Pair of Spanish recruits set to bring talents to MacEwan
Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – As they progress towards the goal of becoming a Canada West and U SPORTS contender, the MacEwan men's basketball program continues to bolster its ranks with strong recruits.
Head coach Mike Connolly's latest additions are a pair of friends who grew up playing club basketball together in Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain.
Eric Carretero Lopez and Marco Mariani Correas will be joining the Griffins in January as the team prepares for the 2021-22 Canada West season.
"Both these guys have the potential to lead our team to great things in the future, and help with our growing success," said Connolly, who was introduced to the duo by a connection he has in Spain.
"They are quality student-athletes both entering our Bachelor of Communications Studies in Journalism (program)."
Lopez is a product of the Spanish U15 national team. Most recently, the 6-foot-2 point guard helped his club team Herbalife Gran Canaria finish with a 3-1 record at the 2019-20 U18 Adidas Next Generation tournament.
"Eric will be an elite point guard in our conference," said Connolly. "He will go through some growing pains and learning, but he will be an immediate contributor to our program.
"He has a great future with MacEwan University."
At 6-foot-7, Marco Mariani Correas has the ability to contribute in multiple ways for the Griffins.
Correas is a talented 6-foot-7 forward who helped lead his high school team – Canterbury Academy – to a second-place finish in Spain last season. He brings welcome size and grit to the Griffins.
"Marco is a hard-working, tough-minded player who rebounds and plays exceptional defence," said Connolly. "His size on the perimeter will create problems in our conference both rebounding and defensively."
