CALGARY – Following a brief but brilliant CIS career at the University of Calgary, Henry Bekkering is headed to his homeland to continue his basketball career. The 6-foot-6 forward, who led the Dinos to the Canada West title and the national semi-final in 2009, has signed a one-year contract with the Nijmegen Matrixx Magixx.

For Bekkering, who holds dual citizenship with Canada and the Netherlands, the choice to sign with the Matrixx Magixx was an easy one. The Taber, Alta. native has extended family in Rotterdam, just a couple of hours' drive from the eastern Holland town of Nijmegen.

“Their style of play is more 'North American' than other teams in Europe, so I think I can fit in well with their system,” the 23-year-old explained.

“It's going to be tough to start; it's definitely a step up in level of play,” he continued. “There is a lot of NCAA Division I-calibre players in the league, and there's very good European players to deal with too. I think if I come in with a good attitude and a strong work ethic right from the start, I'll be able to find my niche pretty quickly on the team and fit in right away.”

The Magixx came fourth in the Dutch first division in 2008-2009, with a 24-16 record. The top two teams from the first division participate in the highly esteemed Euroleague each year, which consists of top-tier teams from all over Europe. Myguide Amsterdam won the Dutch league last year with an impressive 35-5 record.

Henry is not the only Canadian to join the Netherlands based league, as Canadian national team player Rans Brempong (Western Carolina, NCAA), along with Tristan Blackwood (Central Connecticut St., NCAA) and Steve Ross (Santa Clara, NCAA) also call the league home.

Bekkering, who is most well-known as a YouTube dunking sensation and for his appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, moves to Holland as a refined all-around player on the hard-court. With averages of 20.2 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 2008-2009 for the Dinos, as well as a respectable 0.370 three point field goal percentage, Henry can be counted on to contribute in many different ways.

Before joining the Dinos in the 2007-08 season, Bekkering played for Eastern Washington University of the NCAA for three seasons – one in football, and two in basketball. In the spring of 2008, he was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League's Canadian draft as a receiver. While he showed well on the gridiron in training with the Stampeders, he decided against participating to focus on his first love, basketball.

Bekkering begins his European basketball adventure Aug. 21, when training camp opens for the Magixx. The first regular season game of the 2009-10 season goes Oct. 2.

Henry's younger brother Ross, a returning second-team All-Canadian who turned heads with the Canadian team at the Summer Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia earlier this month, joins a solid recruiting class with the Dinos as they look to make noise on the national stage once again in 2009-10. The Dinos open the defence of their Canada West title at home Oct. 30-31 when the Winnipeg Wesmen visit the Jack Simpson Gym.

-UC-