Tyrese Paul (Fredericton, NB) has found his home for the next part of his basketball career. The fifth-year guard, who played with the Tommies for two seasons and the Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics for three, will join the St. John Union of the newly formed East Coast Basketball League for its inaugural season.
Paul averaged 12 points per game with the Tommies last season in 14 games, making a huge improvement from the 2021-22 season where he averaged four PPG. Before joining the Tommies in 2021, Paul played for the MSVU Mystics for three seasons after his high school career with the Leo Hayes High School Lions. Paul also spent time with Basketball New Brunswick. Paul said in his first year of professional basketball, he wants to contribute in any way he can and continue to learn the game from some of the best in the Maritimes.
"I want to help the St. John Union anyway I can, regardless of my situation," Paul said. "I want to learn more about basketball and bring that back to Fredericton to help the community and help my brother improve his game so he can be the best player he can be."
Paul has also spent time in the Fredericton community coaching youth basketball. He believes the league will draw more interest in basketball around the Maritimes, as well as allowing Atlantic university and college players to continue their dream. He credits Tommies' head coach and reigning ACAA Coach of the Year John Hickey for his grown leadership skills
"I feel like Coach [Hickey] helped me grow as a leader and I'm hoping to use those skills," Paul said. "[The ECBL] allows Maritime talent to further their basketball careers. It'll be good for the youth to be able to watch basketball close to them and hopefully further their interest in the sport."
The Union are one of six teams in the ECBL. Paul and the Union will compete with the Moncton Motion, Bathurst Bears, Charlottetown Power, Truro Tide and Valley Vipers for a league championship starting March 30. Paul joins James French of the Crandall University Chargers, who signed with the Motion, as ACAA stars to join the league.
The Union will take on the Bathurst Bears in their league opener on Friday March 31st at 7pm at TD Station in Saint John.