(WINDSOR, ON) The Windsor Express held a press conference today at the St. Denis Centre, University of Windsor. They officially welcomed Isaac Kuon back home and to the Windsor Express.
Dartis Willis, President and CEO of Windsor Express talked about his interaction with Isaac from last season’s All- Star game. He said Isaac understood very early on that nothing was given to him, everything must be earned. Mr. Willis said, “It really begin to hit home that we had the opportunity to bring home, not only a kid with a great attitude but, a kid with a great level of skill; someone that understood what professional basketball is all about. Isaac was a leader on his team and stepped right up to help his team get into the play-offs. We were really excited about some of the things he accomplished in such a small amount of time. We attribute that to self determination and what the coach instilled in him.” Mr. Willis ended stating, “Isaac gives the average kid hopes of playing professional basketball in their city with The National Basketball League of Canada. There is great talent not only in Canada but, right here in Windsor.”
Chris Oliver, head coach of the Men’s Lancers team at the University of Windsor thanked Mr. Willis and the Windsor Express for bringing this “wonderful opportunity to the basketball program and community as well.” Coach Oliver went on to tell a short story of when he first found out Isaac was coming to Windsor by way of some of his former coaches and teachers, “basically saying that he would have no chance of graduating. He wasn’t capable of getting that done.” Coach Oliver went on, “The two proudest moments of my life with Isaac were seeing him graduate from college and seeing him get his Canadian citizenship finally and both of those things happened last year. They happened because of some of the hard work from people in this community.” Then, he passed the reigns to Coach Jones.
A condition of Coach Jones’s contract was a promise from Windsor Express to do everything they could to bring Isaac Kuon back home. “I met Isaac last Thursday and he is a tremendous kid.” He went on, “Coach Oliver got him to this point, now it’s my job to go ahead and develop him and get him to reach what his ultimate goal is and that’s to reach his full potential as a professional basketball player.”
Isaac said he didn’t write a speech for the occasion but, showed some heartfelt gratitude to the Coach Oliver. He said, “When I came here, I told Coach Oliver I wanted to play professional basketball.” Coach capitalized on Isaac’s potential and work ethic spending extra hours and Saturdays conditioning him to reach his goal. Isaac realizes that his main achievement was not being drafted but, developing as a person due to the time and effort given him by the Windsor community. “The people took me in as their adopted son. They really supported me. That support afforded me the chance to be better on the court and obviously to graduate,” he continued gratefully. As for his new role with the team he said, “I’m very excited to be with the Windsor Express. I can take what I learned from the Millrats and help this team. I am a veteran now.” Isaac told the room about the conversations he and Mr. Willis had saying they had to, “Make sure that we get guys that are not Prima Donnas; not afraid to get out into the community. I learned that from Coach Oliver. He had us helping out in the community quite often.” Isaac gave recognition to a fellow Lancer’s professional basketball aspirations before stepping off to the side to answer questions from the media.
Windsor Express will play their opening game at the WFCU Centre on November 2, 2012 against last season’s Championship runner up, the Halifax Rainmen.
