Bastien Trading Blues For REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s basketball team is adding 5’8” point guard Ann Bastien to their recruiting class of 2022.
Bastien, a Haitian-born Canadian citizen, has just finished her second season of RSEQ CEGEP Division 2 play with the Dawson College Blues, in her hometown of Montreal.
She’s signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2022-2023 Atlantic University Sport season.
“Ann is a true point guard who does a great job of distributing the ball and getting her teammates involved,” said REDS head coach Jeff Speedy. “She’s a dynamic scorer, and does a great job pressuring the ball on defence. Her teammates will love playing with her, and our fans will love watching her.”
Bastien led the Blues with 15.0 points per game during the 2021-22 regular season, helping Dawson College to a 4th place finish in a tightly contested CEGEP South West conference.
The Blues were finalists in the conference playoffs.
“On the court, sticking to the role I’m given and doing what I do best at 110% consistently will help the team tremendously,” said Bastien. “As an energetic player, I know that getting everybody involved on and off the court, and by having the utmost confidence in myself and in them, will also help.”
Bastien says she chose UNB over other options because of the environment she found here during her official recruiting visit. She’s looking forward to growing as a basketball player and as a person during her time with the REDS.
“Her character and how much emphasis she places on leadership were two things that really caught our attention,” said Coach Speedy. “The first thing she asked to do in the recruiting process was to meet with our leadership group, so she could learn about our program from them, and learn from them as leaders. She’ll be part of that group in no time and, without a doubt, have an impact on our program.”
Bastien sees her commitment to the REDS as the next step in her basketball education, and hopes to be able to give some of what she’s learning to others in the community, whether that be in Fredericton, Montreal, or elsewhere.
“I also wish to build strong relationships with my teammates and the coaching staff at UNB,” she said. “I want to be able to influence others with positivity and have fun while playing the sport that I love in the best environment possible.”
Bastien will pursue a Bachelor of Arts, in Law in Society, while attending UNB.
PHOTOS: Dawson College Athletics