Titans look to have stability heading into training camp

Kitchener-Waterloo Titans general manager Stu Julius (centre) watches the game action at the NBL Canada Draft Combine at the Athlete Institute in Mono, Ont. on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016.
Photo Credit: Justin Prince / NBLCentral

I’m hoping that we don’t have to make a lot of changes … and hope the roster sits fairly tight during the year.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Titans will be looking to have stability heading into training camp next month.

This past weekend, the National Basketball League of Canada expansion franchise made its final two additions to its roster in the open draft. Titans general manager Stu Julius used his team’s two picks to select NBLC veteran Fred Sturdivant and big man Brandon Compton.

The Titans plan to have 16 players on their official camp roster.

“One of our main priorities in team selection was that we really wanted to select character guys,” said Julius. “I’m hoping that we don’t have to make a lot of changes … and hope the roster sits fairly tight during the year.”

Sturdivant, a six-foot-seven forward, had started his professional career with the Ottawa Skyhawks during the 2013-14 NBLC season. He had averaged 8.2 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game in 39 appearances that season. He later left the Express after two games the next season, according to RealGM.

He is returning to the league after trying to earn a roster spot for a year and a half.

"He told me just stay ready, stay in shape and they look forward to having me up here," said Sturdivant.

King University product Brandon Compton, a six-foot-eight, 230-pound forward, had averaged less than 12 minutes per game his senior year in college. The Hurricane, W.Va., native had averaged 3.8 points per game on 61.6 per cent shooting along with 2.6 rebounds per game in 28 appearances during the 2013-14 season.

“I like Brandon because he’s a big and we needed a big, but more importantly he’s a relatively good shooter,” said Julius. “He made some good shots down the stretch when everyone else was pretty tired (during the combine). I like his size, I like his package and I like how he shoots the ball.”

One of his main reasons for wanting stability is because of James Justice.

Julius had traded the franchise’s first and 11th overall picks to get the Moncton Miracles standout’s signing rights last month. Soon after signing his contract with the team Oct. 5, Justice left the Titans to join a team in Saudi Arabia.

Justice had averaged a team-high 19.6 points per game along with five rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in Moncton last season. He also won the NBLC Newcomer of the Year Award and earned all-league honours.

“Lots of things happen that you don’t have control over,” said Julius.

Julius said he would not rule out making changes during the season, but he hopes to not need to make a lot of them.

“I don’t want to make a lot of changes if we don’t have to,” he said.

The Titans will start their training camp Dec. 5.