Slam hoopsters off to school

A trio of high performance players from the Steel City Slam basketball team of Sault Ste. Marie have committed to post secondary school programs effective the fall semester.

Bishop Whitmell, Logan Whitmell and Elijah Suffel will all be combining school and basketball. The Whitmell brothers are headed to Sault College while Suffel is off to Nipissing University of North Bay.

Bishop, who was recruited by Fanshawe College, one of the top basketball programs in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association, will instead fall into the lap of the Sault College Cougars.

“With our current COVID-19 situation, not knowing what the future holds, for me it is a great situation to be at home, with family and have an opportunity to continue to play with my brother, while helping Sault College establish a competitive program in the OCAA,” stated Bishop. 

Bishop’s coach with the Steel City Slam, Jeff Giovanatti, had plenty good to say about the older Whitmell brother.

“Bishop is a team guy first and a leader.  Sault College is very fortunate to get someone like Bishop. He’s committed, he’s willing to learn, and he will accept any role necessary to help his team to succeed.  I’ve seen this when he’s suited up for us in club tournaments as well as when he played high school ball for the White Pines Wolverines,” praised Giovanatti. 

Whitmell, in turn, praised the Steel City program.

“Steel City Slam has helped me grow as a player and person.  In addition, they helped me when it was time to look at options to play after high school.  I’m thankful for the thousands of hours that they invested in me and everyone in the program and look forward to coming back to help them with the next generation of Sault talent.  They are truly a community minded and athlete centered program first and foremost,” relayed Bishop. 

Meanwhile, younger brother Logan Whitmell is a 6-foot-6 guard/wing who is known for his soft touch.

“Logan is a play maker and he can shoot the ball extremely well from beyond the arc.  He will force teams to extend their defense, which will help Sault College immensely.  He will help them get in the win column this year,” Giovanatti opined.

The younger Whitmell also had glowing words for Giovanatti and the Steel City program.

“I loved my time playing basketball for the Steel City Slam and I’m thankful for the experiences they provided.  I encourage anyone who is serious about basketball or who wants to just play to make sure they sign up.  It’s awesome, and I look forward to going back to be a mentor for other up and comers,” Logan stated.

As for Suffel, he will bring a passion for the game and a competitive will to win to Nipissing.

“Elijah is a great kid.  It was great to work with him this year, and watch his game really soar.  Another player who can play and defend multiple positions. He can really light it up from beyond the arc, and at the same time put it on the floor to get to the rim,” noted Giovanatti. 

Suffel also went to lengths to bestow good words upon the Steel City program.

“Playing with the Steel City Slam allowed me to continue to develop my skills to help put me in the situation I am in today.  I encourage anyone in the community to get out and join the Slam program.  It’s a great program and I look forward to continuing to train with them,” said Suffel. 

Back to Giovanatti, he takes pride in the role he plays as a coach and one of the founders of Steel City.

“It is great to have all of the players in our region train under one roof. That’s been the goal from day one.  In our minds, our championships are not the tournaments we win, rather the number of student athletes who we assist to ensure they continue to play at the next level.  Those are our community successes,” gushed Giovanatti. 

Meanwhile, Jim Shook, who is one of the directors with the Steel City club, singled out the work that Giovanatti does.

“Jeff is an outstanding resource for our basketball players and the sport in Sault Ste. Marie and the north region.  He has seen and played the game at a high level and knows the skills and environment necessary to help kids master their craft,” Shook said of Giovanatti, who is a local educator and former high school basketball standout at Sir James Dunn and college all-star at Algoma University.

Giovanatti noted that Steel City Sports plans to be back in the gym when the Ontario government re-opens for activity and looks forward to offering basketball and volleyball camps to youngsters of all ages and genders.

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