HAMILTON (March 4, 2010) - Mitch Leger of Kingston, Ont., and Baris Ondul of Istanbul, Turkey were honoured today as the OUA announced its award winners and all-stars for the East Division.

Ondul was announced as the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Ken Shields Award nominee, given to the student-athlete who best exhibits outstanding achievements in basketball, academics, and community involvement. Ondul has been a featured guest speaker at sessions for first-year students designed to help them adjust to the challenges and changes of university life. He is an actively involved member of the coaching staff for Queen's spring/summer club basketball program. He also has been an active participant and organizer for the Books and Basketball program that sees players visit local elementary schools to share thoughts on reading and also engage in physical activity. Ondul has successfully completed his engineering degree in his second language.

As for Leger, he garners his first career First Team All-Star nod after being the only player in the country to average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Leger finished the season as the nation's top rebounder as he pulled down 11.8 boards per game and the nation's fifth leading scorer with 21.4 points per game. His double-double average can be attested to the fact that he recorded the statistic in 15 of the Gaels 22 games this season. Leger had previously been named an OUA Second Team All-Star twice, in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Other major award winners include Josh Gibson-Bascombe (Toronto) of the Ottawa Gee-Gees is the East player of the year. The fifth-year guard was one of four players to average more than 20 points per game, averaging 20.1 in 22 games. He scored a total of 443 points. Gibson-Bascombe led all of OUA with 137 assists and 53 steals. He also contributed 107 rebounds and eight blocks. Gibson-Bascombe shot 45.8 percent from the field on 140-of-306 shooting. He is also an East first-team all-star.

Laurentian Voyageurs first-year guard Manny Pasquale (Victoria) is the East rookie of the year. Pasquale led all Laurentian players with 332 points, 73 assists and 22 steals. He also contributed 74 rebounds and six blocks. Pasquale is not only a member of the East all-rookie team, but also a second-team all-star.

Cole Hobin (Ashton, Ont.) of the Carleton Ravens is the East defensive player of the year. The third-year guard led the Ravens with 31 steals and 12 blocks, while collecting 109 rebounds, 77 of which came from the defensive end of the floor. The Ravens were the top defensive team in OUA, allowing an average of 63.1 points per game.

Ottawa Gee-Gees head coach Dave Deaveiro is the OUA East coach of the year. The Gee-Gees had the second-best record in OUA this season at 18-4, climbing as high as No. 5 in the national rankings. Deaveiro is in his 10th season as Gee-Gees head coach, and is the school's all-time leader in wins. It is his third East coach of the year award.

Joining Gibson-Bascombe as East first-team all-stars are Ryerson Rams forward Boris Bakovic (Toronto), Queen's forward Mitch Leger (Kingston, Ont.), Toronto Varsity Blues guard Nick Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) and Carleton forward Kevin McCleery (Ottawa).

East second-team all-stars along with Pasquale include Varsity Blues guard Rob Paris (St. Catharines, Ont.), Carleton guard Elliot Thompson (Fredericton), York Lions guard David Tyndale (Mississauga, Ont.) and Gee-Gees guard Warren Ward (London, Ont.).

Forming the East all-rookie team with Pasquale are guard Ostap Choliy (Oakville, Ont.) and forward Dejan Kravic (London, Ont.) of York; Carleton forward Tyson Hinz (Ottawa) and Gee-Gees forward Ryan Malcolm-Campbell (Mississauga, Ont.).

2010 OUA EAST MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARD WINNERS

East Player of the Year: Josh Gibson-Bascombe (Ottawa)
East Rookie of the Year: Manny Pasquale (Laurentian)
East Defensive Player of the Year: Cole Hobin (Carleton)
East Ken Shields Award: Baris Ondul (Queen's)
East Coach of the Year: Dave Deaveiro (Ottawa)

EAST FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS
Boris Bakovic (Toronto) - Ryerson
Josh Gibson-Bascombe (Toronto) - Ottawa
Mitch Leger (Kingston, Ont.) - Queen's
Nick Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) - Toronto
Kevin McCleery (Ottawa) - Carleton

EAST SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS
Rob Paris (St. Catharines, Ont.) - Toronto
Manny Pasquale (Victoria) - Laurentian
Elliot Thompson (Fredericton) - Carleton
David Tyndale (Mississauga, Ont.) - York
Warren Ward (London, Ont.) - Ottawa

EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Ostap Choliy (Oakville, Ont.) - York
Tyson Hinz (Ottawa) - Carleton
Dejan Kravic (London, Ont.) - York
Ryan Malcolm-Campbell (Mississauga, Ont.) - Ottawa
Manny Pasquale (Victoria) - Laurentian