VICTORIA - There is understandably some excitement in the women's basketball camp today at the University of Victoria, as the Vikes have landed a top international recruit for the program.
Mikaela Turik of Sydney, Australia, has committed to the Vikes and the multi-sport star is expected to be an impact player in the CIS.
The 16-year-old will join the squad midway through the 2012-13 varsity season.
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"What first attracted me to UVic was the reputation of the university through its academics and sporting excellence," Turik said from Australia. "The basketball program at the university has been successful, and with the communications with coach (Rich) Chambers, it seemed like the program was the best fit for me."
Also a star cricket player on the Canadian national women's team, Turik played club basketball for the Manly Warringah U-18 squad.
"The location of being on the Island is close to family and friends, and not to mention the warmest weather in Canada, so I hear. I am looking forward to having the university experience and excited to join the Vikes women's basketball team," Turik said. "I am also really excited to learn from coach Chambers. I want to develop not only as a basketball player but an individual as well."
The six-foot-one forward is described by Vikes women's basketball head coach #Rich Chambers# as a "big perimeter, 3-type player" who is a strong rebounder and shows great athleticism and poise on the court.
"She's a player who can really shoot the ball," Chambers said. "She has a lot of experience playing against older players and loves the game and has such a high level of enthusiasm for the game."
Turik has been playing recently in the U-18 league in Australia, despite being younger than her teammates. At St. Luke's School in 2010, Turik averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds and six assists per game.
"Her experience at that level is huge," Chambers said. "She'll be a good one, potentially could even play at the junior national team level."
Turik will not be able to join the Vikes until she is done high school. Currently on spring break, Turik will return for one more year and complete her secondary schooling in Australia in November, 2012, eligible for the 2013 portion of the varsity season.
A dual citizen of Australia and Canada, Turik's grandmother graduated from Victoria's Teacher's College, and Turik said she also has family who live on Vancouver Island and friends who attended UVic. Born in Australia, Turik's father is from Trail, B.C.
"I am now proud to hold both citizenships," Turik said, noting her connections even run into the Vikes family as a good friend from the Canadian cricket team, Izzy Mengual, once worked as a student with the department.
Basketball Bio
- St. Luke's School Basketball Captain 2012
- St. Luke's Basketball Excellence Award 2010
- averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists per game
- Led her school to a 6-2 record during a U.S. West Coast tour in December, 2010, scoring 51 points including a seven-for-eight stats-line for three-pointers against a Washington State 4A high school team
- Member of Manly Warringah club program
