Saints rookie Loyuk is impressive

The St. Clair men's basketball team has been blessed with quality point guards over the last four regular seasons. David Gomez Jr was the razzle dazzle leader for two seasons leading the Saints to an OCAA silver medal finish in 2022. Shak Pryce transferred from the University of Windsor and was lights out leading St. Clair to its first provincial championship last season at home.

Andrew Loyuk doesn't have the same flair as his predecessors but he is certainly holding his own. "Being a freshman point guard it's hard to just take over a team especially from Shak and Gomez and kinda try to figure out how he's gonna fit with all the older guys." said co-head coach Matt Sykes.

The Kennedy grad is a starter who is strong with the ball and has fit in nicely averaging 14 points per game. He had 15 points and 8 assists in Wednesday's 110-67 win over Lambton. "I feel great. I feel amazing being a part of this team and the Saints culture." said Loyuk who credits his coaches for preparing him and his teammates on the floor and in the classroom. "I have great guys around me that want to help me get better. All I can say is thank you to them."

There is some familiarity on the bench for Loyuk with former Clippers teammate Mazin Tiea with the team this season. "It feels good to be playing with him again." said Tiea who is among the top scorers in the league averaging 14.9 points per game. "High school we played with each other but now we're in college. More grown. It's a different type of game. It just feels good playing with Drew."

"Getting Mazin and Drew helps a lot. Mazin was a piece we were missing last year, like a big, a true big interior like just take over a game type big." Sykes said. "Getting Drew. That was luck. Persistence on our end to continue to try and get him to stay home and I'm just so happy he made the choice to stay here."

Loyuk feels the Kennedy connection, which includes Glynn Willis-Paris, is helping him, the team and the local basketball community. "It gives kids from Windsor the motivation that they can play here too so just give hope to everybody else and show them that anyone can do it. It's possible. Windsor has great talent."

Tiea comes home after playing two seasons away at Fort McMurray in Alberta and Wayne County in Detroit. He and Loyuk have helped the Saints continue their winning ways. St. Clair is 6-1 and tied for first in the OCAA West Division.

St. Clair's early success has them ranked 6th in the CCAA Top-10. "It's early but it's been a good start." Sykes said.

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