Quest鈥檚 star guard Theo VandenEkart has always valued his time on the basketball court, as it has provided a refuge for him at times.
This season, he got used to coming off the bench instead of starting as he did for most of his career, but that doesn鈥檛 mean he wasn鈥檛 logging some heavy minutes, as his role as sixth man was pivotal to the Kermodes鈥� high-flying offence.
He led the team in scoring with 17.3 points per game, finishing third overall in the Pacific Western Athletic Association. He also was second in steals and 10th in assists, and he helped propel the team to a second-place regular season finish.
His efforts did not go unnoticed. Earlier this month, VandenEkart was chosen as one of 10 All-Canadians for the men鈥檚 team by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, while Quest鈥檚 Miriam Baumann also received the national honour for the women鈥檚 team.
He says he had no idea he would be picked.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 really something I was thinking about,鈥� he said.
For VandenEkart, basketball has always played an important role in his life, especially as he did not have the easiest time growing up in the town of Sultan, Wash.
鈥淚t was definitely hard at times and very confusing,鈥� he said.
His biological father died when he was one month old. His stepfather was often not around, and their mother struggled to pay the bills, he said. At times, there was no electricity or food.
At one point, VandenEkart and his two brothers, each two years apart, went to live with their grandmother.聽
鈥淟iving with my grandma was definitely a better environment,鈥� he said.
His relationship with his mother is good now, but when the three boys were growing up, they often had to rely on each other, especially on the eldest, Evy, who was the one to make the younger boys stay on the right path. 聽
His brother was not the only important influence, though.聽
鈥淭he biggest role model in my life was my high school coach,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o this day, he definitely plays a huge role in my life.鈥�
VandenEkart is quick to cite his coach at Sultan High School, Nick Trichler, for providing a strong influence for him while he was growing up, especially considering how important basketball was to him.
鈥淓very time on the court it just, like, freed my mind鈥�. Even to this day, it still does the same thing for me,鈥� he said.
VandenEkart still stays in touch with his coach and considers him a close friend.
鈥淚 definitely wouldn鈥檛 be where I am without him,鈥� he said.
On the court, VandenEkart has been able to adjust to basketball in Canada, despite some slight differences in rules.
鈥淵ou have less time on the shot clock, you can鈥檛 call a timeout on the floor鈥�. The three-point line is further back,鈥� he said.聽
The last one could be especially tough for a player known for his outside shot, but he has been able to adapt, as his stats make clear.聽
Off the court, he felt a bit out of place in 麻豆社国产when he first arrived after two years of junior college in Washington, but after a couple of years, he felt more comfortable.
鈥淣ow I love it here. I love the team, I love my coach. I鈥檓 glad I stuck it out,鈥� he said.
In the classroom, his upbringing has even influenced his studies, as he is focusing his keystone project at Quest around helping young people.聽
鈥淢y question relates to role models and helping youth achieve their goals and overcome adversity in their lives,鈥� he said, adding that when he graduates next year, he hopes to become a coach or teacher.聽
