Former Windsor Lancer Alex Campbell set to make dream reality with Express

Photo Credit: Charlie Lindsay

I feel it is a good stepping stone to elevate my game and I feel like I’m definitely ready for it.

Ever since the Alex Campbell first picked up a basketball when he was six years old, he has dreamed about playing the sport professionally, whether it was in the NBA or elsewhere.

The Brampton, Ont. native will soon be able to make his dream a reality.

Campbell, who played collegiately for the Windsor Lancers for three seasons, officially signed with the Windsor Express this week. The six-foot-two, 200-pound guard had been selected by the franchise in the National Basketball League of Canada All-Canadian Draft this past September.

The Express had traded point guard Shaquille Keith and its first round pick in the draft to the expansion Cape Breton Highlanders for the second pick overall.

“To know that now I’m able to make my dream a reality to play professional is definitely a humbling feeling,” said Campbell, who is finishing his final semester in the visual arts program at the University of Windsor. “Every kid wants to play in the NBA, but you grow up and things happen. Where I am at now, I feel it is a good stepping stone to elevate my game and I feel like I’m definitely ready for it.”

Campbell is coming off a good season with the Lancers, averaging 21.5 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game during 2015-16 OUA play. He also played for Toronto 3D Global Sports in China for an international tournament in May, where he was the team’s most valuable player:

Prior to playing for the Lancers, Campbell also spent two years at Niagara College before coming to Windsor.

“We’re excited for the young man to come to hopefully be a part of our team,” said Bill Jones, head coach and vice-president of basketball operations for the Express. “We watched him play this summer and heard a lot about him … we had an opportunity to see him play when we had a summer cup there (at the University of Windsor’s St. Denis Centre) and saw him perform well.”

Jones said he sees Campbell fitting in with the Express as an athletic, strong combo guard when the team’s training camp starts Dec. 12.

Campbell must compete against five to seven other players at his position and an estimated 20 people overall to earn a spot on the team's roster.

“He’ll just have to go out there and compete to show he’s a capable of being a professional basketball player,” said Jones. “We’re looking forward to seeing him out there and do what he’s able to do.”

The former Windsor Lancer has been working hard to do that over the past few months.

Campbell said he had been trying to improve his skill set over the summer as well as during September and October. He has also been training with his former collegiate team at the school’s athletic centre and the university’s gym. He also plans to take the basic skills he learned while with the Lancers with him and transfer them to the professional level.

“They (the Lancers coaching staff) have been saying I have the potential to move onto the professional level from my first year,” said Campbell. “This is definitely a good opportunity to excel at the professional level.”

The guard is coming into the team’s training camp with one mindset – perform.

“It’s performance time,” said Campbell. “You got to play and play to win … It’s about being consistent. I’m definitely excited to get back on the court and play some games and win some games.”

The Express will start their 2016-17 regular season campaign Dec. 29 on the road against the Orangeville A’s.