Bleich finds way with Knights
Riley Bleich is on an upwards trajectory for the Niagara College Knights men’s basketball team.
The 20-year-old Fonthill native is averaging 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds on the season but has taken his game to the next level in the team’s past four games, all Niagara wins. Bleich is averaging 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game over that stretch.
“We are really, really pleased with his progress at this point in the season. He had some learning to do at the beginning but right now he is playing at such a high level and he helps us on both ends of the floor,” Niagara head coach Phil Mosley said. “Defensively, he is a rim protector and offensively he is such a good shooter and he is finding his confidence. That is allowing him to excel at the OCAA (Ontario Colleges Athletic Asssociation) level.”
The 6-foot-8 forward is pleased with how his season is moving along.
“I think it is going quite well. I have been shooting the ball quite well, I am protecting the rim and I am working on my defence more which is something that I didn’t necessarily do when I was back in high school,” he said. “Putting such an emphasis on defence has impacted me a lot and the way I play my game. They take it seriously here. Defence is No. 1. It’s being able to perform athletically, jump with people and do what I need to do.”
He is working hard to continue moving forward with his game.
“I have to keep training and get that much stronger and faster to take it farther just like I did last year,” the Police Foundations student said.
Mosley likes the sounds of that.
“He is super young and he is very focused on school. I believe Ryan will make his decisions based on schooling and basketball and we want a kid to do that,” he said. “The sky is the limit for him and we will look at him as a major, major OCAA player next year if he is with us. We have high hopes for him.”
Mosley and the Knights recruited Bleich for the 2022-23 season but he decided before the season started not to play.
“He just wanted to get acclimated with school and I think it was the right decision for him. Some of these guys who hadn’t had full high school basketball careers (because of COVID) realized they needed a bit more maturity and it worked out well for him,” Mosley said. “He has come in well-accepted by the team and he has grown physically. We have strength and conditioning at Iron Performance Centre and they are amazing. Through their work and his natural maturity, he is starting to grow into his body. It allows him to play in the rigours of the OCAA against 23- and 24-year-old men.”
Bleich agrees with that assessment.
“It was about maturing, size and thinking that working might be the best option. It was taking a year to grow, more or less.”
It took him about eight months to figure things out and realize that he wanted to play basketball at the post secondary level.
He was a much different player in September 2023 compared to September 2022.
“It was my athletic ability and my size. Even now I am not the biggest guy out there but I put more weight on (went to 195 pounds from 175 pounds) and it makes a big difference in a league like this where you are playing against grown men who are much older than you. I am coming in with guys that are the same age as me and now I feel I am in the right place and able to fit it.”
Niagara is enjoying a strong season and Bleich is excited about the team’s potential.
“Our No. 1 goal is to win and go as far as we can,” he said. “We are a strong team and a deep team and the coaches say that if everyone puts in their work and does what they have to do, we can win.”
