Ryan in dogfight for spot on River Lions roster
Don’t count former Brock Badger Cassidy Ryan among the Canadian basketball players who followed the inaugural draft of the Canadian Elite Basketball League with interest.
“I had no idea about the whole process,” the 24-year-old Mississauga native said.
Following the draft, Ryan received calls from River Lions lead assistant coach Jeff Joseph, who was also an assistant at Brock, and head coach/GM Victor Raso. The coaches invited him to attend practices and tryouts with the team and Ryan began informal workouts with the squad last week.
“I took it (the opportunity) right away,” he said, after the second day of formal training camp Monday. “At first, my mindset was just to come in, get better over the summer and progress and go overseas in September.”
All that has changed in his short time at the camp.
“Now looking at it, I’ve been playing really well and I think they are pretty confident in me to make team,” he said. “It has changed from working out with the team to actually being part of the roster which should be fun.”
Ryan knows making the squad won’t be easy.
“It is a lot more physical than the university game and everyone can shoot,” he said. “It’s just learning and I am open to everything. I take criticism from coach and the players.”
He feels the criticism will help him reach his ultimate goal.
“I don’t know where I am going to end up next year — I am thinking Germany or Spain — but hopefully Raptors 905. I am going to start working out with them as well because coach Kissi (former Brock coach Charles Kissi) is still up there.
“I am open to any opportunity.”
Raso is happy to give Cassidy a chance with the River Lions.
“He is a graduating senior, his skill set is at a position that we need, especially early on, and for him it’s the perfect opportunity to train with pros all summer, get better and be in a competitive environment.”
Cassidy is in the hunt for a roster spot on the River Lions.
“He is in a dogfight right now with five other guys for the last spot in May,” Raso said. “That changes when the guys start to come back.”
The River Lions have at least three players who won’t join the team until ending their pro seasons in Europe.
Regardless of what happens, Ryan will train with the team all summer.
He is enjoying the whole experience.
“I knew a lot of the older guys coming into it because Canadian basketball players all see to know each other somehow,” he said. “It was good to see some of the faces I am familiar with and everyone is getting along really well.
“We are pushing each other and I am learning a lot from the older guys because some of then have 10 years experience as professionals.”
Ryan, who just finished his intercollegiate career this spring, enjoyed his time at Brock and will miss it.
“It was sad and I wish that I had went there all five years,” he said. “I loved every moment I was at Brock and my three years there were great.
“I think I could have been up there with Dani (Elgadi) and Johneil (Simpson) in the scoring totals and it would have been cool to see what I could have done in five years.”
Ryan spent his first two years at Canisius in Buffalo before coming to Brock.
“I learned a lot there but I just don’t think it was the right fit for me.”
Once Canisius coach Jim Baron retired, Ryan felt it was time to go elsewhere.
He felt he made good strides as a player during his time at Brock.
“When I first got to Brock, I butted heads a lot with Kissi and he will tell you himself that we argued almost every day,” he said. “But I think it was for the better. He knew that I could produce more.”
Ryan had to make some adjustments when he returned home. The three-point line in the Unites States was a lot closer.
“I was shooting the ball really well in the NCAA and I came back and I couldn’t shoot the three. And I was a lot bigger than the guys here so he stuck me in the post the first year which was fun.”
Playing in the post wasn’t a permanent gig for Ryan at Brock.
“The first summer we worked on my shot a lot to extend it back out and from there it was learning how to be a guard again,” he said. “Now it’s transferring to this because it is only guard stuff for me now.”
Raso likes a lot about Ryan’s game.
“He has the size and athleticism to have a long career as a guard professionally,” he said. “In university he was a four, but he can shoot the ball well, he has a knack for scoring and he’s a big and physical.”
