The journey to the Carleton Ravens basketball team is a long one for North Vancouver, B.C. native Cole Penman, but the freshman guard says he’s excited to get both the basketball season and his university experience underway.
“I’m feeling good and I’m ready to get started,” Penman said. “Our team is looking pretty good and I’m confident we’re going to do well. I’m just trying to do the little things to get as much playing time as I can.”
Penman said the decision to go halfway across the country to start his Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) basketball dream was easy.
“I chose Carleton because of the program’s history of winning,” he said. “And I think Dave Smart is one of the best coaches in North America, so it’s hard to turn him down once he asks you.”
Even though he may be a freshman, Penman already shares a connection to a pair of his teammates.
Penman attended Vancouver College, the same high school as current Ravens star brothers Philip and Thomas Scrubb, and he said it’s great to see the Scrubbs have success at Carleton coming out of the same situation as himself.
Penman said the Scrubbs and other veterans are serving as mentors to him as he tries to transition to a spot on the Ravens squad.
While Penman and the Scrubbs never actually suited up on the floor together during high school basketball due to their age gap, Philip said he is excited for the opportunity to finally play with Penman.
Not only did Penman go to the same high school as the Scrubb brothers, but their father, Lloyd Scrubb, also coached him for three years.
“Cole is a big, physical guy who’s a strong defender,” Lloyd said from his experience coaching Penman. “He’s very confident when he’s on the floor, and he is a good shooter.”
Both Lloyd and Philip Scrubb agreed that Penman has displayed a high work ethic in both practices and games.
Philip said the addition of Penman definitely helps the Ravens as they work to continue their dominance in CIS hoops in the future.
“We’re bringing in really talented guys and if they buy into the system most of them will contribute in the future,” he said. “Adding guys like Cole who will hopefully stick around and get better will go a long way.”
Penman said he doesn’t know how his season will unfold, but regardless of how many minutes he gets on the court, he said he’s committed to working as hard as he can with a team-first mentality, attributes well known to the Scrubb family and his new Ravens teammates.
“In regards to my playing time, I just want to work as hard as I can, make my open shots when I’m needed, and do all the little things,” he said.
“But when I’m not in the game I’m just going to stay positive, help the other guys by competing hard in practice, and be a team guy.”
“I’m happy with whatever it takes to win, whether with me being on the floor or on the bench.”
