The University of Victoria (UVic) is rounding out its roster with some local talent.
Heading into the holiday break, the UVic Vikes men’s basketball team leads the nation with a perfect 8-0 record. To continue the team’s dominant run, head coach Murphy Burnatowski has signed Spectrum Community School standouts Justin Hinrichsen and Tyler Felt, along with Oak Bay High’s Toren Franklin – a trio set to carry the program into the future.
“What makes this group special is that they’re all super versatile and will seamlessly fit into our system. More importantly, they’re all really coachable, hard workers who embody the character we want in this program,” Burnatowski said.
At Spectrum, Hinrichsen and Felt formed a dynamic duo, leading the program to its first-ever B.C. senior boys high school championship. Outside their success at Spectrum, the pair, alongside Franklin, competed for the Bay Nation basketball club and helped Team B.C.’s U17 squad to a silver medal last summer – bringing a shared history and immediate chemistry to the Vikes.
Despite their age, the trio of athletes has already earned numerous accolades. Hinrichsen’s father, Eric Hinrichsen, not only played for the Vikes but was inducted into the UVic Sports Hall of Fame. Justin has already begun to show flashes of his dad’s success, averaging 21 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and two steals per game.
“Justin is a Swiss army knife on the court. He can play and guard multiple positions, shoot, and pass at a high level. He will help our team in so many different ways,” Burnatowski said.
Meanwhile, at 6’9”, Felt is a forward who brings size, skill, and potential to the team. Some of his most recent accolades include being named MVP at last year’s provincial championship and earning Second Team All-Canadian honours at the U17 national championship. While Felt had NCAA Division I offers, he opted to fulfill a dream of playing with the Vikes.
“Tyler is an extremely well-rounded big. He uses his length to rebound and defend at a high level, and his decision-making abilities on offence make him a very efficient and productive threat,” Burnatowski said.
Finally, Franklin has already excelled as a standout point guard at Oak Bay High and will be looked to as a potential replacement for current Vikes star and fellow Oak Bay grad Diego Maffia. His leadership, clutch playmaking, and ability to hit big shots earned him MVP honours at last year’s Vancouver Island AAAA championship.
According to Burnatowski, “Toren brings all the qualities one looks for in a true point guard. His shooting and passing are high level, but more importantly, he’s extremely eager to get his teammates involved at all times.”
As the trio rounds out their high school careers competing for the top spot in B.C. high school basketball, they have a bright future ahead at UVic – aiming to keep the Vikes at the top of the national conversation.
