You needn’t watch many clips of Sarah Boitson to recognize what makes her a coveted recruit to basketball coaches.
Despite having just five years of playing experience, Boitson has nevertheless garnered university attention and has now put her name in for the Class of 2022 for the Winnipeg Wesmen.
The 6-foot-2 product of Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School and TAP Basketball has officially committed to Tanya McKay’s Wesmen women’s basketball team as the first member of the ’22 recruiting class.
Boitson’s recruitment got an assist from Wesmen assistant coach Alyssa Cox, who coached her in last summer’s U17 provincial program.
“Right when I first started thinking about university, the U of W was always something I wanted to go into,” Boitson said. “So when Tanya reached out I kind of knew that was the direction I wanted to head.”
“… Just from there it kind of set off because she just made everything feel so welcomed and accepting already even before I chose the team and it just went from there.”
Boitson began playing in junior high and joined her first club team in Grade 8. Since then, she’s put herself among the tops in the province as a member of the provincial U17 team and in the TAP system.
Boitson, who will have five years of eligibility, said she will study Science with eyes on going into the medical field after her schooling.
Boitson played four years in the Winnipeg Wolves club system before transferring to TAP.
She made the varsity team at Selkirk in Grade 10, but had her Grade 11 year wiped out by COVID shutdowns. Also a member of Selkirk’s varsity volleyball team in Grade 12, Boitson is averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game early on in her senior year of high school. In a game against Glenlawn at the Pembina Trails tournament late in 2021, she scored 23 with 14 rebounds.
“Sarah is a great addition to next year’s team with size and potential,” McKay said. “Sarah works very hard on and off the court, she understands using her size in the paint and has the determination to get better every practice and every game. Plus, she’s academically focused in the classroom and driven to be an impact player at the U Sports level.”
Boitson’s high school coach, Amanda Hallson, said Boitson brings everything a coach could ask for.
“Sarah is the player that every coach wants on their team,” Hallson said. “Her skill, size, game IQ and work ethic make her one of the best posts in the province the season. Sarah is a great leader and role model for her teammates on and off the court and I have no doubt that she will be able to successfully make the jump to university basketball.”
Boitson is happy to be past the recruiting process and ready to make the move to UWinnipeg.
“I’m extremely excited, and it was a big relief,” she said. “I’m very happy with the decision I made, and it’s all excitement right now.
“… They have a very supportive system (on the team) and a lot of leadership there, and I believe I’ll be able to grow a lot with them.”
Source: https://wesmen.ca/general/2021-22/releases/20220111erl7ho