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The rebuilding of the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus Rams has begun.

Coach Andrew Barnhill feels he has found the cornerstone he’s been looking for to reconstruct his basketball squad, which failed to record a win last season in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association. It comes in the form of Zane Gares, a six-foot, 215-pounder from Indian Head, Sask.

“We’re very happy to have a player like him join our program,” Barnhill said. “He’s a very solid player and a very solid student, so you can’t go wrong.”

After taking over the reigns of the program a year ago, Barnhill knew he needed a player like Gares, an 18-year-old set to graduate from Indian Head High School this year, to have any hope of building the Rams into a competitor. Gares brings size and a wealth of experience to a team that has lacked in both areas for several seasons. He plays high school hoops – and football – with his hometown Broncs and was also a member of Saskatchewan’s provincial basketball program, exposing him to top competition from across the country.

Having the chance to be part of a rebuild and achieve something special was a big factor in Gares’ decision to commit to the Rams.

“Hopefully by the time I’m done school there the program will be known across the country or at least in the conference,” Gares, who plans to study architectural landscaping, said.

Barnhill spotted Gares at last summer’s Canadian under-17 championship in Halifax. Gares stood out because “he did all the little things right.” Barnhill noticed he was a solid shooter, had the size and ability to be an effective rebounder and provided a calming influence to his teammates.

“They were a much better team with him on the floor than without him,” Barnhill said.

To make sure he wasn’t watching through rose coloured glasses, Barnhill brought a friend to Saskatchewan’s next game, but didn’t specify the player he had been watching. All it took was one quarter before the friend said Gares stood out.

Barnhill then approached Gares to start the recruiting process. The two talked and Barnhill later gave him a tour of the campus.

It seemed a match made in heaven. Not only was Gares just what the Rams were looking for but Dalhousie AC was also what Gares had been seeking for his post secondary education. Growing up in Indian Head, a town of about 1,800 people located 69km east of Regina, Gares was looking to move away to gain some life experience. He also knew the campus holds a good academic reputation and, of course, there was the whole basketball thing.

“It just seemed like the perfect fit,” Gares said.

Barnhill is looking forward to next season when he can add Gares to a roster which includes guard Brian Sawler, who was named the Rams’ rookie of the year at the school’s recent athletic awards banquet. He led the conference in free throws, making 94 of his 130 attempts. Guard Neel Amin, who picked up the Rams’ MVP honour, was fourth in conference scoring with 336 points, 100 behind conference leader Whyley Roosevelt of Holland College. Amin was also third in the ACAA in shooting from three-point range, making 48 of 168 shots.

“Gares will bring a lot of toughness,” Barnhill said. “He can play multiple positions and guard multiple positions and he just does the right things at the right time.”