Aspengrove’s Backcourt Will Be Electric

By JJ Gonzales

Aspengrove (BC) basketball’s two latest recruits, 2028 guard Dominic Loehle and 2027 guard Cole Arrow , raise both the ceiling and the floor of this first-year Aspengrove team, quietly building a battle-hardened backcourt that NPH and Power 32 League teams need to prepare for.

Their Journey to Nanaimo, BC

Cole Arrow

I often visit Aspengrove’s practices, and one day, a new player showed up. I didn’t ask questions right away but just observed. I could immediately recognize that his level of competitiveness and energy were a level above the others. He was vocal, assertive, and competitive to a degree that seemed to shock his teammates. That player was Cole Arrow.

It was his first day on campus. After talking to Matt Kuzminski, Program Director of Aspengrove, I learned that Cole had played for Orangeville Prep the year before, a long way from Nanaimo, BC. Recently, I’ve had time to ask Cole a few questions, and I learned that he had previously committed to North Star Prep (MB), based in Winnipeg, after Orangeville overhauled the majority of its roster. Cole described his recruitment to Aspengrove as a last-minute opportunity, and the program sounded promising, so he made the jump to the West Coast.

Dominic Loehle

Dominic is originally a BC product, although he has followed a much different path than most players, having played in California for the past four years. Dominic originally attended Heritage Christian, based in Northridge, CA, which competes in the CIF Open Division, the same division as Notre Dame (CA), St. John Bosco (CA), and Sierra Canyon (CA).

Dominic returned to Vancouver this spring, spent considerable time playing in classic local events, and committed to this year’s U17 Team BC Basketball program. Around this time, Dominic initially committed to play for Loyola High School (CA), which also competes in the CIF. After changing plans, he rerouted to Nanaimo and announced his commitment to Aspengrove on Friday, October 16.

Backcourt Voltage

When watching Team BC U17, I wasn’t originally evaluating Dominic, but his quick instincts, joy, and creativity on the floor immediately stood out. He has a high frequency of alley-oop passes that are on time and on target, yielding dangerous open-court attacks. Defensively, he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. His quick hands and explosiveness allow him to pounce on sloppy ball handlers and ignite the fast break.

With the ball in his hands, Dominic relentlessly seeks paint touches, using an understanding of angles paired with his burst to get two feet in the paint or create separation for mid-range pull-ups. When I asked Cole about Dominic’s arrival, he was glad to have him there to help share the offensive load.

Cole recently had a 43-point explosion against Camosun (CCAA), and that’s what makes this pairing so interesting. At the point guard position, he is leaning into a scoring guard role more often than not, although he is capable of making advanced reads. In his recent exhibition film for Aspengrove, Cole appears to be the primary scoring option. He uses a variety of bumps and tight angles to leverage his drives, leading to a high frequency of mid-range shots. However, he can also turn the corner and maneuver around shot blockers for soft, off-the-glass finishes.

His outside game looks polished, with the range to draw out his primary defender. He also has an array of step-backs and pull-ups to punish defenders.

Overall, Dominic’s ability to generate quick advantages, energy, and creativity on offense, combined with Cole’s scoring gravity and range, will make this pairing a dilemma for opposing defenses.

Experience Is Valuable

Aspengrove’s inaugural roster primarily consists of players who developed locally, some close to home, including two transfers from Nanaimo District Secondary School (BC) and others from across the greater Vancouver area.

One important distinction is that local competition is generally slower, smaller, and less athletic than what players face in the CIF and NPH. Given the games Cole and Dominic have played in these highly competitive environments, their decision-making and ability to handle pressure, both physically and mentally, against faster and more athletic opponents in the CIF and NPH should prove valuable.

When recruiting these two guards, Matt Kuzminski appears to have recognized the value of battle-hardened players who have already gone head-to-head with the same competition they are now challenging in these conferences.

A Familiar Formula?

The coaching staff came over from VIU (CCAA), and their previous experience reveals an interesting parallel. During their time there, they were known for recruiting JUCO players, and that strategy yielded results.

Now at Aspengrove, adding guards who have competed outside the local landscape appears to serve a similar purpose, bringing proven experience into a local program.