The NAIT Ooks men's basketball team is already preparing for an exciting new season, and one of the most importantparts of building a strong program starts with recruiting athletes who want to help the team grow.

According to Head Coach Adika Peter-McNeilly, the goal is to recruit athletes who are not only talented and homegrown but also embody what it means to be a true NAIT Ook — individuals who are eager to improve, committed to winning, and dedicated to maintaining academic integrity and excellence both on and off the court.

When it comes to recruitment, the coaching staff approaches the process strategically, identifying key positions needed to strengthen the team's structure and competitiveness at the ACAC level. This year, part of their focus has been filling the gaps left by former players Peter Deng and Omar Farah, who advanced to U Sports and Division II programs. While replacing talented athletes is always challenging, the staff takes pride in discovering new talent and developing promising players rather than trying to replicate the same athlete year after year.

Reflecting on last season, Coach McNeilly emphasized that much of the team's early focus was on helping everyone understand what it truly means to be a NAIT athlete. Now, with more experience and a strong group of returning players, the team is ready to take the next step — building a strategy that centers on becoming the top defensive team in the ACAC.

The team's chemistry remains one of its greatest strengths. Coach McNeilly shared:

"I believe the most successful teams are the ones where players already know each other — whether they've played together or against each other in high school. Our guys have amazing chemistry, and they genuinely enjoy being around each other off the court."

This season's new recruits include:

• Owen Weaver, returning to NAIT after playing during the 2023–24 season
• Dax Kessler, an incoming high school recruit from O'Leary
• Zach Morris, a talented transfer from Durham College
• Nathan Saldo, a transfer from Brandon University
• Kevin Hunter, a transfer from Nipissing University
• Ben Amevor, a transfer from Northwestern Polytechnic

Notably, Saldo, Hunter, and Amevor are all homegrown Edmontonians, bringing local pride and strong basketball roots to the Ooks roster.

These new additions will undoubtedly strengthen the team and bring fresh energy, talent, and drive to the court throughout the upcoming season.