A Russian with Prince George ties will be suiting up for the UNBC Timberwolves men’s basketball team next season.
Evgeny Baukin committed to the program today (Tuesday).
“This feels amazing. I am excited. I can’t wait to start practicing this summer and for preseason. I really can’t wait for next season. I know in Canada, it’s a really high level of basketball and a really high level of education. I like UNBC. It’s a good university to play and to study the program I like. I really like Coach, the team, UNBC, and Canada.”
Despite hailing from a city 7700 kilometres from Prince George, Baukin made the move from Russia to Prince George prior to the 2021-2022 school year, where he enrolled at Duchess Park Secondary.
The six-foot-seven Baukin, averaged 25 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game for Jordan Yu’s Condors program this year, helping DPSS to a City Championship and Zone Championship.
In addition, the 17-year-old has refined his ball skills and footwork to allow him to be a threat all over the court. He points to his training in Russia with coach Alexey Savkov and the Dynamo program as crucial in his development, as well as his work with his father George Baukin at the Russia Basketball Academy.
“I am a pretty good shooter. I can shoot or go for a layup. If a small guard is guarding me, I can go to the post. If a big guy is guarding me, I can play him face to face. I really want to play the pro level after university basketball,” added Baukin.
Baukin was named a City All-Star, a First Team Zone All-Star, and an All-Star at BC Provincial Championships in his only year of high school basketball on Canadian soil.
He will graduate from Duchess Park in June and join his new teammates for training camp this summer. Baukin will enroll in UNBC’s Business program and has a long-term goal of playing professionally.
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