River Lions open camp
Niagara River Lions head coach/GM Victor Raso is greeting the opening of the Niagara River Lions training camp with excitement.
“I think we have a good bunch. I have been doing this long enough now to know that things will change and you really have to stay in the moment. It’s a process. You have to focus on habits and you have to build the best team as possible,” he said, prior to the camp opening Monday at Ridley College.
After a season coaching the Ridley College prep team, Raso feels he is as ready as ever to start the season.
“Every year we get a little bit better and this year, especially with me coaching all-year long I am very prepared and organized.”
The River Lions are still searching for their first-ever Canadian Elite Basketball League title but Raso is focused on the present and not past history.
“We had years where I didn’t like how things went and we made the Final Four and then we have had years like last year where everything went according to plan and I thought we were the best team and we had a bad day,” he said. “Yes, I am sick of it but ultimately it is a process and it is task focused. You have to stay day-to-day and you have to do the things and build on the habits that are important down the road and are important to win games. If I dwell on that all the time, I won’t be good in the moments that I need to be and I won’t be good for these guys throughout the course of the training camp and the regular season.”
Training camp started Thursday at Ridley College and among the 16 players in camp are: returnees AJ Davis, Jahvon Blair, Kimbal Mackenzie, and TJ Lall; newcomers Omari Moore, Loudon Love, Naythan Shaw-Clarke, Aaryn Rai, Elijah Lufile and Nathan Cayo; and, current or graduating U SPORTS players Jordan Tchuente, Luka Syllas, Cameron Bett and Charles Andre Robert. Mohawk College’s Jerry Mercury, the first ever Canadian Colleges Athletic Association player drafted into the CEBL, will be absent because of a back injury.
There are no roster spots up for grabs during training camp.
“I can tell you the 10 guys right now and Luka Syllas, who is one of the our U SPORTS players, may make the team, may not make the team or he may be with us for five, 10 or 15 games. That is kind of to be determined,” Raso said.
He can’t take his time making roster choices because of the shortness of training camp and the imminent opening of the season May 24 on the road against the Brampton Honey Badgers.
“Our training camp is very much practice and I don’t want to bring 16 guys in and in four days make a decision on who we are going to keep for the next two and a half months. I have made those decisions already.”
Those not on Raso’s roster plans know exactly what their opportunity is in training camp.
“If anything changes, they know I know them later in the year. I trust them and if I need to make a change the guys could step right into it.”
Defensive Player and Clutch Player of the Year Ahmad will miss six or seven games because his overseas season is ongoing until mid-June and his spot will be filled by Moore.
“He was the starting point guard for the Raptors 905 this year and he is a heckuva talent,” Raso said. “He is one year removed from being at the Milwaukee Bucks training camp and he is only 23 years old. I am really excited about him but also for the other three new additions. Aaryn Rai is a phenomenal basketball player. Nathan Cayo is coming to us from Montreal and has been excellent in the CEBL and Loudon Love is our new big guy who is coming from the Memphis Hustle. I love the energy he brings and the way he plays basketball. He is great teammate.”
Love was signed because Ekiyor tore his ACL.
“It is awful news and we won’t have Eddie for this season. That really hurts. For us, I can make adjustments but for Eddie he was having a phenomenal year and was about to make a big leap over in Europe. Hopefully he will recover.”
The River Lions home opener will be May 30 at 7 p.m. at the Meridian Centre versus the Brampton Honey Badgers. Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now.
Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.
