Windsor Men's Basketball Head Coach Chris Oliver has made some key additions to his backcourt for next season as they prepare to defend their OUA West division title in the fall.
 
The Lancers have received commitments from three guards for the upcoming 2013-14 season and one for 2014-15.
 
Looking to replace fifth-year graduate Mike Petrella and support starters Josh Collins and Enrico Diloreto, the Lancers have successfully recruited high school standout Mike Rocca (Sarnia St. Christopher's) and two OCAA transfers in Alex Campbell (Niagara College) and Khalid Abdel-Gabar (Sheridan College).
 
In addition, Oliver landed highly sought after transfer Mitch Farrell, who played NCAA Division I for New Jersey Institute of Technology for one season. Farrell, a talented scoring guard will sit out the 2013-14 season as per CIS/NCAA transfer rules.
  
“Mitch is an impact guy, no other way to say it,” said Oliver of Farrell, who grew up just outside Orillia.
 
“Not just in terms of basketball talent but in terms of leadership. Mitch has a chance to impact the team in so many ways and we need that. “
 
More immediate help will come from Campbell and Abdel-Gabar, who have experience that could help push fifth-year veterans Collins, Diloreto and Lien Phillip back onto a national stage at the 2014 CIS championships.
 
Campbell has three years of CIS eligibility left and Abdel-Gabar has two.
 
“Both have some experience playing with the ball,” Oliver said.
 
“Khalid is a shooter and we needed to improve our outside shooting from last year. Alex fits us to a tee. He's an athlete, a guy who can defend multiple guard positions.”
 
Rocca played for Lancer alumnus Ryan Steer and Greg Allin on the Junior Lancers two years ago.
 
“He's a scorer, he's physical and he plays hard in any situation you put him in,” said Oliver.
  
Oliver remains hopeful of adding a couple more recruits in the coming weeks, including a forward to help out inside the paint.
  
The Lancers won the West regular season with a 16-5 record but fell short of reaching the CIS championships when they lost Collins to an ankle injury at the OUA final four where they lost a semifinal to Ottawa and the third-place game to Lakehead.
 
In addition to Petrella, the Lancers also lose forward Michael Godfrey and guard Joey Ellenberger off last year's roster. In theory everyone else is eligible to return but in reality, a strong recruiting class will dictate further turnover.

-Courtesy of The Windsor Star