Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The first recruit in MacEwan's 2024-25 men's basketball recruiting class has an intriguing skill-set with everything needed to be a successful point guard at the Canada West level – speed, high IQ, dapper dribbling, sublime passing and a scoring touch.
Long one of the top high school players in Manitoba, Diego Presingular is joining the Griffins next season. He will enter MacEwan's Criminal Studies program.
According to his NCSA recruiting profile, the Winnipeg native averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game for Central Canada Prep in 2022-23 and comes into university off a solid 2023-24 season there, as well, with the potential to be an impact player right out of the gate at MacEwan.
"He's one of the best point guards in the city of Winnipeg," said MacEwan head coach Mike Connolly. "He's a great recruit. We love him.
"Diego is a quality kid whose character is what we need. He will not be out-worked and he competes at another level."
Presingular has a stellar resume of high-level competition going back years. He was part of the Winnipeg Hot Shots U13 squad which represented the Prairies at the NBA Jr. Global Championship in 2019.
He also recently led Central Canada Prep to the Canadian Prep Schools consolation championship.
"Diego is a true point guard who looks to pass first and distribute the ball while having the ability to put pressure on the opposition with his gritty, tenacious, full court defence," said Connolly. "He also adds a great scoring touch, and he can shoot it from outside the three-point line, which is another area we need to address in this off season."
The 5-foot-10 Winnipeg Collegiate student-athlete will be a big addition to the Griffins.
"He sees the floor," said Connolly. "He understands when to try and make the pass and when not to make it when it's high risk. And he has the ability to score.
"He's also tough. He has some character in him. He's going to pick up full court. He's got a little chip on his shoulder being 5-10. I just think everything he brings to us is great – he's defensive and he's a good shooter."
What Presingular's addition will also do for the Griffins is give them another point guard option besides Justace Byam, who battled injuries last season, so they don't have to play other guards out of position.
"His addition allows us more depth, to play more guys and it helps us flow in our offence," said Connolly. "We needed a point guard because we found we had issues getting our offence moving. It initiates that. He's kind of the quarterback.
"Diego also has the ability to shoot it, so he could play the 2. It gives us some more options."
