HE'S "COMMANDER JAMES"

Next time you see George Brown College basketball player Dejazmatch James, it's alright to call him the "Commander".

He might initially look at you in a strange way, and then smile a bit, but count on him understanding more to that title of leadership than you might have assumed.

His first name is believed to be an Ethiopian reference to one of the highest levels of Royalty, aristocratic and more of a military reference to being a "General of the Gate" or a Commander.

For James, who is of Jamaican descent, he's never asked his parents how, or why, they picked that name?

But, he'll tell you how he's taken command of his destiny after a rocky start at George Brown.

A graduate of Toronto's Vaughan Road Academy, and an Ontario Scholar, James had some trouble adjusting to post-secondary life. A bigger problem was his putting basketball ahead of education - and things went downhill rapidly for him last fall resulting in withdrawing from College.

"That was the hardest thing in my life," he said. "Telling my friends, my teammates, my coach and my parents that my grades were not where they should have been.

"I felt bad. It was a huge problem for me - not used to College life, not taking things seriously, work piled up and things went downhill fast. I was going the wrong way and knew I could do better. I took a few months off, had to care more about myself and made the choice to settle down, go back (to College) and work hard. Now, things have improved."

James returned to George Brown in January - a new person. No longer in the Fitness and Lifestyle Program, he signed up for Hotel Management. Vibrant and thirsty to do well, he focussed on his future with a better attitude and, as he put it "back on the road to being where I wanted to be".

At George Brown, good marks translate to having the privilege to play on the Huskies varsity teams. James is not alone. There are many who need a bit of adjustment. For this 19-year old, basketball helps him stay focussed on studies and studies helps him progress.

"I like what I am studying and one day would like to work at a hotel resort," he said.

On the basketball court, he's taking charge, too, and following the tutelage of head coach Jonathan Smith.

James remembers his first game, scoring three points in the Huskies Ontario Colleges Athletic Association season opener - a 24-point loss to Centennial. And he also remembers the first game back after returning to classes in January - 10 points in a 69-66 win over that same Centennial squad.

Best performance in a Huskies uniform for James was a solid 22-point game, tops on the George Brown team, in a 95-83 win on Feb. 6 over a Seneca College team that entered the match with a 14-1 record.

"More confidence on my part," said James. "It shows in my school work, playing basketball and how I deal with things."

Look out, the Commander is on a roll.

Source: George Brown College

Photo Credit: Michael Stefancic