When the 2017-18 Canada West men乌鸦传媒檚 basketball season tips off this fall, the UBC Thundebirds will have an unmistakable Kelowna flavour.

With KSS grad Parker Simson already wearing blue and gold, the T-Birds have since added two more key pieces from the Owls乌鸦传媒� of 2016.

After signing 6-foot-10 forward Grant Shephard on the Easter long weekend, the UBC men乌鸦传媒檚 program this week happily announced the commitment of blue chip point guard Mason Bourcier.

One of the most highly-touted high school players in Western Canada, the 6-foot-4 Bourcier is thrilled to be launching his post-secondary basketball career at UBC.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 great fit for me, I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 want anything more,乌鸦传媒� said Bourcier. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 a real family aspect here, it乌鸦传媒檚 a great team and with a lot good players. I know some of the guys here and there乌鸦传媒檚 a winning mentality.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 looking forward to being part this program and winning a championship, that乌鸦传媒檚 what I came here to do.乌鸦传媒�

Bourcier closed out his high school career with KSS in style, scoring 29 points乌鸦传媒攊ncluding seven three-pointers乌鸦传媒攁nd earning MVP honours in the B.C. 4A championship game.

Not surprisingly, Bourcier generated plenty of interest for his services on both sides of the border, including from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and Ottawa乌鸦传媒檚 Carleton University Ravens.

In addition to the quality of Thunderbirds program and playing in his home province, Bourcier said playing with a couple of his ex-Owls teammates will be a considerable bonus.

乌鸦传媒淭hose guys coming here was a big factor for me, Grant, he乌鸦传媒檚 like a brother to me and a great player,乌鸦传媒� said Bourcier, who plans to pursue a business degree at UBC. 乌鸦传媒淧arker (Simson) was a huge role model for me when I came into the Owls and it乌鸦传媒檚 nice to be back with both of them again.乌鸦传媒�

UBC head coach Kevin Hanson said getting Bourcier on board is a significant step forward for the T-Birds program.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e thrilled to see Mason join our program, he has so many great characteristics, both as a basketball player and as a person,乌鸦传媒� Hanson said. 乌鸦传媒淗e told me he wants to win championships and that乌鸦传媒檚 exactly what you love to hear from a recruit.

乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 driven and he makes players around him better,乌鸦传媒� added Hanson. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e excited to see what he can do for our program for years to come.乌鸦传媒�

Shephard, whose last season with the Owls was 2015-16, played this past season at Montverde Academy in Florida.

Just as Bourcier had done a year later, Shephard was named the MVP of the 2016 B.C. 4A boys championship game.

After weighing his options for the coming season, Shephard said all signs pointed to UBC.

乌鸦传媒淭he amount of positive elements and attributes I recognized during my visit to UBC乌鸦传媒檚 campus, such as the proximity of the university to my family and friends, as well as the basketball opportunities that the university has to offer made it the perfect fit for me,乌鸦传媒� Shephard said.

Like Bourcier, coach Hanson said landing Shephard adds heft to the T-Birds乌鸦传媒� roster.

乌鸦传媒淕etting a player as high profile and as highly skilled as Grant is truly a remarkable day for our program,乌鸦传媒� said Hanson. 乌鸦传媒淒espite Grant having several offers from NCAA Division 1 schools, he decided playing and studying at UBC was the right fit for him.乌鸦传媒�