TORONTO — The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's basketball team welcomes 6'8" small forward and OCAA champion Benni Kazadi to its 2026-27 recruiting class. 

The Toronto native and graduate of St. Mother Teresa Catholic Academy in Scarborough joins the Bold fresh off a successful season with the Humber Hawks of the OCAA, where he helped the team win the 2025-26 OCAA Championship. Kazadi ranked third on the team in points per game (10.6), second on the team in field goal percentage (49.0%), and tied for second on the team in steals per game (1.3) while earning All-Academic status.

A self-described "killer", Kazadi also boasts two years of experience at the NJCAA Division I level with Seward County Community College in 2023-24 and Frank Phillips College in 2024-25. He lists former NJCAA player and NBA draftee Jay Scrubb as his favourite professional athlete.

At the national level, Kazadi took home a gold medal with the Team Ontario U18 men's squad at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Entering his first season with TMU, Kazadi hopes to continue his winning habits. His sights are set on helping the program win its first U SPORTS National Championship:

"I chose TMU to win another [OUA] championship and national championship," Kazadi said, "Go Bold!"

Off the court, Kazadi will study Intro to Community Services at TMU. He enjoys going for drives, watching movies, bowling, and spending time with his family and friends.

The forward has existing chemistry with fellow recruit Nathaniel Savage, whom he played alongside on the Hawks in 2025-26 and at the Jane and Finch Classic basketball tournament in 2023.

Kazadi is the seventh addition to the Bold men's basketball program this offseason, as the team looks to repeat as OUA champions in 2026-27.

TMU Men's Basketball Recruiting Class 2026-27
Tobe Ezeokafor
Nathaniel Savage
Olivier Desjardins
Fernando De Los Santos
Omar Hajizi
Ares Culley-Bremner
Benni Kazadi