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.\ \l t M l u u ituofsit ti flu-tn“ so.” summit». m snow - as Building the buzz . , . . U 0 . Bluevale Knights paint guard drawing mterestfiom big-nameAmerican schools By Boa Vruww , _ - ‘ t'hrrmu'leStafl' _ s ‘ “'"‘ """’" ~ xpect a little "Showtime" around the ‘ I n if EBlUt‘vale Knights this season with the ' ~-" . ball handling skills of Stefan (fvrkalj on 1 display, __ . _ " lhat's because buzz. is building for the ' h ’ . ' ~ Knights outstanding point guard with . y "‘ recruiters from big name US. schools already ' ”f } 5“ “% paying a nisit to the local basketball prodigy. “’ ~ ‘ " , 5»sz . And that's a year before he officially has to ‘ 4 . , . », make up his mind about where he wants to . 1.“ ~ » st " ""“" ' g u play. I ' _ But that hasn't stopped schools like . * b . “it, , ' _ Auburn. which plays in the SUI. and Ivy Q w ' ' , league school (iornell. from dropping by to f . .~.-"_ ."4 ' ‘ pay a visit. . , V“ ., . i ". f . It's not hard to see why. At sixiootlour, I g, . i i w. . - ‘ (vrktilj is a dominating presence on the " ’ ' f” "’ A ‘ " Wings when playing the shooting guard pow * . tion with his smooth shooting stroke and _ ’ i v", ability to drive to the bucket. fihfit‘:j~_ E733 "" . But in his versatillt)‘ and ability to distrib- ’ ‘ meg-«x rigs?“ _, 3 33 {g ute the ball that might lust punch his ticket to a}. o ‘ h a ' nmjf. 5 _.‘ I ’ ; “S“,- _ a big-time Us. college program as he takes ' ~ -4 . ‘ “at? ’f “34 $5351," f . , Li" ' ”if, command of the Knights' point position and t ° t - . 3 ,' fi- f. i}. a!“ , ~ , u ‘ , . 3" 3; " assumes the title of floor general in his third fit 9 s " Y ‘ Q . i a,“ if": "gfi'f ._ .. , , 3 "5 9 W W . - . a f ‘ A .'v y ’ at; . L «1 new . ‘_ 3 Lox ; ytarofst nior ball. ;. »1.Q’-1 3 3 4. i - ' _ .,,4 ~. . . , ' a r'fii- { "He's a unique talent." said his head coach “a???" f :._. if? “7&3- ‘W, 7 A I fid’fffi 3 ' Dorris Theodosiou. “Aubum and (bmell have A ”figs”; W ‘ , $147 Sign " ~‘ - "i ‘ g»: g tirade visits to the school and worked him . ' " i A; - ft}, . “ ' . 3 ' ffi-Jffifl . ‘f: «1 "" > 1; f 3.3; x t , $§vutgf . “U" - f‘ , t " . , .. we“ . " if}??? 5 " " l'hat‘s generated a lot of excitement at .' E" if"), :' , ' , ~ E}, f; f the school. and we haven't had schools that "V fig"? " _ ”851.â€" big come down here in a long time." ' ' t 571)? “This could possibly be my last year so l “at ‘ 3 . , want to make a good impression." said k ya i as. we” ) ". ‘ (Itrkalj, a fiery basketball competitor who A‘ ' W a“ ‘ . hopes to spur his Knights back to the top of Bluevale Knights‘ point guard Stefan Cvrkalj's quest to return his team to basketball prominence is also drawing interest from schools like the WT SSAA league standings. "I like having Auburn and Cornell out of the US, the ball in my hands. and control when I get m "MN“ We“) to score and get my teammates involved, my teammates are excelling and my game's Five~() team that presents him with a higher devoted himself to mastering the game that “l'm not stressed about scoring myself not going ”I be looking to pass the ball. caliber of competition. required his hands as much as his feet. because by attacking the basket it's going to "I love driving and setting tip a no-look “It's been a good challenge for me because “My dad is 99.9 per cent responsible for opena lot ofthings up for my teammates." pass for my teammates." if I want to be playing at this position I'm the skills I've developed in my shot," said As it stands. (lyrical; is already his team's Those aren't the typical plays made by a going to have to be guarding shorter guys (fvrkalj. “He got me practicing early and l leading scorer after last season and he hopes six-foot~four guard in local basketball circles. who are quicker than me," he said. "lt devel» started to like it more than any other sport." to elevate the game olhis teammates around Usually point guards at the local level tend to ops my footwork, my defence and every» And he's hoping that it's enough to him as they play in the m‘de open wcssm be in the six-foot~range. That's inspired him thing. impress as he prepares for a post-secondary league this season. With no dominant team to work at improving his skills to take on "My advantage as a taller guard is that l career that combines strong academics in this year. any of the top five teams could much smaller and faster guards can see the court better. Along with my shot addition to athletics. He's no slouch when it claim the title, and (jvrkalj puts the Knights in “I've really developed my ball handling against smaller guards, it gives me an advan- comes to the books. That's why the Ivy that championship mix, this year, and I've gotten a lot quicker attack- tage.“ League schools are interested. But when asked whether he‘d rather score ing the board.” said (Ivrkalj. "That's allowed (Zvrkalj said he's always had an affinity for "I want to playat as high a level as I can. as or dish the ball, he answers like a Zen master me to make those plays for my teammates." the game since his dad Djuro introduced him long as I can keep my academics up." (fvrkalj and talks about finding balance on the court. That’s why (Ivrkalj looked to develop his to it as a child. Soccer was always a pull with said. ‘And as long as l have fun with what l’m "I'm willing to do both." said (Zwkalj. “ll game by playfing club ball with the Toronto his European background. but he quickly doing." 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