Sudanese athlete finds home at Catholic Central

Ryan Blevins

An international student-athlete arriving at Catholic Central high school has big shoes to fill, literally and figuratively.

Seventeen-year-old Jonothan Nicola is a six foot nine inch forward who is enrolled at CCH and is the newest member of the Comets basketball team. Nicola arrived in Canada on Nov.23 after a long  journey overseas. A native of war-stricken Sudan, Nicola joins the Comets just four days before the CCH basketball team saw their first game action in the 29th annual Freeds-St. Clair College Tip Off Tournament.

Due to the absence of a Canadian Embassy in Sudan the process of obtaining documentation to live in Canada took more than six months. After 24 hours of flights, Nicola landed in Toronto facing extreme jet lag due to the eight hour time difference between Sudan and Toronto.

Catholic Central principal Sherrilynn Colley-Veigh is working to see where Nicola fits into the school academically.

“We have been assessing him all day,” said Colley-Veigh. “I mean we have students that have gaps in their education from similar situations.”

Having no formal schooling over the past two years Nicola finds himself in a great situation to succeed. Catholic Central is home to over 100 international students and the school has several amenities to assist students who are new to Canada. Services such as the Secondary Assessment and Reception Centre, Secondary Language Proficiency Assessment and Translation Assistance are all available at Catholic Central.

Catholic Central basketball head coach Peter Cusumano has liked what he has seen from his newest player so far.

“You can’t teach height, he’s athletic. There’s a big learning curve but hopefully we get there with him,” said Cusumano.

Nicola is not only in a great place to succeed academically, but will be able to flourish athletically as well. Coach Cusumano has coached the Comets for 28 years and has produced National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball players such as Bill Davis and Mychal Mulder. The Comets have also won eight Windsor Essex County Secondary School Athletic Association championship and three Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations champions under coach Cusumano. It is this resume that made coach Cusumano a nationally recognized name in the Canadian basketball world. Meanwhile it has been his national recognition that led international basketball scout Gregg Dole to reach out to coach Cusumano about developing Nicola’s talents.

“They are really welcoming. I love them a lot,” said Nicola referring to his teammates. “Since I arrived here, especially when I was outside. They just came up to the car, one of my teammates said ‘Hey Jonothan I was waiting for you so long.'”

Nicola’s teammates will also welcome him into his first  Freeds-St. Clair College Tip Off Tournament. The Comets have finished second in the last five tournaments losing all five finals games to Toronto St. Michael. Returning players such as Richie Akinsanya and Najee Brown Henderson look to rebound from their teams performance in last year’s tournament and end Toronto St. Michael’s run.

Coach Cusumano and the Catholic Central Comets basketball team began their season Nov. 27 in the Freeds-St. Clair College Tip Off tournament. The Comets now focus their attention on the WECSSAA season and their home opener against the Vincent Massey Mustangs Dec. 3.