Huskies basketball player gets pro experience

The Saskatchewan Rattlers are doing their part to develop a University of Saskatchewan Huskies basketball star.

High-scoring guard Chan de Ciman was drafted by the Rattlers in April and has been on the roster since their first game.

Unfortunately, a training camp injury has kept the Regina product from hitting the court at SaskTel Centre so far this season, but he said he’s still getting good experience.

“Even just watching these guys battle and compete every day is exciting for me, and it’s good to learn from (them),” he told 650 CKOM.

“It’s only going to improve my game, honestly — on the court and off the court as well.”

His time in the Canadian Elite Basketball League should come in handy. Last season was the final year of U Sports eligibility for Huskies leading scorer Lawrence Moore and the team also lost its top rebounder, Joe Barker.

De Ciman said the skills he’s developing now should help the Huskies next season, but it won’t all be up to him.

“Obviously it doesn’t have to be just me, of course, but as a team, as a unit, we have to fill their roles,” he said.

De Ciman scored 261 points for an average of just under 11 per game for the Huskies during the 2018-19 season.