Powerhouse point-producer secures player of the year award for TMU Bold
Burlington, Ont. – Pivotal players and powerhouse performances sum up a spectacular 2024-25 OUA men’s basketball campaign. As the rookie of the year from three seasons ago, Aaron Rhooms’ journey comes full circle to take home the player of the year honours and headline an impressive collection of award winners and all-stars.
Player of the Year - Aaron Rhooms, TMU Bold
The rookie of the year from three seasons ago, Aaron Rhooms registered a remarkable senior season with the TMU Bold to take home the conference’s top honour in men’s basketball.
Rhooms produced a per game total of 22 points to lead the league in scoring and finish third best in the nation. The fourth-year guard shot 46.7 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from beyond the arc. He rounded out an impressive stat line finishing in the conference’s top 10 with 6.7 boards per contest.
He put up an incredible OUA season-high 43 points in the Bold’s victory over the Brock Badgers late in the season. His consistent scoring touch helped him produce double-digit points in every game this season, while recording four double-doubles along the way.
The Toronto, Ont. local claimed the first OUA player of the year credit for TMU since Alex Beason was named the OUA East most valuable player over 30 years ago.
Along with representing the blue and gold, the business management student has played three years in the CEBL and represented Canada as a member of the 3x3 U23 Men's National Team.
The senior added yet another honour to his long list of recognition during his four years with the Bold, with multiple OUA all-star nods and a U SPORTS rookie of the year in 2021-22.
Rookie of the Year - Ollie Engen, Queen’s Gaels
In his debut season with the Gaels, Ollie Engen made his presence felt alongside his fellow first-year counterparts.
The Kingston local came out firing, notching 23 points in his first regular season game with the Tricolour. He continued to make a serious impact on the scoreboard for the Gaels from there on, capturing double figure points in every outing.
The kinesiology student posted his top performance with a 30-point outing against the Golden Hawks in November to mark his current career high with the Gaels.
When all was said and done, Engen averaged 18.8 points per game, good for fifth in the OUA, to go along with 4.3 rebounds per outing. He also solidified second place in the conference ranks with an 86.3% success rate from the charity stripe and fifth with 51.9% from the floor.
He is the fourth Gael and the first since 2013 to earn the rookie of the year honours.
Defensive Player of the Year - Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta, Ottawa Gee-Gees
A tenacious two-way talent, Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta has proven himself to be the league’s best defensive stopper.
Consistently defending the top scoring option on opposing teams, Guemeta has anchored an Ottawa Gee-Gees team that gave up the fewest points in the OUA (65.9).
The Douala, Cameroon product’s work on the perimeter has caused fits for opponents, with the Gee-Gees forcing the lowest opponent field goal percentage (34.9) and three-point percentage (26.2). He also helped the Gee-Gees lead the province in defensive efficiency.
Individually, Guemeta racked up 38 steals in 22 games and ranked fifth in the conference in defensive rebounding with 104.
The third team all-star earns the OUA defensive player of the year award to add to his varsity accolades, which also feature an OUA all-rookie team nod and University of Ottawa rookie of the year award from 2022-23.
Ken Shields Award Winner - Ismail Hassan, Guelph Gryphons
Ismail Hassan has been a vital contributor on and off the court for the Guelph Gryphons.
He is the founder of Dribble Dreams Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to making sports accessible for underprivileged youth. Since 2023, Dribble Dreams has provided cost-free basketball programming for over 300 youth in Canada and expanded internationally in December 2024, raising $13,000+ to host basketball and education clinics for 50 youth in Nairobi, Kenya. To date, the foundation has secured over $60,000 in funding, all reinvested into community initiatives.
Beyond Dribble Dreams, the third-year sport and event management student and two-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian actively mentors first-year varsity athletes through the Student-Athlete Mentorship Program at the Guelph.
He volunteers his time with the Jr. Gryphons Basketball Program and university-led basketball camps and partnered with Campfire Circle to run a basketball clinic for children and families affected by cancer.
He has also used his platform as a Black student-athlete to advocate for social change, speaking at schools and events such as the Shoot4Change game.
Despite being faced with two knee surgeries, Hassan remains dedicated to his sport and his community, using basketball as a tool for youth empowerment and inclusion.
Champion of EDI Award - Aaron Tennant, Queen’s Gaels
Aaron Tennant is a passionate leader on equity, diversity and inclusion at Queen’s, and for his dedication and leadership therein, he has been awarded the OUA Champion of EDI Award.
Tennant is the EDI Director of the Queen's Black Law Students' Association, wherein he serves as the representative in faculty and staff meetings, and during his time in this role, has advocated for increased black student admissions.
He is a member of the Queen's Black Student-Athlete Committee where he collaborates with other student-athletes and administrators to identify systemic barriers in athletics and brainstorm on equitable solutions to support marginalized and racialized student-athletes.
The law student supports first generation law students’ transition to law school and navigates unique challenges as the outreach executive while working on the Queen's First Generation Network Committee. He is also a member of the Queen's Faculty of Law Alumni Relations Committee, volunteering at alumni events and working to diversify the outreach to alumni.
As an African Canadian Advisory Committee member, Aaron’s reach extends beyond Queen’s as well, as he works with the Toronto Catholic District School Board on policy decisions impacting black students and communities.
Last May, Tennant represented the OUA at the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angeles, at which over 1,200 Black student athletes gathered to discuss the sports work landscape.
Tennant has led the Gaels men’s basketball all season in weekly discussions on topics surrounding issues like racism and privilege, sexual assault on university campuses, and mental health concerns. He set up a pen pal program with local school children from underserved communities, as well as organized a series of Black History Month initiatives for Queen’s.
He adds this honour to his impressive recognition already, as he was named a two-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadiana and received the OUA West Ken Shields Award in 2021-22 while playing for the Western Mustangs.
Coach of the Year - Ryan Thomson, Lakehead Thunderwolves
After a terrific season for the Lakehead Thunderwolves, the team’s bench boss takes home OUA coach of the year honours.
Ryan Thomson led the Thunder Bay team to top spot in the OUA Central Division with a record of 18-4, their second-best single season program mark of all-time. Under Thomson’s tutelage, the Thunderwolves protected their home court this season, boasting an 11-1 record at the Thunderdome.
Among the many ways that Thomson’s team triumphed during his successful season was their commanding offence that averaged 83.5 points per game (3rd in OUA) and held top spot in the conference with 20.8 assists per game.
From Oakville Ont., Thomson is a former Lakehead standout himself, having claimed all-star honours as a player, with an OUA West first team nod in 2013 and a place on the all-rookie team in 2010.
Thomson joins former Lakehead bench boss Scott Morrison, who was named OUA West Coach of the Year in 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12.
The complete list of 2024-25 OUA men’s basketball award winners and all-stars is as follows:
Player of the Year - Aaron Rhooms, TMU Bold
Rookie of the Year - Ollie Engen, Queen’s Gaels
Defensive Player of the Year - Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Ken Shields Award Winner - Ismail Hassan, Guelph Gryphons
Champion of EDI Award - Aaron Tennant, Queen’s Gaels
Coach of the Year - Ryan Thomson, Lakehead Thunderwolves
Officials Award of Merit - Tony Turnbull
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Aaron Rhooms, TMU Bold
Nathan Bilamu, Lakehead Thunderwolves
Dragan Stajic, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Ollie Engen, Queen’s Gaels
Noah Otshudi, Western Mustangs
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Xavier Spencer, Carleton Ravens
Harold Santacruz, Lakehead Thunderwolves
Taye Donald, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Ankit Choudhary, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Luka Syllas, Queen’s Gaels
THIRD TEAM ALL-STARS
Davanté Hackett, Brock Badgers
Zubair Seyed, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
Yohann Sam, Windsor Lancers
Nginyu Ngala, Laurentian Voyageurs
Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta, Ottawa Gee-Gees
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Ollie Engen, Queen’s Gaels
Owen Kenney, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Kevin Toth, TMU Bold
Amare Hamilton, Guelph Gryphons
Philippe Fandio, Laurentian Voyageurs
