Canisius lands Chloe Peters
For a young basketball player, there’s nothing like signing a National Letters of Intent to play NCAA Division 1 hoops.
“I was super excited,” Chloe Peters said. “I was with my family, my parents, my grandparents, sister and uncle and I was just super happy to have signed and made things official that I was going to Canisius.”
It was an easy decision for the 6-foot-1 Niagara Prep post player to make.
“I visited a couple of schools more on the eastern side of the U.S, but I really liked the proximity of Canisius and I loved the people there and the environment their team and the coaches have.”
The 17-year Welland native had attended basketball camps at Canisius when she was younger so she was familiar with the university and the campus.
“When I went there for a visit, I definitely got the feeling that it is where I wanted to be.”
It didn’t hurt that the Buffalo university is within close proximity to Welland.
“Early in the recruiting process, I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deciding factor for me but, when it came down to it, I realized it was important for me to be close and to have the ability to have my family be able to come out to games.”
The Niagara Prep basketball player had always dreamed of playing NCAA basketball but the realization it could become a reality didn’t happen until she began to get recruited at the start of her Grade 11 season at Niagara Prep. Her long-time coach Dave Picton never doubted her abilities and was her biggest booster.
“Coach Dave was always super positive with me and told me that I was capable of playing D1.”
Picton has been a big part of Peters’ basketball career, starting when she was in Grade 2.
“It is the intensity of his coaching and the skill development was great,’ Peters said. “Ever since I was in Grade 2 as a post, he had me working on my ball handling skills and my shooting as well as my post moves and defence.
“Defence is a huge part of what he instills in all his players and all of that together has made me so versatile. It’s huge part of what coaches like about me.”
Picton has always liked Peters’ game.
“Chloe has been with me since Day 1 and she has worked extremely hard on her perimeter game and her back to the basket game,” he said. “She’s a really nice tool for Canisius and I think she will be a really nice piece for them.”
He feels she will be a success in Division 1 basketball.
“At that level, she is not going to be a five and that’s why since the beginning she has always been working on dribbling skills and she can really handle the ball,” Picton said. “I think her skills will allow her to be a real nice four man there.”
Picton foresees Peters being a mismatch nightmare for opposing coaches as she builds her quickness and her agility.
“If that happens, I think she will be unstoppable,” he said.
Canisius head coach Scott Hemer is happy to land Peters.
“Chloe has a mix of size and versatility that will be a tremendous addition to our frontcourt,” he said, on the Canisius website. “She is a strong finisher at the rim and can stretch the floor with her shooting range, both of which make her a great fit for our program.”
Peters plans to study biology and pre-med at Canisius.
“I am looking forward to all of it,” she said. “I am looking forward to building connections with my teammates and having that experience of playing at a super high level.”
Peters’ second season of Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association hoops with Niagara Prep has yet to launch because of a back injury. She has been making huge improvements and is hoping to return to the court in the next couple of months.
“It has been super difficult and I have tried not to let my emotions get the best of me,” she said. “On the bench, I have been cheering everybody on. I think it has even helped me become a better teammate by trying to take a leadership role from the sidelines.”
