Tempro, a popular Grade 12 student, grew up in Three Mile Plains, Hants County, and transferred to Horton from Avon View in Grade 10.
“I came to Horton in Grade 10 to be part of the pre-IB (International Baccalaureate) program,” said the 18-year-old. Unfortunately, he ended up spending only one year in the program.
“I decided to stay here anyway,” he said. “I had made a lot of friends and there were courses I could take here (at Horton) that weren’t offered at Avon View.”
And then there was the basketball. Tempro had planned to play for the Horton D-1 team in his Grade 10 year, but tore an ACL ligament in his knee in his first game and ended up missing the rest of the season.
Tempro made up for his absence the past two years, helping the Griffins to back-to-back appearances at provincials, including a bronze-medal finish this season.
“We lost in the semifinals, then came back to win bronze,” he said.
Tempro, a six-foot guard, has played basketball since he was in Grade 4. He came up through the Shooting Stars minor program in West Hants and played there except for his Grade 9 year, when he travelled to Sackville to play on a midget team.
He also played basketball in the summers. Having caught the eye of provincial team coaches early on, he was a member of the U-14, U-15 and U-17 provincial teams.
“I went to U-15 nationals in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and to U-17 nationals in Edmonton,” he said.
His coaches on the U-15 team included current Acadia head coach Kevin Duffie and former Axemen mentor Steve Baur.
He learned a lot from both coaches, and admitted it made a difference when Duffie recruited him this past summer.
“He recruited me because he knew me, and part of the reason I committed to Acadia was that I knew him, too,” Tempro said.
Passion for basketball
Tempro could have played other sports growing up and in high school, but has concentrated solely on basketball.
“I discovered I was good at basketball, and that my speed helped me at it. I stuck with it, and discovered it was the sport I was the best at.”
Tempro knew he wanted to play basketball beyond high school, but he acknowledged, “I’d never really thought about where I wanted to go.” Now that he has committed to Acadia, “I’m excited, and looking forward to it.”
He will study kinesiology at Acadia, and said the fact that Acadia has a good reputation for kinesiology factored in his decision.
“I’d heard the program was very good,” not to mention a popular destination for many varsity athletes.
As for what he can bring to the Axemen program, Tempro is hoping his speed will be a help.
“I’m about six feet tall, but I think I can play taller than that because of my speed, athleticism and jumping ability. I’m hoping to add more speed and athleticism to the roster,” he said.
Right now, Tempro said he plans to be at Acadia at least four years.
“If I wanted to, I could extend my courses over five years to use up my eligibility, but that’s a decision for down the road,” he said.
He has no regrets at all over coming to Horton when he did, and staying even after the IB option didn’t work out.
“It’s a great school,” he said, “I like it a lot. Coming here has turned out to be the best decision I’ve made in my life so far.”
While part of the reason he switched schools was academic, he acknowledged the basketball, and especially the chance to play D-1, was a factor.
“Playing D-1 really prepares you to play at the next level, which was my goal all along.”
He said he feels fortunate to have played two years for coach Kevin Veinot, who is also an assistant coach at Acadia.
“I learned a lot from Coach Veinot. He’s one of the best coaches around,” he added.
Tempro, a popular Grade 12 student, grew up in Three Mile Plains, Hants County, and transferred to Horton from Avon View in Grade 10.
“I came to Horton in Grade 10 to be part of the pre-IB (International Baccalaureate) program,” said the 18-year-old. Unfortunately, he ended up spending only one year in the program.
“I decided to stay here anyway,” he said. “I had made a lot of friends and there were courses I could take here (at Horton) that weren’t offered at Avon View.”
And then there was the basketball. Tempro had planned to play for the Horton D-1 team in his Grade 10 year, but tore an ACL ligament in his knee in his first game and ended up missing the rest of the season.
Tempro made up for his absence the past two years, helping the Griffins to back-to-back appearances at provincials, including a bronze-medal finish this season.
“We lost in the semifinals, then came back to win bronze,” he said.
Tempro, a six-foot guard, has played basketball since he was in Grade 4. He came up through the Shooting Stars minor program in West Hants and played there except for his Grade 9 year, when he travelled to Sackville to play on a midget team.
He also played basketball in the summers. Having caught the eye of provincial team coaches early on, he was a member of the U-14, U-15 and U-17 provincial teams.
“I went to U-15 nationals in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and to U-17 nationals in Edmonton,” he said.
His coaches on the U-15 team included current Acadia head coach Kevin Duffie and former Axemen mentor Steve Baur.
He learned a lot from both coaches, and admitted it made a difference when Duffie recruited him this past summer.
“He recruited me because he knew me, and part of the reason I committed to Acadia was that I knew him, too,” Tempro said.
Passion for basketball
Tempro could have played other sports growing up and in high school, but has concentrated solely on basketball.
“I discovered I was good at basketball, and that my speed helped me at it. I stuck with it, and discovered it was the sport I was the best at.”
Tempro knew he wanted to play basketball beyond high school, but he acknowledged, “I’d never really thought about where I wanted to go.” Now that he has committed to Acadia, “I’m excited, and looking forward to it.”
He will study kinesiology at Acadia, and said the fact that Acadia has a good reputation for kinesiology factored in his decision.
“I’d heard the program was very good,” not to mention a popular destination for many varsity athletes.
As for what he can bring to the Axemen program, Tempro is hoping his speed will be a help.
“I’m about six feet tall, but I think I can play taller than that because of my speed, athleticism and jumping ability. I’m hoping to add more speed and athleticism to the roster,” he said.
Right now, Tempro said he plans to be at Acadia at least four years.
“If I wanted to, I could extend my courses over five years to use up my eligibility, but that’s a decision for down the road,” he said.
He has no regrets at all over coming to Horton when he did, and staying even after the IB option didn’t work out.
“It’s a great school,” he said, “I like it a lot. Coming here has turned out to be the best decision I’ve made in my life so far.”
While part of the reason he switched schools was academic, he acknowledged the basketball, and especially the chance to play D-1, was a factor.
“Playing D-1 really prepares you to play at the next level, which was my goal all along.”
He said he feels fortunate to have played two years for coach Kevin Veinot, who is also an assistant coach at Acadia.
“I learned a lot from Coach Veinot. He’s one of the best coaches around,” he added.
