Niagara College inks hoopster Kennan Larmand

Former Centennial and Ridley College basketball player Kennan Larmand committed Thursday to play basketball at Niagara College. Pictured left to right are parents, Andrew and Teryl Larmand, Kennan, men’s coach Phil Mosley and varsity sports academic advisor Randy Conlon.

Niagara College men’s basketball coach Phil Mosley won’t need to worry about getting to know his latest recruit.

On Thursday at Niagara College’s Welland campus, Kennan Larmand signed on the dotted line to play for Niagara College this upcoming season.

Mosley had the 18-year-old Larmand on his roster with the Centennial Cougars and the pair shared a number of triumphs on the basketball court, including winning the 2018 Tribune Tournament, an event in which Larmand earned MVP honours.

“He’s a character kid with a great family and a great work ethic and I got a first-hand opportunity to see that in practice and in the off-season,” he said. “That is always one of the boxes a coach wants to check because you don’t always know.”

Larmand, who celebrated his 18th birthday Thursday, described Niagara as the perfect spot for him to continue his hoops career.

“I think it is the best fit for me and my family this year,” he said. “It’s close and I think it will prepare me because I want to play CIS (U SPORTS). And it’s obviously a good coach, a good program and they had a good year last year.

“It’s also close so people can come see me play next year.”

Reuniting with his high school coach played a role in his decision.

“He has been my coach since Grade 9 and we have a good relationship.”

Mosley is ecstatic to land Larmand, one of the top Grade 12 players in Niagara, who spent this past season with Ridley College’s Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association program.

“We are very excited to welcome Kennan to the program,” Mosley said. “He’s 6-foot-3, he’s very versatile, he had a great skill set and a high basketball IQ, and I think the fact that he played OSBA has prepared him for the next level.”

Mosley feels Larmand has improved his game after one year with Ridley.

“I find that he is stronger going to the basket and overall he is stronger on the court,” Mosley said. “And he still can shoot the ball really well with great consistency.”

Larmand agrees OSBA ball was a big boost to his development.

“It helped a lot,” he said. “The jump was huge from normal high school to playing prep. I learned a lot this year and I think I am ready to play. Tarry (Upshaw) was a good coach.”

The biggest difference between prep ball and high school basketball was the basketball IQ, physicality and the athleticism of the players.

“I thought I shot the ball well this year and the OSBA (three-point) line is the same as the college line so I think I will be ready to shoot here too,” Larmand said.

But he will need to improve in some areas to succeed at the college level.

“An 18-year-old always has to get stronger, but I think that is going to be natural as well. He is going to start to fill into his body,” Mosley said. “Other than that, it’s hard work and having the right attitude and I have no worries that he is not going to come in and be an impact player.”

No one needs to tell the 160-pound Larmand that he will have to get physically stronger.

“I need to get bigger, that’s for sure, but I think I have all the knowledge,” he said. “I just need to start practising with them and jelling with them more.”

Larmand has a number of goals for the season.

“I want to have a good year with the team, improve a lot and get more coaches looking at me.”

At Niagara, he plans to study fitness and health promotion.