Nothing has ever been easy for Anthony Batchelor. He credits God and his mother for his ongoing success in life and on the basketball court. Batchelor, a native of Scarborough Ontario has developed into
a superstar guard as a member of the Durham College men’s basketball program. The 19-year old superstar has seen his basketball journey take him through Philadelphia and Seattle before landing at Durham College, which is located in Oshawa Ontario.
“As a kid I moved around a lot,” said Batchelor. While moving was tough, he knew it was for the best. “Mom is always thinking of me in everything she does, and I love her for that,” he said. When he was 10, he and his mother moved to Seattle. That lasted three years, and then it was off to Philadelphia for a year, then back to Seattle. While most would view it as a negative, Batchelor always found a way to pull some-thing positive out of the experience.
“As I was getting older I started to realize that moving around was a hassle, but also a learning point. In every new city I go to there’s always something new that I can pick up and add to my game,” said Batchelor. His experiences in Philadelphia and Seattle have allowed him to develop into an all-star in his first year at Durham. “In Philly they don’t pass you the ball, so you have to work on your defense so you can get the rock, whereas, in Seattle, the game is pure scorers so you try and compete with that.”
The 6-2, 177-pound guard is averaging a solid 19.3 PPG which is good for fourth in the OCAA and is shooting 89% from the charity stripe. In addition, the man his teammates call ‘Seattle’ leads the Lords in steals, minutes per game, and sits second in rebounds and assists. Not bad for a freshman. “Seattle does everything at both ends of the court,” Coach Peter Gordon raved. His outstanding play has helped lead the Lords to an 8-4 conference record, putting them in great position to capture a playoff spot. Durham plays host to the provincial championships this season, so there is a little added incentive.
Sky is the limit when it comes to his potential on the court. “Anthony is one of the most exciting and intelligent players to have played at Durham College,” said Coach Peter Gordon. “He is by far our best player and one of the top players in the OCAA,” he added. Anthony’s versatility and work ethic have earned him respect amongst his teammates. “He is one of the best players I have ever played alongside,” said Lords guard Jason Nepomuceno. “He is so talented and works really hard, so it makes our jobs a lot easier,” added Matt Markovic, a second year forward with the Lords,
Batchelor will stop at nothing to improve his game. “Much more is needed for me to be a complete player,” he said. “I am prepared to do whatever it takes to bring my game to the next level. He was the lone representative from the Lords to play in the OCAA All-star game on January 22, where he gave the rest of the province a chance to see what he brings to the court. Despite his success on the court, Batchelor does not let his ego dictate who he is as a person. “His ego isn’t inflated with all of the success he has achieved from basketball which makes him one of the few personable people around,” Markovic explained. When comparing the 6-2 guard against current NBA players, he sees himself as a Tracy McGrady type player. “T-Mac is aggressive, he is more of a slasher then a shooter, and that’s exactly how my game is,” explained Batchelor.
Lords fan can only hope he develops into such a player, and judging by the stats, and the glowing words from his teammates, Batchelor is well on his way to making a name for himself.
