Hildebrandt’s confidence grows as he enters second season with Sea Bears

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This article was published 15/05/2024 (599 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Simon Hildebrandt has as much to look forward to as anyone on the Winnipeg Sea Bears roster this summer.

The University of Manitoba Bisons standout figures to have an important role with the club and learn from teammates who boast impressive resumes, both of which will be invaluable to his ongoing development.

The 21-year-old Winnipegger is also prepared to do whatever is asked of him. His confidence has grown substantially since his first year of pro basketball.

“Last year, it was more of a learning experience, right? I was just trying to take everything in, see what it’s like being a pro,” Hildebrandt said earlier this week. “This year, I kind of came in with a different mentality, like, ‘Hey, I’ve been here, I’ve succeeded at that level, I can be more ready, I know what’s coming.’ (I) can play like I belong instead of playing like I’m just trying to learn it.”

Hildebrandt is just one piece of the puzzle in a frontcourt head coach and general manager Mike Taylor made a priority to strengthen during the offseason.

Though the Sea Bears led the Canadian Elite Basketball League with 231 three-pointers in 2023, Taylor coveted more shooting ability from his bigs — and brought in Darius Days and Byron Mullens to help make that happen.

Hildebrandt was only one of two non-guards (AJ Hess is the other) on the Sea Bears with more than 20 field goals from beyond the arc last season.

Days averaged 2.5 three-pointers per game on a 31 per cent efficiency with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League last season, while Mullens has averaged 33.3 per cent from deep across his 12-year professional career.

“On paper, we’re a much better three-point shooting team, we’re a much more experienced team. So, that front court, I feel like, has tremendous potential,” Taylor said. “And then it’s about how they play together. I thought Darius brought fantastic energy and enthusiasm, I think you could see the experience of Byron, so I’m really pleased with the first impression.

“And then it’s about giving them a system and a structure that they could find ways to use their strengths.”

If the big men can shoot the ball, it also unlocks more space for the engine of the offence: Teddy Allen.

“And if (defences) do decide to (double team) him, Teddy is an unselfish player and a willing passer (and) now you’ve got some bigs in Byron and Darius that can really hit the shots, Taylor said.

Mullens said there was a lot of reason for optimism after his first practice with the team on Monday.

“Not only (the front court), just the whole team,” he said. “We have a very young, talented team, got a couple of college guys in Simon and Tyler (Sagl). It’s going to be fun to get up and go and see if I can still run with these young guys, but I think I got it.”

Hildebrandt concurred, adding he believes the Sea Bears have 10 to 12 guys who can contribute on any given night. As for the frontcourt specifically, there’s not another unit in the country he’d take over the one in the Manitoba capital.

“I don’t know exactly who is on the front court of all the other rosters but I would 100 per cent take this front court over any other. Darius and Byron and Chad (Posthumus) and Shane (Osayande) and myself, we have so many uber-talented guys and I’m excited to learn from a lot of these guys who have such high experience,” Hildebrandt said.

“It’s going to be a great summer. We have so much depth on the front court, I don’t think anybody can match up with all our guys.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

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