Mitchell Mersereau receives AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award

By Corey LeBlanc

SYDNEY – His first impression was a lasting one.

"I knew we were getting someone special," Cape Breton University (CBU) men's basketball head coach Matt Skinn remembered of recruiting Mitchell Mersereau.

He added, "Mitchell has always been grounded, self-aware, hard-working, dedicated and an amazing student."

The Sydney native, who – athletically, academically and in the community – has left an indelible mark on his team and CBU Athletics, just wrapped up his fourth year at the university.

"Mitchell is the student-athlete that every program is trying to bring in. We are so fortunate to have him wearing Caper orange and representing CBU in so many forms and at such a high level," John Ryan, CBU Director of Athletics and Recreation, said.

In recognition of his myriad of accomplishments – on and off the court – Mersereau has been awarded the 2023-24 recipient of the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award and will be the conference's nominee for the prestigious U SPORTS' Ken Shields Award, which rewards excellence in basketball, academics and community involvement.

Mersereau is the third CBU men's basketball player to receive the AUS honour, joining former teammate Osman "Ozzy" Omar (2021-22) and Scott Jaspers-Fayer (2010-11), while no Caper has ever garnered the Shields' award since its inception in 1994.

Noting the deep connection he has with his soon-to-be alma mater – including through his parents, who are CBU employees – Skinn explained that Mersereau has been "forward in his approach to represent our men's basketball program, the school and his community to the best of his ability from the moment he stepped on campus."

The proud Caper mentor added, "Mitchell's approach makes him easy to coach and a leader amongst his peers. He serves for the betterment of himself, and those around him, and that translated into his best year on the court, as well.

"His hard work, commitment to fitness and to Cape Breton Island have transformed him into one of the faces of the athletic department and the university."

Ryan agreed.

"Mitchell has had a profound impact in our community while representing the CBU Capers in so many worthy causes, and is a role model to his teammates and the youth of Cape Breton."

In 20 regular season games, the 6'5" guard – who just finished his third year of eligibility – averaged 11.6 points per game, along with 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists, while shooting 90.3 per cent from the free throw line. He shot 45.3 per cent from the field, including 35.3 per cent from beyond the arc.

"Mitchell's work ethic has allowed him to become a very important member of our men's basketball roster. He is one of the best shooters in the conference, and has a tremendous feel for the game and how it should be played at a high level," Ryan, a former All-Canadian guard with the Capers, said.

In the classroom, the Bachelor of Science student – who plans to further his studies in physiotherapy – boasts a 94 per cent average over his academic career with the Capers. He has achieved Academic All-Canadian and CBU Dean's List for three consecutive years. He is a runner-up for CBU's President's Award, with the second highest average among student-athletes at the university.

"There are so many times on the road where you can find him studying when others are not, and so many times when you walk into Sullivan Fieldhouse on our campus and find him there helping when he does not have to do so," Skinn informed.

Speaking of helping out, Mersereau has served as manager of CBU's Youth in Motion Program for the past two years. It welcomes elementary school students to campus to take part in physical activity skills, drills and games that are aimed at encouraging fundamental movement skills in youth.

He is the lead student coach at all Caper basketball camps and Monday night basketball schools.

Mersereau was also a key contributor to establishing Basketball Cape Breton's (BCB's) wheelchair basketball program. He staged a promotional event that not only brought the sport to the CBU campus, but also helped establish it as a BCB mainstay.

At Coxheath Elementary School, he started an afterschool program for at-risk young boys. The 10 participants in the mentorship program participated in behaviour exercises, sports and other weekly activities.

Skinn said he is grateful to have had the opportunity to coach the graduate of Riverview Rural High School.

"I know that his mission to be the best he can be, as a person and player, has just begun," he added.

Pryce, Cunningham and Letlow honoured

Along with Mersereau, three other CBU basketball student-athletes received AUS honours for the 2023-24 season.

First-year Caper Shakael Pryce (Pickering, ON), who averaged 21.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game – while shooting 81.9 per cent from the free-throw line, earned an AUS second-team all-star nod. The 6'2" guard finished third in the conference in scoring average and second in assists (102), while leading the loop with 54 steals.

Freshman Aaron Cunningham (Orangeville, ON), who started 10 games in the regular season – while also excelling off the bench, garnered a spot on the AUS all-rookie squad. Quickly establishing himself as a top on-the-ball defender in the conference, not to mention a strong two-way player, the 6'5" guard-forward averaged 6.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Along with making 72.2 per cent of his free throws, the Bachelor of Business Administration student made 42.2 per cent of his field goals, including 30.3 per cent from the three-point line.

Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON), a 6'1" junior forward, received an AUS first-team all-star selection. The Bachelor of Arts student averaged a double-double per game – 19.5 points and 14.5 rebounds – which placed her fourth and first, respectively, in the conference. The Caper women's program stalwart shot 80.3 per cent from the free-throw line and 48.4 per cent from the field.

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