 star 6’6” Abu Kigab tallied 26 points.
Last year’s OFSAA “AA” Bronze medalists in 2014-15 added to an impressive resume that includes championship trophies from the Pinky Lewis, Mike Sullivan Invitational and the KSA Events Beach Bash in the Bahamas. The Phoenix also took home a bronze from the 2014 Rim Rocker.
The group is led by head coach Pat Sullivan. After the Phoenix ended the Panthers reign Saturday night he admitted that this magical season so far has gone better than expected.
“We don’t go in to this season thinking were necessarily going to beat the quality of teams we have beaten. We certainly thought we could definitely be competitive but I can’t honestly say I expected to have the success that were having,” Sullivan told Hoops Hype Canada.
The pride and joy of St. Catharines, Ontario is 23-1 on the year(only loss to Campion at Rim Rocker) and have beaten some established programs during the process; Pine Ridge, Father Goetz, Notre Dame Brampton and now d’Youville.
“I believe in our guys, today we just wanted a chance to win.” Sullivan added.
What made Saturday impressive was that St. Francis was without their starting floor general Aidan Hands. With Kigab on the bench in the first quarter after picking up two quick fouls, the Phoenix trailed by as many as twelve in the first quarter. After a strong second quarter in which the Phoenix rallied to tie the game it was in the third quarter when they capitalized on Panthers point guard Keshon Montague picking up his fourth foul forcing d’Youville’s floor general to sit.
“ [Abu] Kigab managed to stay out of foul trouble but I think the big thing for them was Montague getting in foul trouble. He’s their general and he was causing us fits,” Sullivan said. “He sat a long time before he came back in and it was just a game of momentum. We really work defensively to not give up easy baskets. Stopped allowing them to get transition stuff and then we just started to believe.”
Cele Kasamba finished with a game high 28 points, a talented 2017 that could see some time on a CIS squad in the years to come.
“Cele was outstanding tonight. He was our primary ball handler today, made good decisions, did a great job of getting us into stuff and recognizing when it was his turn to take the ball to the basket.” Coach Sullivan said about Kasamba’s perofmance.
Abu Kigab Best 2017 Playing In Canada?
Virginia Tech assistant coach Jamie McNeilly was sitting courtside and was in the house to watch 2017 6’6” Abu Kigab who was phenomenal. He dropped 26 points and took home tournament MVP honours. His performance solidified himself as one of the top 2017 products in the ENTIRE Canadian class. St. Francis entered the final frame up 48-40 and Kigab added 12 of his 26 in the fourth to seal the deal. Majority relishing the one on one battle with Panthers 2015 6’5″ DamiAnn Prehay who added 19 points of his own but was held field goal less in the last quarter.
“He is just a tireless competitor, incredible communicator and he just works so hard. That was a heck of a match up with Prehay. Abu just willed us to a win and it was one of the better performances we’ve had from a kid in our entire school’s history.” Coach Sullivan said about Kigab.
“Our coach has been telling me to be a leader since grade 9. I didn’t play junior I just played senior and he wanted me to be a vocal leader and lead by example.” Kigab told Hoops Hype Canada.
Kigab (pronounced Kijab) plays AAU ball for UPLAY and is the son of a 6’8” Sudanese Olympian swimmer. Saturday night he did it all. He rebounded, brought the ball up, got the Phoenix into their offense often and made HUGE shots down the stretch.
So who does Kigab model his game after?
“Alot of people. Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Damiann Lillard. I try to add parts to my game from each player and don’t really focus on one player. Thats what the greats have been doing,” Kigab said. “Jordan got something from Magic and it just kept going and going.”
Where does Abu go from here in terms of getting better? The humble yet hungry Kigab explained,
“For me to get better, I need to always work on my shooting, finishing and decision making which comes with maturity. Also ball handling I have to be more crisp with my crossovers. Just have to keep working hard until I do.”
Kigab breakout season includes performances that poured in 31 on West Humber, 22 on Notre Dame and 17 on Goetz before breaking out again with 26 versus d’Youville.
Lucas Olsthoorn
The core of the Phoenix has been playing since the eighth grade and it shows in their chemistry. Very unselfish and all of them dish the ball willingly.
Anchored on defense by 2017 6’8” Lucas Olsthoorn. The big fella brings another level of intensity to the team. His presence scares guards from driving to the lane and is maybe the most throw back center you can find playing high school basketball in Canada. Always there blocking or contesting shots but offensively, even with defenders draped all over him, he can score or dish the ball out very unselfishly. He has been garnering interest from both U.S. and CIS schools. He had 13 in the first half versus d’Youville and finished with 15 including a boat load of boards.
What Is Next
St, Francis will take their talents to the Silver Fox tournament in Hamilton on January 30th-31st. With a promising start to the season and victories against powerhouses in the province head coach Pat Sullivan is adamant that the Phoenix will not reclassify from “AA” to “AAAA” for the OFSAA championships later this year. Proof is in the pudding though, this group is thriving and an intelligent bunch that if they do contemplate a “AAAA” change, no question, Sullivan has himself a podium contender.
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