Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – As many as four guards who were on the Griffins women's basketball roster in 2023-24 have either graduated or are moving on to other things, so there's a big opportunity for incoming recruits to earn minutes next season.
Adding to MacEwan's point guard position is Milton, Ont.'s Lenora Hunter, who will kick off her Canada West career with the Griffins in 2024-25, head coach Katherine Adams announced Tuesday.
The 5-foot-5 point guard is a product of the Brampton Warriors in Ontario's JUEL League, while also playing for her high school team Bishop P.F. Reding Catholic Secondary.
"She's a point guard, but can certainly score the ball, too," said Adams. "She's been in a position where she's been relied on to score a lot for her team, and she has found a lot of different ways to do that."
Hunter averaged 17 points, four rebounds and eight assists/game in her senior year and is also solid in the classroom, making the honour roll all four years of high school.
"She's pretty crafty with the ball, pushes well in transition, she's a good facilitator and distributes really well while also having the ability to score," said Adams.
Hunter is the second JUEL player to travel across country and join the Griffins in consecutive years after guard Sofia Makinen – a product of Windsor St. Clair – came to MacEwan and recorded a strong rookie season in 2023-24.
"I think the athletes coming out of JUEL have a lot of high-level basketball experience," she added. "With the number of talented players coming out of Ontario who are going south, playing U SPORTS, playing CCAA, they get a very high-level of competition throughout the course of their time in that league.
"Even at the end of their Grade 12 year, they are still getting meaningful competition to end their high school career, preparing them to come in at the U SPORTS level."
Hunter will be one of the only true point guards on the Griffins, so expect her to see minutes in the rotation right out of the gate.
"With our current roster, there is certainly opportunity in that guard position to come in and fight for minutes," said Adams.
"I think Lenora comes into our system and style of play where she can get up and defend. She really likes that part of the game, being able to make it tough on opponents' ball handlers and wanting to play a fast-paced game, so I think she's going to fit in really well."
