When the 2017-18 Canada West men害羞草研究所檚 basketball season tips off this fall, the UBC Thundebirds will have an unmistakable Kelowna flavour.

With KSS grad Parker Simson already wearing blue and gold, the T-Birds have since added two more key pieces from the Owls害羞草研究所� of 2016.

After signing 6-foot-10 forward Grant Shephard on the Easter long weekend, the UBC men害羞草研究所檚 program this week happily announced the commitment of blue chip point guard Mason Bourcier.

One of the most highly-touted high school players in Western Canada, the 6-foot-4 Bourcier is thrilled to be launching his post-secondary basketball career at UBC.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 great fit for me, I couldn害羞草研究所檛 want anything more,害羞草研究所� said Bourcier. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a real family aspect here, it害羞草研究所檚 a great team and with a lot good players. I know some of the guys here and there害羞草研究所檚 a winning mentality.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 looking forward to being part this program and winning a championship, that害羞草研究所檚 what I came here to do.害羞草研究所�

Bourcier closed out his high school career with KSS in style, scoring 29 points害羞草研究所攊ncluding seven three-pointers害羞草研究所攁nd earning MVP honours in the B.C. 4A championship game.

Not surprisingly, Bourcier generated plenty of interest for his services on both sides of the border, including from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and Ottawa害羞草研究所檚 Carleton University Ravens.

In addition to the quality of Thunderbirds program and playing in his home province, Bourcier said playing with a couple of his ex-Owls teammates will be a considerable bonus.

害羞草研究所淭hose guys coming here was a big factor for me, Grant, he害羞草研究所檚 like a brother to me and a great player,害羞草研究所� said Bourcier, who plans to pursue a business degree at UBC. 害羞草研究所淧arker (Simson) was a huge role model for me when I came into the Owls and it害羞草研究所檚 nice to be back with both of them again.害羞草研究所�

UBC head coach Kevin Hanson said getting Bourcier on board is a significant step forward for the T-Birds program.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e thrilled to see Mason join our program, he has so many great characteristics, both as a basketball player and as a person,害羞草研究所� Hanson said. 害羞草研究所淗e told me he wants to win championships and that害羞草研究所檚 exactly what you love to hear from a recruit.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 driven and he makes players around him better,害羞草研究所� added Hanson. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e excited to see what he can do for our program for years to come.害羞草研究所�

Shephard, whose last season with the Owls was 2015-16, played this past season at Montverde Academy in Florida.

Just as Bourcier had done a year later, Shephard was named the MVP of the 2016 B.C. 4A boys championship game.

After weighing his options for the coming season, Shephard said all signs pointed to UBC.

害羞草研究所淭he amount of positive elements and attributes I recognized during my visit to UBC害羞草研究所檚 campus, such as the proximity of the university to my family and friends, as well as the basketball opportunities that the university has to offer made it the perfect fit for me,害羞草研究所� Shephard said.

Like Bourcier, coach Hanson said landing Shephard adds heft to the T-Birds害羞草研究所� roster.

害羞草研究所淕etting a player as high profile and as highly skilled as Grant is truly a remarkable day for our program,害羞草研究所� said Hanson. 害羞草研究所淒espite Grant having several offers from NCAA Division 1 schools, he decided playing and studying at UBC was the right fit for him.害羞草研究所�