Teesside have made their first signing well in advance of the new season with the signature of 18 year old Sheja Gakuba from V3 Prep Academy in Toronto.

Gakuba will attend Teesside University to study Sport and Exercise Science where he will combine his studies with playing for the university and Lions national league men’s team.

Teesside University was recently ranked third in the UK for Sport Science, by the Guardian University Guide.

Originally from Oxford, the 6’3 combo guard joined Charnwood Academy in Leicester, prior to spending this season in Toronto. 

Gakuba follows in the footsteps of fellow student athletes 6’7 centre Toby Scully who joined this season and Temi Olusesi the previous season as the partnership between Teesside University and the Teesside Lions basketball club continues to attract performance athletes. 

Sheja visited Teesside from Oxford, along with his family in early March, and less than a week later was happy to commit. 

His Father, David, an accountant from Oxford was impressed with Teesside University, stating:

“My visit to Teesside University left a great impression on me. The university’s academic offerings, facilities, and support systems provide my son, Sheja, with a strong foundation to continue his development. 

“What stood out the most was the commitment to both education and personal growth. James Thomson also highlighted how the basketball programme is designed to support players both on and off court, which I was equally impressed by.”

Sheja said: 

“For me, Teesside combined the best of both worlds with nationally ranked education as well as high level performance sports. I’m excited to work towards my degree whilst playing under Coach James & Coach Serge. 

“I can’t wait to get started and I’m eager to help Teesside do well.”

James Thomson, Coach of the Teesside University programme and Director of Teesside Lions, said: 

“Firstly I would like to welcome Sheja to Teesside. We have a great basketball programme in which Sheja can showcase his abilities, but more significantly develop to that next level.

“With both a club, and University hat on, Sheja signals a coup for the area, and while he is the first announcement, he won’t be the last.

“It has been a personal ambition of mine to enhance the university basketball programme and attract elite athletes to Teesside. I am pleased to see this come to fruition and am excited for the University and Teesside Lions as we bring in Sheja, and more.”

The Canadian link is not the first one for Teesside. The club have a partnership with Saladin Prep in Edmonton, Alberta, with North America a key growth area for Teesside University.

Teesside is very much a global university with more than 1,800 international students on campus, from more than 100 countries.

George Hunt, Director of International Recruitment at Teesside University is keen to welcome more Canadian and North American students, stating:

“Canada is an area of focus for Teesside as we endeavour to reach more prospective students around the globe, so it was pleasing to hear we have attracted Sheja who spent a year in Toronto. 

“Sport, and in this case basketball, with our partners Teesside Lions, is a great motivational factor for student athletes. I have been working closely with James over the last year and we are hopeful of attracting more Canadian students in the near future.”

The draw of a £290million campus investment along with a range of highly regarded courses has contributed to an international alumni of more than 150,000 from more than 120 countries.

For more information on how you could study at Teesside University, please visit www.Tees.ac.uk and if you would like to speak with someone regarding international placements at Teesside email internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

If you are interested in playing basketball at Teesside University, get in touch with James Thomson via Roar@TeessideLions.com