When the 2017-18 Canada West men香蕉视频直播檚 basketball season tips off this fall, the UBC Thundebirds will have an unmistakable Kelowna flavour.

With KSS grad Parker Simson already wearing blue and gold, the T-Birds have since added two more key pieces from the Owls香蕉视频直播� of 2016.

After signing 6-foot-10 forward Grant Shephard on the Easter long weekend, the UBC men香蕉视频直播檚 program this week happily announced the commitment of blue chip point guard Mason Bourcier.

One of the most highly-touted high school players in Western Canada, the 6-foot-4 Bourcier is thrilled to be launching his post-secondary basketball career at UBC.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 great fit for me, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 want anything more,香蕉视频直播� said Bourcier. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a real family aspect here, it香蕉视频直播檚 a great team and with a lot good players. I know some of the guys here and there香蕉视频直播檚 a winning mentality.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to being part this program and winning a championship, that香蕉视频直播檚 what I came here to do.香蕉视频直播�

Bourcier closed out his high school career with KSS in style, scoring 29 points香蕉视频直播攊ncluding seven three-pointers香蕉视频直播攁nd earning MVP honours in the B.C. 4A championship game.

Not surprisingly, Bourcier generated plenty of interest for his services on both sides of the border, including from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and Ottawa香蕉视频直播檚 Carleton University Ravens.

In addition to the quality of Thunderbirds program and playing in his home province, Bourcier said playing with a couple of his ex-Owls teammates will be a considerable bonus.

香蕉视频直播淭hose guys coming here was a big factor for me, Grant, he香蕉视频直播檚 like a brother to me and a great player,香蕉视频直播� said Bourcier, who plans to pursue a business degree at UBC. 香蕉视频直播淧arker (Simson) was a huge role model for me when I came into the Owls and it香蕉视频直播檚 nice to be back with both of them again.香蕉视频直播�

UBC head coach Kevin Hanson said getting Bourcier on board is a significant step forward for the T-Birds program.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e thrilled to see Mason join our program, he has so many great characteristics, both as a basketball player and as a person,香蕉视频直播� Hanson said. 香蕉视频直播淗e told me he wants to win championships and that香蕉视频直播檚 exactly what you love to hear from a recruit.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 driven and he makes players around him better,香蕉视频直播� added Hanson. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e excited to see what he can do for our program for years to come.香蕉视频直播�

Shephard, whose last season with the Owls was 2015-16, played this past season at Montverde Academy in Florida.

Just as Bourcier had done a year later, Shephard was named the MVP of the 2016 B.C. 4A boys championship game.

After weighing his options for the coming season, Shephard said all signs pointed to UBC.

香蕉视频直播淭he amount of positive elements and attributes I recognized during my visit to UBC香蕉视频直播檚 campus, such as the proximity of the university to my family and friends, as well as the basketball opportunities that the university has to offer made it the perfect fit for me,香蕉视频直播� Shephard said.

Like Bourcier, coach Hanson said landing Shephard adds heft to the T-Birds香蕉视频直播� roster.

香蕉视频直播淕etting a player as high profile and as highly skilled as Grant is truly a remarkable day for our program,香蕉视频直播� said Hanson. 香蕉视频直播淒espite Grant having several offers from NCAA Division 1 schools, he decided playing and studying at UBC was the right fit for him.香蕉视频直播�