The UNBC Timberwolves men's basketball team finalized its 2020 recruiting class on Tuesday, picking up shooting guard/small forward Matt Jickling.
The 18-year-old from Regina, Sask. hasn't visited UNBC's Prince George campus yet, because of travel restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he said he is keen to join the program.
“I chose the Timberwolves because the program coach (Todd) Jordan described sounded like a great fit for me, athletically and academically," Jickling said in a press release. "Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, I was unable to tour the campus or speak to the players, but I did meet with coach Jordan. I was really impressed by his approach to focusing on the balance between academics and basketball. It was clear to me that this was the perfect choice for me.”
Jickling stands six-foot-four and can shoot from beyond the arc.
“I am a tall guard and I take pride in my defense. I like to challenge myself to stop whoever I match up against," he said in a press release. "I am also a playmaker and I try to find my teammates whenever they’re open.”
Jickling will spend his first season as a redshirt, training with the team and learning from the Timberwolves' veteran guards like Vova Pluzhnikov, Tyrell Laing, and Payton Tirrell.
“In my first year with the team, I want to get stronger as a player. I want to show my coaches and my teammates what kind of player I am," Jickling said. "I also want to develop into the best player I can be. As a redshirt, I want to put myself in the best possible position for next year.”
Jordan said the new recruit has plenty of potential.
“We are really happy to add Matt to our program. He is a longer guard who can really shoot the ball," Jordan said. "We feel that he still has a lot of room to grow and develop and we are excited to work with him through that process. He is a high-level student and should be a great addition to our team and our culture.”
Jickling will study nature-based tourism management at UNBC.
