St. Clair Saints basketball now features key family ties

The St. Clair Saints basketball team is now a family affair.

For cousins Rodi and Adam Mazloum, playing basketball together in college is an unexpected, yet welcome surprise.

“In high school, I expected to play with him, but at the college level, it doesn’t happen a lot,” said 20-year-old Rodi. “It’s pretty sweet playing with your cousin.”

While the Saints have played only two games so far this season, the elder cousin said he thinks the chemistry they have built over the years might provide them a competitive advantage.

“When we were younger, we probably played together three to four times a week,” said Rodi. “We also played on the same team in grade school one year, and we’ve built up some pretty good chemistry with each other.”

In early 2022, the St. Clair Saints basketball team were OCAA silver medalists. So far this season, they have won their first two games.

Adam, 18, said he did not always expect to be a St. Clair Saint, but his cousin was a key factor in his decision.

“Honestly, I always thought – since I played on the Jr. Lancers – that I was going to end up going to the University of Windsor,” said Adam. “But I started working out at St. Clair and Rodi helped me a lot by helping them recruit me, which played a big factor in me going there.”

The younger cousin said being so close with a veteran member of the team has been incredible.

“He tells me all the things I should know and I need to know,” said 6’3” guard/forward Adam. “Usually, coming onto a new team, you don’t really know many people that well, but knowing that I already had somebody there, who I was close with, helped a lot.”

Although Rodi said his younger cousin brings high level shooting and defense on the court, he is more impressed with his off-the-court value.

“He’s a positive presence, always saying good things about others,” said Rodi. “He’s a good teammate and that’s always a good thing to have.”