Acadia Varsity Athletics and basketball Axemen head coach Steve Baur announced early last week that Wolfville native Alex Thomas has committed to attend Acadia and play basketball for the Axemen this fall.
A Grade 12 student at Horton High School, Thomas has played basketball for the Griffins since Grade 9. He has been a starting guard and co-captain for the Horton squad the past two seasons and has become a respected team leader.
During the 2011-2012 season, he helped lead Horton to a runner-up finish at the NSSAF D-1 boys’ provincials.
Baur said he feels Thomas, a six foot two inch guard, has “great character,” which is “a great fit with what exists on our team now.”
Baur noted that as Thomas has grown up in Acadia’s back yard, he’s been able to witness his growth as a player first-hand.
“Alex’s work ethic and competitive nature have been on display in the Valley for years, and to have the opportunity to add him to our program is exciting,” Baur said.
“His character, reputation and name are well known to our fans and to the
Acadia community. There are a lot of people excited about Alex coming to Acadia.”
For his part, Thomas is also excited about attending Acadia, which he describes as “a pretty good fit for me,” both academically and athletically. He plans to major in math and economics.
Unlike many student-athletes who end up leaving home to attend university, he admits part of his choosing Acadia was because it’s close to home. Moreover, he said, “I like the program I’m in,” and the opportunities it offers him.
Thomas said there’s been back-and-forth communication with Acadia over time.
“I’m very excited about committing to Acadia and becoming part of their nationally-ranked basketball program,” he said. “I’m confident Acadia will best enable me to maximize my potential, both academically and on the court, while continuing to be involved in my community.”
Thomas acknowledged he may not necessarily see much playing time with the Axemen at first, but he is willing to bide his time and learn.
“Coach Baur sees a roster of around 15 players, “ he said, “with 12 dressing for any given game.”
The last Kings County native to play basketball for the Axemen was Dustin Poirier, who last saw action in 2011-2012, his third year with the program.
The last Horton graduates to play men’s basketball for Acadia were Jordan Sheriko, who played four seasons between 2003-2007, and James Logue Prest, who saw action in the 2006-2007 season.
