For basketball fans in Greater Victoria, all eyes are on the UVic Vikes final homestand this weekend.

But far, far away from UVicB次元官网网址檚 McKinnon gym, a player who once trained there is turning heads with the BishopB次元官网网址檚 Gaiters in the CIS.

Former Oak Bay Bays guard Mukiya Post had hoped to one day wear the blue and gold for the Vikes. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 to be. But Post didnB次元官网网址檛 give up on playing in the CIS. After two hard-earned years in college, Post is in his first year of CIS basketball and made his fourth consecutive start with the Gaiters (3-9) on Saturday.

B次元官网网址淭here were times I was working hard the last few years, and I felt the results werenB次元官网网址檛 showing. There were some hard obstacles,B次元官网网址� said Post, in a telephone call from Lennoxville, Que., last week.

B次元官网网址淲here IB次元官网网址檓 at now, I can say, it inspires me more to work harder now, because IB次元官网网址檓 seeing what IB次元官网网址檝e done in the past, my work has paid off.B次元官网网址�

The 6-foot-4 shooting guard started this season watching the first eight games from the bench, in which the team won once.

His team is still last in QuebecB次元官网网址檚 five-team conference, and has a tough task ahead if theyB次元官网网址檙e going to make the post-season. But the Gaiters are on a roll now, and Post is a big part of it. The team won back-to-back games for the first time last weekend.

On Friday, Post scored 13 points in the GaitersB次元官网网址� 78-75 win over the first-place Concordia Stingers. It was the GaitersB次元官网网址� first win at Concordia (10-2) since 2006, and it bumped the StingersB次元官网网址� national ranking back to 10th in the country, four behind the Vikes. On Saturday, Post led the team with 16 points in its 72-57 win over the University of Quebec at Montreal (6-7).

WhatB次元官网网址檚 more, Post has the highest free-throw percentage in the CIS, making 94 per cent of his shots from the foul line (34-for-36).

It should come as no surprise the same kid who first and foremost praises his mom for her support and inspiration also wants to put his team first.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like weB次元官网网址檙e able to accomplish more,B次元官网网址� Post said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e lost a lot of two and three point games this year. WeB次元官网网址檙e only two points back of Laval (4-8). Every game from now on is a must win for us to make the playoffs.B次元官网网址�

The road ahead only gets better for Post, a history major with two more years of CIS eligibility after this one.

ItB次元官网网址檚 how Post got to this point that bears modeling for other players. By the time Post graduated from Oak Bay High in 2009, he had accepted the CIS wasnB次元官网网址檛 an option.

B次元官网网址淥ut of high school I wasnB次元官网网址檛 ready for the CIS and a lot of times I experienced disappointment with my game.B次元官网网址�

But Post was determined and he had a plan: to play for the Champlain College Cavaliers in St. Lambert, across the river from Montreal.

B次元官网网址淢y first year I wanted to go to Champlain. IB次元官网网址檇 heard it was a good place to develop and had moved a lot of guys to the CIS.B次元官网网址�

Post credited Oak Bay principal David Thomson in helping. Problem was, Post thought Champlain was going to be more expensive than he could afford. Instead he happily took a scholarship to study and play in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 PacWest collegiate conference with the Quest University Kermodes (Squamish).

While there, Post learned that Champlain was going to cost far less than he thought, and that they were still interested in him. He made the jump, and it paid off fast.

B次元官网网址淕aitersB次元官网网址� coach Rod Gilpin approached me after he saw me play in the (Quebec collegiate) provincials with Champlain,B次元官网网址� Post said.

B次元官网网址淚 came for a visit to Sherbrooke and agreed.B次元官网网址�

Back in October, the Gaiters defeated the Vikes during the House-Laughton Hoops Classic preseason tournament in Ottawa. Post scored eight points off the bench, a B次元官网网址渟urreal momentB次元官网网址� playing against former Bays teammate Reese Pribilsky.

B次元官网网址淒uring Grades 9 and 10 I watched the Vikes. (High school) summers IB次元官网网址檇 stop by and watch them scrimmage. I knew their players and looked up to their players,B次元官网网址� Post said. B次元官网网址淧laying against them was like, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 here playing in the CIS.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

High post

MukiyaB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渓ittleB次元官网网址� brother, Keanau, is in his first year of junior college with Southwestern Illinois, near St. Louis. At 6-foot-11, 270 lbs., Keanau, also a former Oak Bay player, is considered an NCAA prospect.

Did you know?

The Shoot for the Cure event, which is being held at UVic today, was the brainchild of Rod Gilpin. The former coach of the BishopB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 team is in his fourth season as head coach of the menB次元官网网址檚 Gaiters.