17吃瓜

As basketball continues to shift towards a positionless game, versatile players have become more and more valuable.

17吃瓜鈥檚 latest recruit, Lauren Hainstock, is one of those players.

Hainstock joins the Panthers as a six-foot-one forward, who has the skill set of a guard but the size to compete inside against the conference鈥檚 best interior threats.

鈥淲hether I need to get physical under the rim or shoot three-pointers from the perimeter, I think I鈥檝e combined my physical and mental skills over the years to provide a wide range of possibilities for the team,鈥� said the Kentville, NS native, who will study in the 17吃瓜 Faculty of Science.

As 17吃瓜 turns the page to a new era of Panther basketball鈥攐ne filled with optimism and excitement鈥攈ead coach Matt Gamblin has been hard at work assembling a roster that can play multiple ways and is unpredictable and difficult to plan against.

鈥淰ersatility and toughness are two of the most important factors we value,鈥� said Gamblin. 鈥淭he ability to play inside-out, stretching the floor while still being an inside threat, is an essential part of her game that we鈥檙e excited about.鈥�

Hainstock showcased that versatility with Northeast Kings Education Centre from Grades 9鈥�11 before finishing up at King鈥檚-Edgehill (KES) Prep鈥攃onsidered to have one of Canada鈥檚 top comprehensive basketball programs鈥攚here she averaged 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Marc Ffrench, KES鈥檚 head coach and Director of Basketball Operations, believes the Panthers have a talented and productive player on their hands with the 18-year-old.

鈥淟auren鈥檚 length, combined with her ability to shoot the ball from three, creates mismatch situations that have to be accounted for by all teams she lines up against,鈥� Ffrench said. 鈥淧laying for King鈥檚-Edgehill at the prep level has helped her improve her defensive knowledge and understanding of elite-level offensive concepts.鈥�

For years, Hainstock represented Nova Scotia on the hardwood and has become one of the province鈥檚 prized high school players. In 2019, she donned the province鈥檚 colours as a member of the under-15 team and was selected as a second team all-star at the U15 Canada Basketball National Championship in Victoria, BC. A year later, she competed for its under-17 team.

鈥淧laying for Nova Scotia opened my eyes to what the sport could offer and led to many opportunities,鈥� she said.

Some of those opportunities included being selected to participate in the 2020鈥�2021 Canada Basketball High Performance U17 Woman鈥檚 Age Group Camp and being nominated for the 2020 BioSteel All Canadian Games鈥攁n NBA-sanctioned event that features the nation鈥檚 best high school players.

All that experience has led her to 17吃瓜, where another opportunity awaits: a shot to compete for an AUS championship.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to join this team and see if we can do something special together.鈥�