NEWS : Four Gee-Gees honoured by OUA, Boursiquot locks down Defensive Player of the Year
Ontario University Athletics released its All-Stars and Award Winners for the 2021-2022 Men's Basketball season on Thursday afternoon, including four Gee-Gees who earned recognition.
Maxime Boursiquot earned the OUA East Defensive Player of the Year Award and was also named a Second Team All-Star. Guillaume Pépin was named an OUA East First Team All-Star, and Quincy Louis-Jeune and Cole Newton were selected to the OUA East All-Rookie Team.
Representing his hometown, Boursiquot made an impact in his first OUA season. The three-year veteran of Northeastern (NCAA) showed his impressive ability to cover the floor or lock in on individual defense. He led Ottawa in steals per game with 2.1, which ranked sixth in OUA, and pulled down 5.2 rebounds per game.
"His ability to guard all five positions within our switching defence, as well as the way he shuts down key players for us – he spearheads the excellent team defence that we had this year," says Gee-Gees head coach James Derouin. "His wingspan, speed, and strength make him a menace defensively."
On the offensive end, Boursiquot ranked third in OUA East with 2.8 offensive rebounds per game and was second in scoring for Ottawa with 12.4 points per game. His field goal percentage of .530 led Ottawa and tied for eighth in OUA. "He's not only a defender," underlines Derouin. "His two-way abilities definitely deserve recognition."
Guillaume Pépin led the Gee-Gees in scoring this season with a career high 15.8 points per game. He added 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 5.1 rebounds per game. An inside-outside threat who constantly attracts attention, Pépin went to the free throw line 84 times this season, fourth most in OUA.
"Guillaume is our go-to guy," says Derouin, noting that the team's successful system has not necessarily led to eye-popping individual stats. "There is no doubt that he's our most important offensive player – he's a shot-maker and a leader on the floor. This year he also became a much better defensive player. All-around he is among the best in the league."
Pépin, a Marketing student from Montreal, was named OUA Rookie of the Year honours in 2018-19 and was also a second team all-star that season.
Quincy Louis-Jeune was the third Gee-Gee to record a double-digit scoring average this season, finishing with 11.1 points per game in his 10 games played. Starting nine games at point guard, Louis-Jeune led Ottawa with a .364 three-point shooting percentage and he was second on the team in field goal percentage (.457) and steals with 2.0 per game. Louis-Jeune is a Communications student from Montreal.
"Quincy has immense talent and we had a great opportunity for him to step in as a rookie and run the point. His 45-36 field goal percentages show the kind of special player he can be, and I'm happy that he got this recognition despite some injury trouble this year," notes Derouin.
Cole Newton's breakout rookie season was a long time coming after he red-shirted the 2019-20 season with Ottawa. He started three games and logged 20.3 minutes per game, adding 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds to the Gee-Gees efforts. Newton is studying Health Sciences and hails from Fergus, Ont.
"Cole's trajectory has been incredible this year, he really made an impression and finished the season very strong," says Derouin, noting that Newton took over at point guard when called upon and scored in double-digits in six of the last seven regular season games. "During the pandemic and coming back this year, he has been a rock."
"With Quincy, Cole, Josh [Inkumsah], Thomas [Chilton], forming our young core, we're looking forward to the next few years."
Boursiquot follows Caleb Agada (2016-17 and 2015-16) and Dax Dessureault (2007-08) as Gee-Gee recipients of the conference Defensive Player of the Year Award.