NEWS : Eight players, one builder, and the 1993 OUA Championship winning team selected as inaugural inductees to Gee-Gees Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame

Head and shoulder photos of nine men in Ottawa Gee-Gees basketball uniforms, along with one team photo of Gee-Gees players and staff. The Hall of Fame logo is in the top left.
January 22, 2024

Their names are all over the Gee-Gees men's basketball record book and their impact has been felt for generations. Now, the inaugural class of ten inductees will be inducted into the Gee-Gees Men's Basketball Hall of Fame.

In the athlete category, eight program legends will enter as individuals. The list spans from the 1970s star forward Merv Sabey, to a duo of nineties all-stars in Rod Lee and Clarence Porter, to the All-Canadians of the 2010 decade: Josh Gibson-Bascombe, Warren Ward, Johnny Berhanemeskel, Mike L'Africain, and Caleb Agada.

Rob Ashe will be inducted as a builder for his efforts to support the program and its alumni community since his own playing career which spanned from 1978-1982. Ashe was named to the conference All-Star team twice, in 1979-80 and 1980-81, also leading the Gee-Gees in scoring those seasons. He averaged 18.8 points per game in 1980-81, which ranked second in Gee-Gees history at the time. He also led the team in rebounds that season.

Among many professional and community honours, Ashe is a member of the Order of Ottawa and received an Honourary Doctorate from the University of Ottawa in 2010. He has recently been a campaign executive for the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, making a generational impact on the city.

The 1992-1993 Team will be inducted as a group, marking their 1993 OUA Wilson Cup Championship and semifinals result at the national championship, both program firsts.

The team consists of: David Bajurny (30), Carlos Brown (5), Wayne Charles (34), Royston Hohenkirk (25), Paul Holness (42), Steve Kokelj (21), Rod Lee (4), Chris Lemcke (33), Greg Maillet (14), Tim Mathieson (10), Mike Milne (35), Clarence Porter (32), David Reid (44), Vynce Smith (24), Shawn Turnau (53), Ted Weltz (55), Jack Eisenmann (Head Coach), Dave DeAveiro (Assistant Coach), Francis John (Assistant Coach), Marc Wacyk (Assistant Coach), Steve Keogh (Manager), Valerie Moquin (Student Trainer).

The inductees will be celebrated on the weekend of February 24-25, 2024 with a ceremony on campus. Please click here for more details about the event.

 

HALL OF FAME PLAYER INDUCTEE PROFILES:

Merv Sabey (1971-1975): A 6-foot-7 centre, Sabey was a four-time conference All-Star and led the Gee-Gees in rebounding in all four of his seasons, averaging 11.3 rebounds per game which ranks first in program history. Originally from Ottawa, Sabey was named an All-Canadian for the 1974-75 season when he averaged 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. His best statistical season was 1973-74 when he averaged 18.5 points and 13.7 rebounds per game and led the Garnet and Grey to its first appearance at nationals.

Rod Lee (1990-1993): A 6-foot-2 guard, Rod Lee's 23.5 points per game performance in 1991-92 remains the single season record for scoring by a Gee-Gee. Joining Ottawa from Rochester, NY, Lee posted a three-season total of 18.8 points per game while contributing to the balanced scoring attack which brought home the 1993 Wilson Cup. A two-time conference All-Star, his career scoring average ranks second in Gee-Gees history. 

Clarence Porter (1990-1995): A 6-foot-4 forward who has mentored many Gee-Gees as an assistant coach since his playing career, Porter led the Gee-Gees in scoring and rebounding in back-to-back seasons, 1992-93 and 1993-94. Originally from Toronto, Porter averaged 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game over his five seasons and was named a conference All-Star in 1992-93. He ranks fifth in program history for career rebounds per game, and sixth in total rebounds – in 1995 he ranked second in both categories.

Josh Gibson-Bascombe (2005-2010): A 6-foot-5 guard from Toronto, Gibson-Bascombe was the program's first two-time All-Canadian and was named the OUA East Most Valuable Player in 2009-10, also a program first. He began his Gee-Gees career as the OUA East Rookie of the Year and went on to lead the team in scoring for four straight seasons. He ranks second in program history in career points (1571), and fourth in points per game (16.9), while holding the program records for steals (2.4) and assists (4.2) per game.

Warren Ward (2008-2013): A 6-foot-5 guard from London, Ont., Ward was the second member of the 500 rebounds-1000 points club and currently ranks third in team history for career points (1479) and fourth in career rebounds (568). He also ranks sixth in program history in steals and assists. Ward was a three-time conference All-Star and was named an All-Canadian in 2012-13, the year he helped lead the Gee-Gees to their first national medal. 

Johnny Berhanemeskel (2010-2015): A 6-foot-2 guard, Berhanemeskel was named the National Player of the Year for 2014-15 and holds the Gee-Gees all-time scoring record with 2000 points in 105 games, or 19.0 points per game. Berhanemeskel had two seasons of over 20 points per game scored, with his career high of 23.2 per game in 2014-15. Named a conference All-Star four times, and twice an All-Canadian, Berhanemeskel won two national silver medals and a national bronze medal with Ottawa, as well as the 2013-14 Wilson Cup Championship.

Mike L'Africain (2011-2016): A 6-foot-1 guard from Oakville, Ont., L'Africain was named the National Player of the Year for 2015-16 and holds the Gee-Gees record for career assists with 406. Finishing his career with 20.4 points per game in the 2015-16 season, L'Africain ranks fourth in team history in career points with 1272. The Gee-Gees qualified for nationals in four of L'Africain's five seasons, including two silver medals and a bronze medal, and he was a member of the 2013-14 Wilson Cup Championship team. 

Caleb Agada (2012-2017): A 6-foot-4 guard from Burlington, Ont., Agada was twice named the National Defensive Player of the Year and was a three-time conference All-Star. Agada finished his career with 1137 points and 578 rebounds, as well as 188 steals. His steals and steals per game rank second in Gee-Gees history. He was the team leader in rebounds per game for three seasons and the team scoring leader in his final year. The Gee-Gees qualified for nationals in four of Agada's five seasons, including two silver medals and a bronze medal, and he was a member of the 2013-14 Wilson Cup Championship team.