He spent a season in Maine chasing his dream and on Monday it became a reality back in the gym where he dominated for years.
Surrounded by his family and high school coach, Fardaws Aimaq officially signed a full-ride scholarship offer with the University of Mercer Bears — a NCAA Division One school located in Mason, Georgia that was 11-7 in the Southern Conference last season.
The 6-foot-11 standout took the Steveston-London Sharks where they had never gone before, highlighted by a sensational 40 point and 34 rebound performance in the 2016 provincial 3A final loss to Southridge. A year later, he collected city MVP honours for Mike Stoneburgh’s squad. However, all the B.C. high school basketball awards and accolades weren’t going to take Aimaq where he ultimately wanted to be.
He turned some mild interest into substantial offers from NCAA programs thanks to a standout season playing for Bridgton Academy in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AAA level. The unknown “Canadian kid” blossomed into a First Team All-Conference player, averaging 19 points and 14 rebounds a game.
“Fardaws matured into a productive force for us,” said Bridgton coach Whit Lesure. “This may go down with Brinks as one of the great steals when all is said and done. ‘Daws’ has the size and potential ability to put the Mercer team on his back and still have room for the band on his shoulders.”
Aimaq doesn’t even need a basketball in his hand to show the difference a year has made.
He has matured mentally and physically, shedding 27 pounds over the course of the season thanks to essentially being in a U.S. college environment and having to look after himself.
“I think I am a much better leader now and have grown physically too. I’m a lot stronger and way more explosive,” said Aimaq. “Sometimes when I played up here I could take plays off. You do that (in NEPSAC) you will get plays put down your throat. With me I’m always constantly trying to get better.”
He is the first male basketball player from Richmond in 17 years to sign with an NCAA Division One School and joins some elite company that includes former Richmond High stars Kyle Russell, Pasha Bains, Andrew Mavis, Ron Putzi, Brian Tait and Alan Tait.
Aimaq is from a new era of high school basketball in the city where the talent is now spread among a number of programs rather than a couple of powerhouse schools. What remains the same is dedicated volunteer coaches like Stoneburgh wanting their kids to succeed.
He helped and encouraged Aimaq to take his career to another level even if it meant leaving home soon after high school graduation.
“The process was super stressful but looking at it now I think with my parents and coach Stoney and the way we went about it, I did everything the right way in terms in where I went this year, added Aimaq. “NESPAC is the best league in America with high major guys all over the place.
“The biggest thing was the speed of the game and I struggled a bit at first. But I really hit the weight room and conditioning too. That was huge. Just putting myself around those kind of people was probably best for me. Guys who love to compete every single day.”
Aimaq will get his first taste of Mercer at a summer session in June and is expected to compete for a starting position in his freshman season.
