If COVID-19 allows a Canada West season for 2021-22, a quarter of UNBC’s women’s basketball roster could all be related to other teammates.
The lady Timberwolves newest recruit, Hanna Busic, is cousins with rookie Bella Mesquita as the Calgary product officially committed to the post-secondary for next season this morning (Feb. 25).
In fact, both played with each other at St. Mary’s High School, more recently in early 2020 when Busic was a junior and Mesquita a senior, finishing 8-2 in that season and reaching the playoff semi-finals.
And, just like her cousin, Busic believes she can provide versatility and a high basketball IQ.
“I am a very strategic player who is always providing my teammates with the best opportunity to score,” she explained in a UNBC team release.
“I think the biggest adjustment will be the speed of the game, and playing against such high-level athletes.”
The possibility of two families represented in green and gold next year will depend, of course, on injury reports, any moves out of Prince George or a sudden ending to a collegiate career.
Sisters Madison and Rebecca Landry played together in the 2019-20 campaign and would’ve been playing for a second year if COVID-19 didn’t cancel the current season.
If Madison moves her final year of eligibility to 2021-22 by way of the pandemic, she would rejoin her sister on the Northern Sport Centre court.
Celeste and Kalista Kirkness, and Hallie and Avery Nystedt, are set to be listed on the women’s soccer squad, making Busic’s signing the likeliness of four family pairings on UNBC Athletics programs for 2021-22.
Busic, a multiple MVP winner at St. Mary’s, is set to provide a steady force on offence and defence, UNBC Athletics explains.
Standing at five-foot-nine and on the wing, she says she’s confident her game can improve and quickly adjust to Canada’s highest-level of university sport.
“I am excited to work side-by-side with these high-level athletes,” said Busic.
“Coach Sergey’s style and approach to training is definitely something I want to be a part of. He is supportive, but expects nothing but the best from his players.”
UNBC has reached four consecutive Canada West playoff appearances, reaching the quarter-finals in the last two.
Head Coach Sergey Shchepotkin knows his roster will include more younger student-athletes, but believes Busic can spark more passion and drive to win among her fellow first-years.
“She has a real desire to be a Timberwolf, and has made a real effort to understand our team and this school,” he remarked.
“Hanna is well-rounded, gritty, and intelligent at both ends of the court, and I look forward to helping her develop in her time at UNBC.”
Busic is set to enrol in physiotherapy courses in the Prince George classroom, but hopes to specialize in brain injuries long-term.
She’ll report to T-Wolves' training camp in August.
