Donnelly dominates in freshman season with LaurierBy Herb GarbuttYou dont expect a rookie toOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFdominate on the boards, Campbellsaid. Hes 18 and going againstPeter Campbell has assembled a guys who are 22 or 23. Hes play-talented group of players from ing against men. But there wereOakville on the Wilfrid Laurier games where he was the dominantGolden Hawks. They are skilled, rebounder.bright and polite, maybe to a Donnelly demonstrated thosefault.same skills at Abbey Park where,You say something to them, although he displayed a strongyou chirp them and they dont say shot, his coaches knew he was bestanything, Campbell said.employed in the paint.Theres one exception among In the post he was intimidat-the five Patrick Donnelly. ing. We would always have theHell chirp you right back. He high shot because (opponents)wont take it, said the Laurier would have to double team him,coach. But he does it the right said his former coach with theway. It makes for a great atmo-Eagles, Dana Stubbert. It wassphere.evident right from the start thatAnd just like Donnelly wont he had major athletic ability. Nottake any needling from his coach, only did he have size but he washe wont let his opponents take his pretty agile. He moved like a smallrebounds. The 6-foot-8 post player guy, which was a major asset.made his presence felt immedi-Campbell said as Donnelly con-ately by pulling down 8.4 rebounds tinues to supplement that naturalper game, which ranked fourth talent, he could become one of theamong all Ontario university play-best university players in the coun-ers.try.And while Campbell believes His confidence has grown withADAM GAGNON/Donnelly can improve on his rook-each game, he said. Now whatSPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVERie season with some work off the we want to see is can he come off TOP ROOKIE: Oakville's Patrick court, he loves what he sees on it.(rookie of the year) and become anDonnelly (middle), pictured during pre-He not the fittest guy or the all-Canadian.game introductions with the Wilfrid strongest guy, Campbell said, Laurier nearly upset the defend-Laurier Golden Hawks, was named the but hes so competitive. He ing national champion CarletonOntario University Athletics West doesnt back down from anyone. Ravens in the OUA semifinals, car-Division rookie of the year in men's Thats part of it. The other part is rying a five-point lead into thebasketball.he wants to be good. And as good final quarter before Carleton ral-as was (this year), he could be way lied for an 83-76 victory.better. He has a huge upside.So next year with Donnelly andWITH DIABETES,Thats heady praise for Lauriers other Oakville players YOUR ODDSDonnelly, who was named the brother Matt Donnelly, Matt Blaha,Ontario University Athletics West Conor Meschino and Kyle Enright,ARENTGOOD.Division rookie of the year. In not to mention new recruit Willaddition to his prowess on the Coulthard coming back next4 out of 5 people with diabetesboards, Donnelly averaged 13.5 year, Laurier is poised to take awill eventually die of heart disease.points per game, 2.3 assists and run at the OUA title.was among the top 15 in the Thats a challenge Donnelly isBetter your odds.Visit getserious.caleague in blocks.not likely to back down from.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 11, 2011 38