TORONTO — This summer was a big one for the recruitment team of the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's basketball team.

The squad, led by Head Coach David DeAveiro, have brought in nine new recruits since last season – nearly half of their 21-man roster.

Combine that with the six returning players from the previous year's recruiting class, and you reach a total of 15 fresh faces in the last two seasons. That number seems oddly large, but there's a method to DeAveiro's madness.

In 2024-25, the Bold were a competitive team in the OUA's Central Division. After two playoff wins against the University of Guelph and Western University, they eventually fell to the University of Ottawa in the OUA semifinal. This year, the Bold have kept around some core pieces and are looking to remain in the mix for the provincial championship: the Wilson Cup.

To ensure that the Bold remain a team full of talent this year, DeAveiro recruited some extra players. With NIL rule changes recently taking place to allow NCAA athletes in America to be compensated by their schools, Canadian athletes leaving for the U.S. has become more common. Bold guard Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow, their second-leading scorer last season, made the decision to transfer to the University of Troy in Alabama over the summer.

"The climate is changing with NIL," explained DeAveiro, "you never know when you're going to lose some players to the U.S…we're keeping a big roster."

To counteract the changing basketball landscape, DeAveiro has had to carefully craft the Bold's roster to remain competitive both now and in the future. He's done a good job of that this season, bringing back two key fifth-year players to help lead the squad: forwards Aaron Rhooms and Aidan Wilson.

Wilson joined TMU as a redshirt junior in 2022-23 after two successful seasons with Fraser Valley University in British Columbia. Since then, he's been an integral part of the organization, protecting the paint with his impressive shot-blocking abilities – he racked up 1.5 per game in 2024-25, good for first on the Bold and fifth in the province.

The rim protector decided to come back for a fifth year and make one last push at the Wilson Cup after thoroughly enjoying his time with the Bold.

"Last year at this point, [Wilson] had told us he wasn't coming back," said DeAveiro, "but then he had a really good experience last year and was working hard in the summer, and he decided that he wanted to come back. We welcome back Aidan with open arms."

"I was excited about the group," added Wilson on his decision, "I think we had a really positive year last year…you don't have this kind of team a lot. It's pretty special."

In the Bold's three games at the preseason Naismith Classic tournament in Waterloo, Wilson averaged 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds. His 6-11 stature and long wingspan not only provide for an easy dump-off and lob target for his teammates, but also quite the interior presence on defence.

TMU was one of the best defensive teams in the province last year: they ranked fourth in points allowed per game (68.8), and second in opponent field goal percentage (36.4%). Wilson's length helps to deter shots at the rim and plays a big part in that defensive identity.

"[Rim protecting] is one of the roles that I've taken on in my last few years here, and I've embraced that," he said, "We have a lot of talented offensive players, so being able to embrace that role and be a defensive anchor, protect the rim, and own that defence has been great. It's something that my teammates trust me with."

Alongside Wilson as a fifth-year leader this season is Aaron Rhooms. The reigning OUA Men's Basketball Player of the Year made a similar decision to rejoin TMU because of the team's culture and identity – as well as some personal goals of his.

"We're happy that Aaron is here," said DeAveiro, "Aaron had a lot of options to choose from and he decided to come back. We're thrilled about it."

Rhooms currently sits in third place in the organization's all-time scoring leaderboard, just 559 points away from tying Boris Bakovic's current record of 2,066. If he were to play in all of the Bold's 22 regular season games this year, he would need to average just over 25 points per game to surpass Bakovic and become the new record holder. Considering his average of 21.6 last season, that mark doesn't seem entirely impossible to reach.

"I think that might be one of Aaron's goals," hinted DeAveiro with a smile when asked if Rhooms was aiming to take home the record this season.

Whether he succeeds in that goal or not, Rhooms' return to TMU this season provides the team with a massive boost on both offence and defence. The 6-6 forward scored the ball with ease on all three levels, shooting an efficient 47.2% from the field and 41.6% from three last year. He also led the team in rebounds and was tied for first in steals per game, with 6.5 and 1.7 respectively.

Having a go-to scorer is a necessity to any championship-level team in basketball, especially down the stretch in close games. Rhooms fills that role perfectly, exploding on occasion for ridiculously high numbers: he notched 43 against the Brock Badgers in February 2025 – the fourth-highest outing in the organization's history.

Putting the ball in the basket isn't all Rhooms is good for, though. With he and Wilson returning, the Bold will have two savvy veterans to instill the team's culture into their younger teammates.

"A lot of the guys we have coming in are really talented, so there's not a lot to teach them skill-wise," admitted Wilson, "it's mainly a culture thing…if anyone needs to come ask advice, myself and Aaron are there for them. We're embracing that role this year."

Both players gained professional experience with the Canadian Elite Basketball League this past summer: Rhooms with the Edmonton Stingers, and Wilson with the Brampton Honey Badgers. That time spent against better competition goes a long way–they can pass down some of the knowledge they've learned to their teammates.

"They're keeping [their Bold teammates] grounded," explained DeAveiro, "they're mentoring these young guys.

But like Wilson said, some of those young players are already incredibly skilled – the Bold have developed multiple impactful players over the past few seasons.

The most notable name on that list is the guard Kevin Toth. The second-year from Mississauga was named to the OUA All-Rookie team in his freshman season, leading both the Bold and all OUA rookies in assists per game at 4.6. He also showed his impact defensively, finishing second on TMU in steals per game with 1.6.

Thanks to his hard work and the guidance of DeAveiro, Rhooms, and Wilson, Toth has improved significantly for the start of his sophomore season. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Naismith Classic tournament, averaging 21.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. His ability to facilitate the Bold's offence as a point guard will be crucial to the team's success this season.

Another second-year guard who's shown real promise is Maxime Louis-Jean. The Montreal native started in all 25 of TMU's games last season, knocking down 34.5% of his threes and tying with Rhooms as the team leader in steals per game at 1.7.

Freshman guard Gurdeep Kalsi has also impressed with his shooting in the team's preseason so far. With he, Louis-Jean, Toth, and multiple other young players on the roster looking like they're ready for real playoff minutes, TMU is set to be competitive no matter their age. The guidance of Wilson and Rhooms will only fastrack those progressions.

Other than those younger players, DeAveiro and the rest of the recruiting team also acquired veterans Deandre Goulbourne and Darnaz Mabanza over the summer. Both players have had impressive basketball careers at the post-secondary level to this point: Goulbourne at Mohawk College & Centennial College, and Mabanza at Nipissing University.

Goulbourne has had no issues transitioning from the OCAA to OUA level so far. In TMU's first preseason game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City, he scored a team-high 26 points on 58.8% shooting from the field.

"Deandre's a hooper, man," praised Wilson, "you can't teach or coach that…he's a guy that will give you buckets at any level. Super athletic, great sense for the game, and I think one of the most underrated parts about him is his defence. He's quick, and he can defend almost all five positions."

Included also in the Bold's veteran recruitment is redshirt senior Ayub Nurhussien from Ontario Tech University. Although he won't be an active player this year, he'll be able to soak in the team culture and learn from Rhooms and Wilson before returning to the court next season.

Overall, this is a TMU squad full of exciting talents. DeAveiro has managed to maintain a level of competitiveness that could make them a threat for a strong finish in the OUA playoffs, and also boasts a strong balance between interesting young prospects and skilled veterans. This roster, led by Rhooms and Wilson, may just be a recipe for success.

The Bold begin their season in Hamilton against the McMaster Marauders on October 24. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m and fans can watch the game live on OUA.tv.