4 days Ago By Dan O'Connor/UNBC athletics
The UNBC Timberwolves are adding some local experience to their backcourt for the 2025-26 season. On Tuesday, head coach Todd Jordan announced that sharpshooting guard Tony Kibonge has committed to UNBC. The six-foot graduate from Cedars Christian School joins the TWolves after playing the previous three seasons with Northwestern Polytechnic (Grande Prairie, ACAC).
“UNBC is just a good fit for me,” said Kibonge, who averaged 13.6 points-per-game along with 3.5 rebounds, 2.
1 assists, and a 36.0 percentage from beyond the arc last season while also capturing the Men’s Basketball Academic Award for his team. “Academically it helps me pursue my goals of trying to be a physiotherapist.
Then also it’s nice to be in a familiar environment back in the city where I grew up.” Kibonge will be entering UNBC’s biomedical studies program in the fall. Kibonge grew up attending UNBC Timberwolves camps while also attending the Northern Bounce Academy where he was coached by Jordan Yu and UNBC Timberwolves alumnus Tyrell Laing.
When choosing his next basketball home, Kibonge’s comfort level with coach Jordan also played a massive role. “I’m familiar with coach Todd, which has been nice,” said Kibonge, who took to the floor with his new teammates during a visit in mid-March. “Just coming back here and seeing the way this team runs and the kind of culture they have, it says a lot about him.
These guys are a tight-knit group. The way they play is unselfish and there’s lots of ball movement. It makes the game a lot more fun and easier.
” Jordan says Kibonge’s progress as an everyday player in the Alberta college league since he left high school is obvious and his skills as an outside shooter will ease his adjustment to U SPORTS basketball. “We are very excited to add Tony to our lineup,” added Todd Jordan. “He is a good three-point shooter and he will also bring some experience to our young lineup.
I am really impressed with the development he has made since his time as a high school player with Cedars Christian School, and we are happy to be able to welcome a homegrown student-athlete back to Prince George.” Kibonge was a dual-sport star during his time at Cedars Christian. In his Grade 12 season (2021-22) he led the Eagles senior volleyball team to a provincial bronze medal and as a tournament all-star he helped Cedars win bronze at the single-A basketball provincial championship that season.
As he begins to train and prepare for next season, Kibonge knows exactly what he wants to zero in on. “For training this summer, the big things for me are getting my ball-handling right, and adding strength,” he said, “Canada West is going to be a more physical league with bigger, longer defenses and I want to make sure I’m prepared as best as possible.” Putting the jersey on will be a full-circle moment,” added Kibonge, who lists Trae Young, James Harden and Shae Gilgeous-Alexander as his current favourite NBA players to watch.
“I grew up here, left, and now I’m back as a more improved player, and I’m so excited and grateful for the opportunity.”.
