Provincial guard joins Marauders program

Brandon Meawasige

Assistant Sports Editor

The McMaster women’s basketball team announced this week that local standout Danielle Boiago, point guard at Hamilton’s St. Thomas Moore Catholic Secondary School, has committed to spend her university basketball career as a Marauder.

Boiago is the first recruit to commit to the women’s program this year, and will join a team that is loaded with young talent at the guard position.

“Danielle was our #1 recruiting priority and we are extremely pleased that she has committed to McMaster. There may be other players to add in coming days but none to report at this time,” said head coach Theresa Burns about Boiago and the plan for recruiting.

“We feel that we have added a key piece of the puzzle with Danielle. Player development over the summer will focus on individual skill development that will help address team needs particularly in the area of perimeter scoring.”

As a highly touted recruit, Boiago will be expected to make an impact immediately, something that Burns believes is quite possible for the freshman, who will be studying Kinesiology at Mac.

“I do believe Danielle will make an impact right away, and play significant minutes right away. Like all first-year players she will go through a learning and adjustment period at this level but I think she will adjust fairly quickly.”

The signing of top recruit like Boiago is a victory for the Marauders, who have traditionally been a contending team under Burns but have failed to make noise in the OUA playoffs over the past three seasons.

“McMaster is a school that has so much to offer. Coach Burns and her coaching staff have done an incredible job in developing the women's basketball program and the Kinesiology program is a perfect fit for me. I feel privileged that all of the things I was looking for in a school happened to be in my hometown,” Boiago told the Sil this week.

On the court, Boiago brings with her an intriguing skill set, according to coach Burns.

“She has a complete skill set; she is strong offensively, defensively and has great work ethic and will to compete. She is a great teammate, positive, supportive.

“We feel that we have added a key piece of the puzzle with Danielle. Player development over the summer will focus on individual skill development that will help address team needs particularly in the area of perimeter scoring.”

As for the 5’7” Boiago, next season will offer a chance to learn the CIS game and develop as a player, “I'm a calm, but competitive player. I love the fast-paced game that the Marauders play and as a point guard I have the ability to get the ball up the court for easy transition baskets. I also have experience playing the shooting guard position and I'm comfortable taking the outside shot,” says Boiago.

Boiago lists her favorite CIS player is Jacklyn Selfe, a University of Western Ontario guard who ironically helped eliminate the Maroon and Grey from the OUA playoffs this past season, but has high hopes to make her own impact in the CIS this year.

“I know I will learn a ton from the coaching staff as well as the other girls on the team and I hope to make a quick and smooth transition. As far as goals for the next five years, I haven't really thought that far ahead yet. I'm just excited to be moving on to a new chapter in my basketball career,” says the high school standout.

Boiago is no stranger to the spotlight, as she competed and brought home gold medals for both team Ontario at nationals and the city of Hamilton overseas in Greece. Boiago says it’s for the Hamilton born recruit, to be pursued by her hometown school.

“It is an honor to be pursued by a school like McMaster that has a reputation for excellence both on the court and in the classroom,” shared Boiago.

Holding up that reputation of excellence should require no transition for Boiago, who averages 23 points per game for her Hamilton club team, Blessed Sacrament in the provincial JUEL league, leading all scorers with those numbers.

For a team like the Marauders, who made the playoffs last season, adding a player like Danielle Boiago could potentially make the difference between simply making the playoffs and being a serious championship contender.

With this signing being the first of several according to Burns, next season could see a shakeup at the top of the OUA West standings.