Graduating Seniors Q&A: Resilient vets Janda, Jaksic and Osuma leave program in a better place
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
13 | 20 | 24 | 32 | 89 |
|
|
17 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 71 |
Team Stats
Regina
| Game Statistics | Regina | MacEwan University |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (31-60) | (25-71) |
| Field Goal % | 51.7% | 35.2% |
| Rebounds | 40 | 36 |
| Assists | 21 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 27 | 16 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 20 | 32 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 11 | 18 |
| Pts in the Paint | 34 | 36 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 14 | 6 |
| Bench Pts | 36 | 34 |
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – They were among the Griffins men's basketball veterans who went through it and got out the other side.
The exhilaration on their faces when MacEwan beat Brandon on Nov. 30, 2025, to end the program's 75-game losing streak will never be forgotten in the annals of program history.
Now, Job Janda, Milan Jaksic and Dami Osuma are at the end of their university journeys.
The trio of graduating seniors will lead the Griffins into the final weekend of their U SPORTS careers as MacEwan hosts Regina on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
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A special on-court ceremony on Saturday will celebrate what they've meant to the Griffins men's basketball program.
"We've been talking a lot about future, future, future," said new Griffins head coach David Kapinga, who is in the midst of building a contender in his first year with the program. "I think it's important to talk about the resiliency that they've had. Five years (without a lot of wins). I don't think that's something you see too often anymore. You hear of people trying to transfer. So, I think the resiliency that they've shown sticking to the program (is important).
"I think those three guys have set the beginning of the new. It's not the end. It's a new beginning that starts with them and I think they'll be very happy with where that journey's going to take the program."
Read a Q&A with all three graduating seniors below.
JOB JANDA
Job Janda enters his final weekend with 788 career points and 427 career rebounds (Taylor Lafond photo).
David Kapinga's coach's quote:
"Job has been a great captain. Him and I have had a few hard conversations, and I feel like he's been the outlet for the team. When they don't feel like they were able to tell me something themselves then they would send Job with a message as the captain. (I thought) 'OK, if Job feels that way, then there's some truth to it.'
"The physicality he's brought for us defensively … we wouldn't have won the games we've won without that toughness. It's just unfortunate he sprained his ankle at the beginning of the year and it took him a little bit of time before he felt like himself again in the second half of the season. He's been playing tremendous since then."
Q&A with Job Janda
What are you going to be graduating with and when?
"Major in Accounting, minoring in Finance. Graduating June 2026."
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"As of right now, looking to get hopefully a designation between CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst). Still kind of wanting to see where I want to take it, but those are the options right now."
Do you have plans to keep playing basketball?
"If the opportunity presents itself, I definitely want to see it through and see how long I could continue. But if it doesn't, that's the end of the story. I've left it on the court."
You've had the honour of being the captain of this team. What has that meant to be a leader here?
"It's a blessed position, I would say. Guys being able to trust my words, trust what I do on the court. Just representing the core values that we try to instill: hard working, communicating and just leaving everything on the court."
You recently passed over 750 career points. You're at 788 now. What does it mean to hit that milestone?
"Again, with every single year, there's always been a different side of the game that I've had to expand and just continue to stack over the years. Year by year, things have been getting better for me on the court and the points show."
What are some of your favourite memories that stand out over your time with the Griffins?
"In the past, for sure, the Brandon weekend, getting Canada West player of the week, winning that Brandon game Saturday night. Recently, for sure, one of mine was the Calgary one. It was a big win for the team."
How would you like to be remembered? What legacy are you leaving to the program?
"I gave it 110 per cent. Blood, sweat and tears. Left it all on the floor and always tried to put on a show."
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
"There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I always tell myself this: if I was to start everything over, would I take anything back or change anything? I wouldn't. I'd leave it just the same. All the experiences that I've gained, not really on the court, but off the court. All the things I've just understood and learned about myself as a human being – just being a better person – and a lot of that's showing on the court, as well."
MILAN JAKSIC
Milan Jaksic is just one rebound shy of becoming the first Griffins player in the program's Canada West era to reach 500 career boards. He also enters the weekend with 798 career points (Taylor Lafond photo).
David Kapinga's coach's quote:
"To be honest, the biggest thing I've felt from Milan (this season) is after his back injury and everything that's happening, is just his diligence and how focused he was on recovery and taking care of his body. I think that's (shown an example and) benefited a lot of guys on the team, getting in the Athletic Therapy room, stretching, taking care of their bodies.
"I think that's the biggest thing he's brought is understanding 'hey, your body can break down and you have to take care of it. That's how you play. That's how you do what you love to do and that's play basketball.' "
Q&A with Milan Jaksic
What are you going to be graduating with and when?
"Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Finance in June."
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"Go into Finance and looking to build my personality outside of basketball. Basketball's been my whole thing, so (I want to) make a name for myself in Finance or Accounting, but I'm leaning towards Finance more."
Do you have plans to keep playing basketball after MacEwan?
"As of right now, it's 50-50. With the injury I have, I don't really know."
You've been playing this whole season through an injury?
"Yeah, back injury – herniated disc. So, the whole season has been up and down."
How challenging has that been for you?
"Very difficult because it's hard to get extra time in in the gym with weights, basketball. Anything can tweak it, so I have to take a lot of care with it – a lot of physio, a lot of after treatment before practices and games. It's been a journey. I was dealing with it a bit last season, but this season's been way more painful."
You have 798 career points (second in the program's Canada West history) and your career rebounds are 499 (first), so you need one more to become the first Griffin to get 500 in CW. What has it meant to have all that production over five years?
"Obviously, it took a toll on my body with this injury, but it feels nice (to have done that). These past five years, it didn't go as we had planned. But I hold dear all the achievements I got personally. It shows what I did for the last five years. I didn't know I was the first one for 500 rebounds, so it would be nice (to get that)."
What are some of your favourite memories of your time with the Griffins?
"Honestly, meeting people. Job and Dami are going to be guys I'll be close with the rest of my life. I lived with them for five years and have pretty much seen them every single day, so they're like family. Then, personal achievements at the end of the day. As a team, we didn't have too many achievements, but last year's Brandon win was really big for us because that was four years after no wins."
What do you think you'll be remembered for? What's the legacy you're leaving to the team?
"For me, there's light at the end of the tunnel. Everyone might say it was a bad five years, but for me I look at the positives – the people I met and the journey I had. Sometimes life throws curveballs at you. It is a tough spot to be in, but I think just being positive. I've tried to be positive for the last five years. It's been up and down. At the end of the day, just being positive for the whole journey and (believing) we can do something different and change up the culture here. With a new coach, I'm glad to be a part of it. Positivity is my legacy."
Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
"I can't wait to honestly see them succeed. They have a great team and have great coaches. I think they're going to go really far in the next couple years. I think maybe I'll come back and help out coaching. I'll see about that. As of now, I hope they do really well. I was a part of something special (to help build) for the next five-six years coming."
DAMI OSUMA
Dami Osuma enters his final weekend with 610 career points and 442 rebounds (Taylor Lafond photo).
David Kapinga's coach's quote:
"Dami has been instrumental to the culture we've been building. I just think his intelligence is something I've been able to refer to a lot with our younger guys. Hey, listen, 'if you were Dami, what would Dami do in this situation?' 'Yes, that's what I want to do.' So, just to be able to use him as a reference on basketball IQ plays has been really, really good for us. That's put a pretty high standard into the basketball IQ I want from the players and how I want them to execute on the court."
Q&A with Dami Osuma:
What are you going to be graduating with and when?
"I will be graduating with a Psychology degree, Bachelor of Arts, and probably this summer I'll be done. I'll walk the stage in November."
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"I wanted to go into Sports Psych, but we'll see how it goes. I haven't really made up my mind. This summer will be a lot of decisions.
Do you have plans to keep playing basketball?
"I think I will transfer to more coaching. But if the opportunity comes, the opportunity comes. I would go for maybe a couple years. I just know I'd have to restart my life after that, so I don't know. We'll see."
Have you been coaching already?
"Yeah, I coached with some club teams, including NexGen. I was an assistant for them."
When you look back at your time with the Griffins, what are some of your favourite memories?
"Just trips with the guys, Saturday nights, coming together and hanging out, talking about the games. Just the camaraderie with the team."
Of course, I've asked you about this already for a feature earlier this season, but how much has it meant getting to play with your brother (Dele Osuma)?
"It meant a lot, for sure. Just getting to play with my guy, getting a little two-man game going. It was fun."
How would you like to be remembered over your time with the Griffins? What's the legacy you're leaving to the program?
"I would just say resilience. Being here no matter what I'm going through personally. Trying to leave everything at the door to try and play some basketball."
Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
"I had a great time here. I know we had a lot of downs, but we also had some ups. It was great. I learned a lot of life lessons here and how to deal with adversity. I felt like I became a better man here."
