R.D. Parker Collegiate basketball star and 2015 AAA provincials MVP Adrianna Proulx will be taking her game to the university ranks in 2016 when she suits up as a member of the Brandon University Bobcats.
Proulx’s commitment to Brandon was announced by the university on the athletics program website Oct. 21.
“I’m very excited to become a Bobcat and look forward to being a part of the team next season,” said Proulx in the news release. “I was impressed with BU coach Novell Thomas’s plans and positive outlook for the future of the Bobcats. It is one of the reasons why I decided to commit to BU. I like what he is doing with the program and I feel like BU is the right fit for me.”
Thomas said the 5’10” Grade 12 student’s many accomplishments and accolades are well deserved.
“We are really excited to have Adrianna join the program,” said Thomas. “Her athleticism, length and desire to excel, are her greatest assets. She’s won at all levels and has an understanding of what it takes to succeed. I’m looking forward to working with Adrianna next season.”
In addition to helping the RDPC Trojans to a pair of second-place finishes and its first ever girls’ AAA provincial basketball championship, Proulx was ranked seventh among girls’ high school hoops players by the Winnipeg Free Press last season and has earned MVP honours in multiple tournaments, as well as twice being named the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s player of the week and senior female athlete of the year at RDPC in Grade 11. She was also a member of Manitoba’s 2014 national champion 17-and-under team.
Trojans’ basketball coach Sara Gillis said she believed early on that Proulx would continue to play competitively after high school.
“She pretty much has what if takes; exceptional athleticism, sound basketball skills, leadership skills, some elite level playing experience, a great work ethic and the ability to focus and drive towards what she wants...and she wants to play at the next level,” said Gillis.
Brandon University, the same university Gillis attended, is a good fit for a rural athlete that does not care for big cities, says the coach, as well as an environment in which Proulx can have an impact.
“Brandon has a young enthusiastic coach who has been committed to strengthening the women’s basketball program at BU and is doing it by pursuing great recruits like Adrianna,” Gillis said. “She will be entering an up-and-coming program and that is sometimes more exciting than entering into a top program; she can be a recognizable and direct contributor to the future growth and success of the program.”
And although Gillis feels her star player won’t need much adjustment to be successful in university basketball, having one more season of high school basketball – her fourth year on the senior varsity team – will make her that much better.
“She still has another year to grow and strengthen her game, and I believe with more hard work and focus she will bring it up several more notches before she walks onto the collegiate hardwood,” said Gillis.
Proulx plans to study physical education at Brandon beginning next fall.
