TUFEGDZICH, VELICI ADDED TO LIONS ROSTER
The York University Lions men’s basketball team has welcomed another two players to the roster for the 2010-11 season, Nicholas Tufegdzich and Vlad Velici.
Tufegdzich, a six-foot-seven, 185-pound centre / power forward from Windsor, Ont., comes to the Lions from Riverside Secondary School and will study history at York. As a member of the Rebels, he was named a city all-star three times, a first-team all-city twice, the team’s most valuable player twice and Windsor’s Mr. Basketball in grade 12.
This past season, Tufegdzich helped the Rebels advance to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships for the first time in school history after winning gold medals at the city and regional levels. Throughout the season he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game.
Velici is a product of Woodbridge College and was recently named the most valuable player of the senior team. He also received an award for basketball excellence for his contributions to the sport throughout his four years in high school.
In his first year at Woodbridge College, he helped the team advance to the York Region Athletic Association (YRAA) Tier I final and the OFSAA AA championships. He was named the most valuable player of the team in grade 10 and was selected to the YRAA all-star team for a Battle of the Boards event.
A six-foot-seven, 190-pound forward who will study kinesiology and health science at York, Velici also has significant experience in the Ontario Basketball Association (OBA). He began playing with the JAMBA Cats and spent the past three seasons with Toronto 5-0.
Last April, he was selected to be part of the Hoop Factory elite Canadian team that travelled to Milan, Italy for an international tournament, where the squad won the gold medal with a victory over a Lithuanian team in the final.
“We are extremely pleased that both Nick and Vlad chose to join the York Lions family,” said head coach Tom Oliveri. “They are versatile athletes whose contribution will be counted on for years to come. These two athletes are high-character individuals who understand that through hard work and dedication, they will be able to achieve their goals both on and off the court.”
Tufegdzich and Velici join fellow new recruit Travis Turnbull of Tecumseh, Ont., who was announced as a member of the Lions in April.
The Lions will begin play for the 2010-11 season in October. The full schedule will be announced later this month.
