Layton tops U Sports basketball fraternity
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After joining the University of Calgary men’s basketball program last season, it hasn’t taken Brett Layton long to become a leader among Dinos.
Or, for that matter, a leader among them all.
At the all-Canadian awards gala on Wednesday night in Ottawa, Layton was named winner of the Mike Moser Memorial trophy as the U Sports most outstanding player of the year — the first Dino to cop the honour since Richard Bohne in 1996. Karl Tilleman was the other Calgary winner in both 1982 and ’83.
“In our conference and across the country, there are a lot of good players who are deserving of it, so it’s cool that I’m in that conversation,” said Layton, a fourth-year, 6-foot-8 forward. “I also think it’s a reflection of a good program. It reflects good on my coach and well on my teammates because we work well together. It’s humbling and also it’s a collective effort.”
Layton, a Law student and graduate of Sir Winston Churchill High School, played at Mount Royal University for a couple of seasons before heading north on Crowchild Trail to become a Dino.
“They had just won a national championship and they were returning everyone so I got to take a different role, just help out wherever I could,” he explained. “This year, we lost a bunch of people and everyone was feeling out what they would be doing with the team. My role ended up being a little bit more.
“We have a bunch of different guys with different leadership styles. I lead in a different way, a consistent presence type of way. We’re well-rounded in that way, we have people who can step in and do what they need to do.”
Layton, who averaged 20.5 points and 14.7 rebounds during an 18-2 regular schedule, was under the weather during the Canada West playoffs as he caught whatever his four-year old daughter had. He still played, boosted by electrolytes, unable to help Calgary get past a determined UBC Thunderbirds team in the conference semifinal.
Now, with the Dinos awarded the wild-card spot for the Final 8 tournament, Layton is eager for redemption and to challenge the top-seeded Carleton Ravens, who beat Calgary badly in last year’s championship final. The game is at 1 p.m. MT on Friday.
“I think we’re really excited,” said Layton, who also has a one-year-old son. “I think we under-performed a little in playoffs and I think we’re a lot better than we’ve shown. We’re excited to jump into it.”
Carleton finished the regular season 21-1 en route to the OUA title. The Ravens led the country in offensive production, 97.8 average points, and defence, 63.5 against. ‘Powerhouse’ has been and continues to be their middle name.
“I think the more you play them, the more comfortable you get with the way they play,” Layton noted. “They are a different team than any I’ve ever played in U Sports. You have to be unselfish and play a pretty near-perfect game to beat them. Because we lost (in Canada West), we thought we’d play Carleton so we had two weeks to try and figure them out. We feel more prepared than we did last time we played them.”
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In the other Final 8 matchups on Day 1, No. 4 Alberta takes on No. 5 Western at 11 a.m. MT; Canada West-champion UBC, ranked third, squares off against No. 6 Bishop’s at 4 p.m.; and in the 6 p.m. feature game, No. 2 Dalhousie meets No. 7 Ottawa.
Alberta (19-1) is looking for its first win at nationals since 2014. The Golden Bears will count on Adam Paige, who led the squad with a 19.7 point average, and the return of injured all-Canadian Brody Clarke to help get by Western. The Mustangs (16-6) have a sharpshooter of their own in Omar Shiddo, whose 19.6 PPG propelled Western.
UBC (16-4) leaned heavily on fifth-year guard Jadon Cohee (19.1 PPG) to go from third in the conference to champion, defeating both Calgary and Alberta. The 8-8 Gaiters, meanwhile, are hoping junior Nervens Demosthene can continue his magic as he led Bishop’s to the RSEQ title.
Dalhousie looked from the get-go to be a gnarly opponent. The Tigers were 10-0 in exhibition play and, except for a loss to StFX in January, have won every other game. They’ll be looking for their first ever national title but host Ottawa will have something to say about that.
The only team to beat Carleton this year, the Gee-Gees posted an 18-4 record but lost out to their rival Ravens in the OUA semis. Fifth-year point guard Calvin Epistola averaged 19 points per game.
Ottawa and Dalhousie are the only two entrants yet to win a U Sports men’s basketball crown.
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