Shittu brings highlight reel to Timberwolves in 2019-2020

His athleticism will blow crowds away, and now, fans of the UNBC Timberwolves will get to witness it firsthand. The University of Northern British Columbia’s Men’s basketball team is excited to announce the official commitment of Fareed Shittu, an Edmonton native, for the 2019-2020 Canada West season.

“I am very excited. This is a new beginning for me. This is a new door for me, and I am just happy to see where it takes me.”

Shittu, who stands six-foot-five, has a long-limbed frame that seems perfectly suited for the hardcourt. However, he didn’t seriously play basketball until last year. A youth soccer player growing up, his path forever changed when he took the court for the first time.

“I actually didn’t play basketball until Grade 11. I am just in Grade 12, so that is not a very long time. Ever since then I just fell in love with the game, and I have been wanting to improve myself, and improve my game to play at the next level.”

Extremely proud of his family’s Nigerian roots, Shittu received interest from a number of schools at the university level. A visit to UNBC’s Prince George campus in March exposed the seventeen-year-old to the Timberwolves program and culture.

“I would rather go to a school that has a lot of interest in me, so they can help me improve my game and give me more opportunities to focus on the details. It is very open. I like that you can talk to someone if you need to. If you need some help with school, if you need some help with basketball, they are always there for you.”

The forward was able to train with the TWolves during his visit, playing alongside past and present UNBC athletes. The GOOD Hoops product’s athleticism was on full display, but he noticed some areas that will command attention as he transitions to the highest level of university basketball in the country.

“The pace is a little bit faster. The guys don’t hesitate, they just make split-second decisions. In a lot of those, you just need to stay on your toes to get into the right spot. It’s going to take some getting used to.”

One glance at Shittu’s highlight tape or commitment video and it is hard not to see his significant ability to impact the game at both ends of the court. He and his Harry Ainlay High School teammates won the Edmonton City Championship in his Grade 11 year, and were runners-up this year. When asked for a scouting report on himself, Shittu instead focused more on the areas of the game he wants to improve on.

“I could definitely improve on my defense. Mainly, my positioning. Finding space and reading the floor a lot better. You can expect to see a lot of springs from me. A lot of bounce. I will be getting up there.”

An honour roll student, Shittu intends to study business or engineering at UNBC. Timberwolves coach Todd Jordan says his newest recruit has an incredibly high ceiling, and the willingness and desire to put the work in to fulfill his massive possibilities.

“Fareed is an explosive player that has the ability to make plays above the rim. He only began playing late in his high school career, and because of this we think he’s only scratched the surface of his potential. Our coaching staff is excited about the opportunity to help him grow as a player and a person over the next 5 years as he pursues his university education.”

Shittu is set to graduate from Harry Ainlay in June, and will join his new teammates for training camp in August. He looks forward to a new challenge, and is looking forward to putting a UNBC jersey on for the first time.

“I have to get a good education first, and improve my basketball game. The fast motion, the passes, the dunks, my teammates scoring, the high-fives running back to the bench. The support and the love from your team just makes it feel like a second home. Like a second family.”

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