It appears UNBC is following a trend when it comes to scouting its next big sports stars.
Multi-sport athletes have drawn interest in the Prince George post-secondary in pursuing a chance to play at Canada’s highest-level of competition with a second signing of that calibre in one week.
Today (Feb. 12), Adaiah Tupas-Singh committed to the Timberwolves women’s basketball team beginning in the 2021-22 season, should COVID-19 allow it.
Like Anna deWynter’s signing with the women’s soccer squad, Tupas-Singh excelled in more than one sport, such as basketball, volleyball and soccer as well.
She eventually chose to stick with basketball, falling in love with the game at the age of nine.
“Mainly because the sport requires athleticism, is played with a fast pace, and there is a real opportunity to be competitive,” the Victoria product said in a UNBC Athletics release.
“I’ve had really great coaches and camaraderie with my teammates along the way, and that really solidified my love for the game. I am really looking forward to finally being able to play basketball games, and to compete at a high level.”
Standing at only five-foot-six, UNBC’s newest guard comes with a wealth of experience and competitive nature, having suited up for the Junior Vikes in the South Vancouver Island Basketball Association (SVIBA).
At Pacific Christian Secondary, where she’s set to graduate in June, Tupas-Singh averaged 25 points per game, as well as 10 rebounds, five assists, and five steals per game, touting a strong backcourt game that could help the T-Wolves in the years ahead.
Adaiah Tupas-Singh (front row, first left) has signed with the UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball team for the 2021-22 season. By Pacific Christian Secondary“My strengths as a player would be my ability to bring energy to the court, work hard defensively, and as a point guard, create opportunities for my teammates.”
Tupas-Singh’s skills around the arc also caught UNBC’s attention in the recruitment phase, sinking three-pointers at a 42 per cent rate as one of her many skillsets that will transcend on the Northern Sport Centre court.
Head Coach Sergey Shchepotkin says adding the 18-year-old to his new roster ‘made a ton of sense.’
“She plays the game with pace at both ends, and I am impressed by her instincts. Plus, she is a leader and carries herself with maturity and focus. I am excited to see her develop in her time here, and I believe she can be a real contributor at the university level. It is an exciting day for us.”
Tupas-Singh’s resume includes a stint in the Vancouver Island Premier League (soccer), a silver medal at the 2016 BC Summer Games with the three-on-three Island Zone basketball team and was the 2019-20 AA Island high-school basketball championships
Upon moving to Prince George in August for training camp, she set to enroll in UNBC’s biomedical program with a specific focus on medicine.
