CALGARY – University of Calgary men's basketball coach Dan Vanhooren announced Wednesday that Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson has committed to the Dinos for the 2009-10 varsity season.

The 5-foot-10 point guard out of Garden City Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg was named the most outstanding high school player in the province in both his Grade 11 and Grade 12 years and was the most sought-after recruit in the province of Manitoba this season. He led the Fighting Gophers to back-to-back provincial AAAA titles, winning MVP honours with a 34-point performance in GCCI's 107-75 win in the 2009 title game.

Ogungbemi-Jackson averaged 28 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and five steals per game in his senior year.

“We're signing a great person that will fit in well with the group of guys we have returning,” said Vanhooren. “Bringing in talent is one thing, but bringing in quality people that help maintain cohesiveness is a huge key to our success.”

Ogungbemi-Jackson impressed the Calgary coaching staff at their identification camp in early April with his speed, his ball handling skills, and his knowledge of the game.

“Jarred brings a number of ingredients that are much-needed to build on what we currently have,” Vanhooren went on. “He is very quick, shoots the ball exceptionally well, and has an ability to make players around him better. Defensively, he is a stopper on the perimeter. His quickness will allow us some versatility with match-ups.”

The 17-year-old was invited to Canada Basketball's junior national team selection camp earlier this spring.

The addition of Ogungbemi-Jackson will shore up the Dinos' backcourt along with other newcomers Andrew McGuinness and Dan Tilleman, complementing the big returnees up front in Ross Bekkering, Robbie Sihota, and Tyler Fidler.

The Dinos posted a 17-5 record in 2008-09, winning the Canada West title and earning their first trip to the CIS Final 8 since 2004. After knocking off Quebec champion Concordia in the opener, Calgary fell in a tight five-point decision to UBC in the national semi-final.

-UC-