Owen Klassen, Men's Basketball

A university career that has included three summers of international play, Owen Klassen has accomplished what most would achieve after his university career.

Named as a CIS All-Canadian, AUS All-Star and as the AUS's Defensive Player of the Year for the last two seasons, Owen enters his last year with Acadia as one of the most accomplished Axemen in recent history.

After his second season with the Axemen, Klassen was scouted and invited to attend Canada Basketball's University Development team that participated in the 2011 Universaide Games in China. The 6' 11" quick and light footed forward has demonstrated the ability to play the post and also offer the finesse of a perimeter shooter.

His first international experience in China resulted in a Team Canada silver medal win and two years later, Klassen sees this experience as one of his most memorable and fulfilling after this year's Developmental Team's fourth place finish in Russia at this past summer's FISU games.

"At the time I didn't really realize what an accomplishment it was; but playing in China in 2011 and having the chance to win a medal is probably the one experience that I will not forget. The reason I say I didn't realize at first was because our team was upset that we had lost in the finals, but now that I have had a chance to return to the university games this summer, I realize how difficult the road to a medal really is", points out Klassen.

Under his belt after two summers of international play with Team Canada's Developmental squad, Owen experienced a silver medal in 2011 in China followed by his participation in the October of 2011 Pan Am Games in Mexico. Last summer

Klassen joined National Senior Men's Team Canada's training camp in Portland, OR. This past June, Owen and Team Canada posted a 9-0 record in a two week long exhibition trip to China that prepared the team for the 2013 Universaide Games.

This past July, the Atlantic University Sports most dominant forward posted over 21 minutes per game in play at the Universaide Games in Russia, completing the preliminary six games with a 5.5 points per game average and one of the team's highest rebounds per game average of seven.

Klassen's experience with Team Canada has allowed him to play at an entirely different level, offering him some great take-away over the last three summers. "I think that any summer where you are playing a lot of basketball will make you a better player. In this case I was playing against an even higher level of competition than I was used too. Not only in the games, but day-in and day-out in practice too. It took not only a physical toll, but a mental toll on me as well, having to practice or play twice a day for the two months that I was training with the team. It requires a different level of dedication, effort and toughness to be able to compete with that level of competition day-in, day-out for 60 days", points out Klassen.

Adding, "I honestly believe that one of my largest benefits from playing at this level is the boost in confidence. When I am having success against future and current professionals, it really puts my skill level in perspective to me.

There are many things that I will have to do to continue excelling at this level, but to see all my hard work beginning to pay off gives me a confidence and motivation that will help me continue training hard through this year.

The recruitment of Owen to Acadia was a well-orchestrated event in itself. Head coach Steve Baur understood the importance of capturing Owen's attention and ensuring that Klassen would be the core of the building of a program that captured the CIS silver medal in 2007-2008. During the second half of the 2008-2009 regular season, over 200 fans wearing "We want Owen" t-shirts welcomed Klassen on his first trip to the storied War Memorial Gymnasium on the Acadia campus. When Klassen committed to the Axemen, fans wore a "We got Owen" t-shirts later in the season. Baur points out that the welcome by fans was a part of the puzzle. "Owen was a major recruiting target for us in his senior high school season, and signing Anthony Sears in the same year was a crucial piece in bringing Owen to Acadia.

Praising his athletic abilities and leadership skills, Baur knows that his recruiting efforts captured one of the best big men in Canada. "Owen has a great skill set that allows him to impact the game in many ways.  He has the skills to handle the basketball, create off the dribble, and be a facilitator.  His athleticism and anticipation allows him to guard multiple positions and challenge shots.  Owen is a vocal leader that takes ownership on each possession".

Baur points out that Klassen will be at the top of his game this coming season following a summer with the Developmental squad of the National program. "Owen’s experience has provided him with benefits in many facets.  Owen has been exposed to many of the country’s best coaches, a chance to practice with the country’s best players, and face the top international competition in his age category.  These experiences and relationships have helped build Owen’s confidence as well as remind him how hard he has to continue to work to reach his goals".

While Steve holds Klassen in high regards, Owen himself notes that besides his parents, Coach Baur has been the biggest influence in his life. "I think that when I talk about influences it’s hard not to mention my parents. My Mom and Dad have invested not only their money, but also their time and energy in order to give me an opportunity to train. They also taught me the value of hard work and have also fostered my dedication and work ethic. Without the support of my parents I don't think any of this would have been possible for me, and it’s nice to know they are behind me the whole way".

"I also have to mention Steve Baur as an influence in both basketball, for obvious reasons, life itself", adds Klassen. "He has given me a great deal of support over my university career, and I'm glad to have had the chance to play under a coach who puts as much effort into his job as I do to mine. His level of dedication to the team is unmatched in my eyes and it's impossible to not work hard, in all aspects of my life, when you see the almost contagious effort that he puts into our program. I appreciate everything that he has done for me and it will be a sad day when I play my last game under him".

The two time Academic All-Canadian has aspirations of playing professional basketball and hopes to further his academic standing after his Acadia undergraduate degree. "I will attempt to find an opportunity to make my lifelong dream come true; to make money doing something I love. Nobody ever wants to give up playing the sport that they love, and fortunately it seems like I have put myself in a good situation to make a career out of it. Ultimately I will eventually have to find something to do after basketball. Over the last 4 years I have also put in the effort in the classroom in order to leave with a degree and the prerequisites to enroll in a graduate program when I am no longer able to play".