VICTORIA – Currently ranked number one in the country heading into the holiday break, the University of Victoria men's basketball program and head coach
Murphy Burnatowski has doubled down on its winning formula, locking in three homegrown phenoms to carry the torch into the future —Spectrum Community School standouts Justin Hinrichsen and Tyler Felt, along with Oak Bay High School's Toren Franklin.
"What makes this group special is that they're all super versatile and will seamlessly fit into our system. More importantly, they're all really coachable, hard workers who embody the character we want in this program," said Burnatowski.
The dynamic duo of Hinrichsen and Felt helped lead Spectrum to its historic first-ever B.C. senior boys' high school championship last spring. Alongside Franklin, the trio honed their chemistry playing for the Bay Nation basketball club and helped Team BC's U17s to a silver medal last summer. Their shared history, on and off the court, could very well set the stage for their future success as Vikes.
An electric 6'4" guard, Hinrichsen is no stranger to the spotlight. The son of Olympian and UVic Sports Hall of Famer Eric Hinrichsen has already shown flashes of brilliance that mirror his father's legacy. He averaged 21 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and two steals during last year's regular season—numbers that look reminiscent of his father, who holds the Vike's all-time rebounding record and now sits third in career points behind
Diego Maffia and Spencer McKay.
"Justin is a Swiss Army knife on the court, being able to play and guard multiple positions as well as shoot and pass at a high level, he will be able to help our team in so many different ways," said Burnatowski. "It's also exciting to have someone like Eric around who has such a historic relationship with our program."
Felt, a 6'9" forward, brings size, skill, and sky-high potential. Last year's provincial championship MVP also earned Second Team All-Canadian honours at the U17 national championship over the summer. Though he had his choice of Canadian and NCAA Division I programs, Felt chose UVic, fulfilling a dream to play for the Vikes.
"Tyler is an extremely well-rounded big. He uses his length to rebound and defend at a high level, and his decision-making abilities on offence make him a very efficient and productive threat," said Burnatowski.
Franklin, a standout point guard from Oak Bay High School, will step into big shoes as the program looks to replace current star (and Oak Bay alumnus)
Diego Maffia, who is finishing his final season. Franklin's clutch playmaking, leadership, and ability to hit big shots under pressure earned him the Vancouver Island AAAA Championship MVP last year.
According to Burnatowski, "Toren brings all the qualities one looks for in a true point guard. His shooting and passing are high level, but more importantly, he's extremely eager to get his teammates involved at all times."
This trio of local talent—steeped in both skill and camaraderie—is poised to keep the Vikes at the top of the national conversation for the foreseeable future. Before that, the battle for the top B.C. high school team is still on the table, with Spectrum holding down the top spot and Oak Bay sitting in third.
Other recent signings: The Vikes also signed Cam Slaymaker of Coquitlam, B.C. Slaymaker completed his senior year of high school at London Basketball Academy prep school in London, Ontario, where he was recognized as a BioSteel All-Canadian. Over the past two seasons, Slaymaker played south of the border, starting at Cal State Northridge before transferring to Southern Nazarene University, where he earned All-League honours as a sophomore.
