"His leadership was outstanding this year," said Saskatchewan coach Greg Jockims, adding Linklater really matured during the past few seasons. Since he has only taken two years of classes at Saskatchewan, Linklater is far from receiving his university degree. That is something that one day he'd like to get. But for the immediate future, he' s going to try and hook up with a professional basketball club.

"School will always be here until the end of time," he said. "When I feel ready, I'll go back. But my youth is not going to be here forever."

Jockims believes Linklater will be able to sign on with a pro squad, even if it means he has to go to Europe to do so. "There's lots of opportunities to play if he wants to," he said. "There's a lot of pro and semi-pro leagues over there."

For the next few weeks Linklater said he wants to concentrate on finishing his academic year, which concludes in late April. Then he will seriously explore the possibilities of turning pro.

"I'll be putting the word out there," he said.

Linklater added that during the past few years he has accumulated a rather extensive list of contacts working with pro teams.

"People have been telling me for years to get in touch with them when I'm ready to play pro," he said. "There's people I can call and I'll be doing that."

Linklater could potentially even play pro in Canada.

He's obviously not an NBA-calibre player, meaning he won't be suiting up for the Toronto Raptors, the lone Canadian franchise in the league. But he could potentially remain in the country if he signs with a club in the International Basketball League

This article is about the International Basketball League formed in 2004. See International Basketball League (1999-2001) for information on the original unrelated International Basketball League.

The International Basketball League is a U.S. .

The IBL includes three Canadian franchises; Edmonton Energy, Vancouver Volcanoes and the BC Titans, who play in Langley.