DeMont looks to crack Brock roster

Ever since she began starting with the Sir Winston Churchill senior girls basketball team in Grade 9, Kaley DeMont has been one of the top high school basketball players in Niagara.

The 18-year-old St. Catharines resident started her Grade 12 season with a bang, winning MVP honours at the First BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament and helping the Bulldogs dominate the competition in the Niagara area.

But as the high school season wore on, the 5-foot-8 guard, who has played hundred of games since starting travel ball with the Pelham Panthers in Grade 2, began to suffer from pain in her right knee.

“It had spread over the past two years and I didn’t know about it,” she said. “It was tension in my knee and I needed to get it healed. It was only going to get better if I rested and did the proper stretches to heal it.”

She ended up being diagnosed with chronic patellar tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone, commonly known as jumper’s knee.

Because of the injury, DeMont was only able to suit up for two games with the Niagara Juel squad before its season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The timing was horrible because it robbed her of valuable playing time in front of Ontario university coaches and scouts.

“It was really hard because I know some coaches contacted me and I told them I couldn’t play so they weren’t able to see me,” said the perennial Zone 4 Top 10 All-Star. “There wasn’t even any game tape for them to watch. I did try to go back (and play) to get the coaches to look at me, but it wasn’t enough.”

The shutdown of all activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including basketball, has helped in the healing process.

“That is the one good thing out of corona,” she said, with a laugh. “It is much better and I have seen a lot of progress on it.”

DeMont had some interest from Guelph, York, Laurentian, the University of Prince Edward Island and Laurier before she verbally committed to attend Brock.

Brock head coach Mike Rao is glad DeMont will be trying to make the Badgers this fall.

“Kaley is a tremendous three-point shooter and an overall offensive threat,” he said. “She has the ability to stretch the defence, allowing other players to highlight their skills.”

He also likes other parts of her game.

“Kaley has shown a lot of leadership ability in handling the ball and getting her teammates involved,” he said. “Brock University is very excited in adding another local talent to our program.”

Brock has always been on DeMont’s radar.

“I always knew that I was going to end up going (to Brock) but I wasn’t confident in myself that I wanted to fully go just because of all this corona stuff,” she said. “Then I had a call with coach Rao and he gave me more confidence in myself and the decision I made.”

Brock’s previous head coach Ashley MacSporran began recruiting DeMont in Grade 9 and she practised with the team in Grade 10.

“I have always liked the girls and the program and how they all come together.”

Watching Brock win a silver medal at the USPORTS championships helped nudge her towards Brock as did a chance to play with Sam Keltos, the daughter of Frank Keltos, who has coached DeMont at Sir Winston Churchill and the Niagara Juel program.

“That was one of my big decision makers. It will be awesome to play with her.”

The business communications program at Brock was also of interest.

“I don’t know what I want do when I am older but the program I am taking at Brock will give me a lot of opportunities for what I want to get in to,” she said. “And it’s at home which also makes it easier.”

Her goals at Brock are to make the team, improve as a player and earn some playing time.

She has a number of skills that should help Brock moving forward.

“I have gone away from the point guard position the past couple of years because my teammates have really stepped up in that position, but I think I have stepped up in my shooting,” she said. “I think I will be able to do that and also be that backup point guard they need or a guard to bring up the ball under pressure.”

She is looking forward to the year.

“It’s being with the girls, having that community with all of them, making new friendships and getting better as a player.”

DeMont has been shooting hoops in her driveway almost every day and will have her first online meeting with her new teammates on Wednesday.

“I am nervous and excited at the same time.”

She can’t wait to play for Rao.

“I have always known he is a good coach because he came and ran some of the Juel practices for us and it was really great.”