Introducing Anthony Ottley Jr – CCAA West, NPH Diary Holder

North Pole Hoops is proud to announce Anthony Ottley Jr of Red Deer College as a 2015-2016 NPH Diary holder. Ottley will represent Western Canada and ACAC hoops, while Teq Zwarych of Georgian College is representing the East and OCAA. Ottley is a journeyman, having played at the JUCO (Kilgore), CIS (Trinity Western) and CCAA (Durham) levels, with ambitions of the PROS next year. While at Durham, Ottley lead the nation in scoring, averaging 26 PPG.

Follow his journey this season as Red Deer aims for a National title!

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My name is Anthony Ottley Jr, I’m from Toronto Ontario. I lived in many parts of the Greater Toronto area throughout my life. My original neighbourhood was always Bishop Tutu on Harbourfront. It was here at the Harbourfront courts that I developed my love for the game of basketball. I remember being out there everyday and every night always thinking about getting better playing with my uncle, my brothers, and neighbourhood friends. It is here at home where my heart and soul lives and where I began to grow large aspirations and big dreams.

How I got to Red Deer College to play for the Kings was definitely a roller coaster. It started a couple years back when Coach Clayton Pottinger gave me a call for an opportunity to come and play. It really took a while to get things in motion, since I decided to take a year off from school to develop my game and expose myself to the professional basketball scene.

I played in different pro-ams, semi pro teams, tournaments, and attended every work out that was thrown at me. I was willing to do whatever it took to play the game I love. So this past summer I had a few opportunities come my way to go tryout for some pro teams, most recently training with the London Lightning. But I came to a decision that would be tough and committed to play my last year of post secondary eligibility at Red Deer College.

Throughout the recruiting processes, I worked out a couple times with Coach Clay. We developed a relationship, maybe slower than we both would have liked, but steadily we began to stay in contact a lot more frequently through 2015. Then one night my family and I made a decision, and within the next 24 hours I phoned coach and told him I’d be there. From that day on it was business and time to go.

The culture of this team in Red Deer is one of a kind. We have a slogan ingrained into our culture entitled DO MORE. Plain and simple, but the only way to excel both on and off the court is to DO MORE. It is what keeps us focused on our goals in March.

Furthermore and to be truthful, it is the culture and mentality of this program/team that lead me here. Coach keeps us in check. He is like that sensei out of those karate films. Even though he may demand a whole lot, he is easy going, and a great person to be around, along with our amazing coaching staff; the legendary Red Deer alumni’s Lloyd Strickland, Joel Carroll, and you cannot forget CIS National champions Clint Unsworth.

This year is serious, and we are coming for gold! In the Toronto translation to keep it short “It’s a serious ting”. Our team is pretty deep as we have returning top players like Benny and Henry Bankazo, two brothers out of Kitchener, ON. Along with them, we have a solid group of returning veterans, and finally newcomers like Ian Tevis from Seattle, Rodney Teal from Oklahoma, and Kelvin Omojola, the rookie from Las Vegas. This year we have everyone playing a solid role and I have no doubt in my mind that we can accomplish our goals and wear gold in March.

My impact as a player on this team is to BE A PRO. At our team retreat, everyone was given a trigger word, or phrase, which that player would be held accountable to. Again, mine is just to be a pro, and that is to always be professional whether I am on the court or off the court.

Over the summer I spent my time training non-stop everyday changing my habits on and off court. I hit the weight room, ran hills, countless drills, stretching sessions, and conditioning. You name it, I probably was doing it. All my work and progress as a player this past Spring/Summer I couldn’t have done without the best trainer, motivator, friend in the city. Big shout out to Mohsin Qureshi and Bukketz Nation! Also ACE sports (Mississuaga Power now Raptors 905), Toronto 3D, Smileworks, Megacity basketball, Crown League, and OVO bounce for the opportunities to keep on playing the game I love.

This will be a season to remember.

Anthony Ottley Jr