Veteran forward brings long-time love of the game to the court

Getting to know Ontario-import Justin Phillips

Justin Phillips. Courtesy Wesmen

Third-year forward Justin Phillips is one of only five returning players to the Wesmen men’s basketball team this season. Originally from Ontario, Phillips has been playing basketball for so long that he can’t remember when he began. 

“I started playing basketball in my neighbourhood back in Toronto,” he said. “I was always more athletic than all my friends, but never got a handle on the game until high school.”

He joined his first team in Grade 9 and has been playing competitively ever since.

Phillips finished his high school career at Newtonbrook Secondary School and in both 2007 and 2008 he was named senior high school basketball MVP. It was a great experience and Phillips wasn’t ready to stop playing basketball at a competitive level.

I’m glad I came to Winnipeg. I grew up fast living out here and having to deal with the busy university-athlete lifestyle.

Justin Phillips, Wesmen men’s basketball

He remembers when then-Wesmen head coach Dave Crook recruited him, and was excited by the opportunity to play in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport league (CIS).

“I had only heard good things about the ‘Peg. I was excited to come to Winnipeg,” he said.

Phillips also remembers that as a child and into his high school days he always dreamed of playing basketball at the university level.

He says that although it was a big change for him, he is happy the decision he made to join the Wesmen.

“I’m glad I came to Winnipeg,” he explained. “I grew up fast living out here and having to deal with the busy university-athlete lifestyle.”

Phillips plans to continue to play for the Wesmen while he finishes his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice and then move back to Toronto for law school.

Published in Volume 65, Number 7 of The Uniter (October 14, 2010)

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