Hometown players poised to make a big impact for the Winnipeg Sea Bears

Last summer, the Winnipeg Sea Bears made an immediate impact on the local basketball scene.

From a hometown hero winning the team's first title to Winnipegger Simon Hildebrandt winning the CEBL U-Sports Player of the Year, fans had plenty to cheer about.

Now entering their second year, the spotlight has been on former NBA players Byron Mullins and Darius Days, but just like last season, the Bears are looking for local talent to improve on their amazing inaugural season.

After a second straight trip to the U-Sports national championships, Hildebrandt is joined this season by Bison and Winnipegger Daren Watts, who enjoyed a walk-on campaign for the University of Manitoba last fall.

Watts carried that momentum into training camp and impressed the coaches on the way to making the team.

“You know, I always believe in myself, I felt like I had a chance to be on the roster, so I went hard and it happened,” Watts explained.

Hildebrandt said of his teammate: “He's one of the hardest working guys I know and he's a guy who finds every opportunity, so I'm proud of him and happy to share these moments with him.”

But it's not just the Bisons represented on this year's team; University of Winnipeg standout guard Shawn Maranan will also don the blue and black this summer, joining Watts and Hildebrandt in ending their varsity rivalry — at least for now.

“Those two guys are exceptional players, understand the game well, show it every day and really have nothing but love for those guys,” Maranan said.

“That put aside, we all have the same goal,” Watts added. “When the season ends, it starts again, but now we're all on the same team.”

With training camp now in the rearview mirror, the trio is looking forward to the start of the season and proving that Winnipeg is more than just a hockey town.

“I'm excited to dress up for the city, for the community, for my family, so Friday can't come soon enough,” Maranan said.

“It's good to get to know Sean and Donald (Stewart) better, to play with these guys for once, not against them, to share the court with them,” added Hildebrandt.

“I'm ready to play against the other guys now and see how good this team is.”

The Sea Bears will kick off their campaign in Saskatchewan on Wednesday before returning home on Friday.