Denys, Kirkpatrick Forging A New Path At Southwest Academy

Chatham’s Maggie Denys and Emily Kirkpatrick are forging a new path for local basketball players, as the duo will compete at Southwest Academy, a new Prep School basketball program in London, Ontario.

The team, which has spent the spring preparing for their OSBA scholastic prep school league season opener November 1, by competing against North America’s top teams in Toronto, Chicago, and elsewhere, is ready to compete, and promote the best talent in Southwestern Ontario.

“We are very fortunate to have such elite talent and even better people in Maggie and Emily,” said Southwest Academy head coach Rob Angione.

“They both have competed in the JUEL elite league for the past two seasons and are integral leaders in our Southwest Academy program. They are completely invested in the periodized process and willing to make the sacrifices and put in the work in order to help realize their full potential as student athletes.”

Denys, a point guard, joins Southwest Academy after attending Chatham-Kent Secondary School last year, where she also played high school basketball as a grade 9.

“It’s a big step for me, considering I’m only in grade 10 and already away from home,” explained Denys. “But the sacrifice is absolutely worth it. The opportunity to train at the highest level with the best players and coaching in the region is absolutely incredible.”

According to Angione, he also expects Denys to play an integral role in his team’s attack this season.

“Maggie is a dynamic PG who can facilitate and score the ball at a very high level,” says Angione. “She is a knock down shooter and an extremely cerebral player on and off the ball.”

Southwest’s program runs its academic courses out of Regina Mundi Catholic High School in London, and both Denys and Kirkpatrick are loving the on court, and off court experience thus far.

“Having the opportunity to not only work on my basketball skills, but academics, strength and conditioning, mental fitness and nutrition all under one roof has been the most incredible experience,” says Emily Kirkpatrick. “I love being in a training environment with girls that have the same aspirations and goals. It has been so great.”

Angione believes Kirkpatrick’s versatility is what sets her apart from the competition.

“Emily is our swiss army knife,” says Angione. “She is a long athletic wing player who can play back to the basket and creative in the open floor.”

Now, all that remains for Denys and Kirkpatrick is to tip off the season November 1 against King’s Christian College at Regina Mundi. Tip off is 5:00pm.