Oliver Engen, the Kingston native, and starting point guard for the Gaels, has had an outstandanding start to the season. Engen is second in all of the OUA in scoring, and top 13 in assists. He has not only been the best freshmen by far this year, but one of the best point guards throughout the nation. After conducting an initial interview with Ollie in our “Top 10 Freshmen to Look out For” article, his success thus far is no surprise to our team.
Early Life
1. What age did you start playing basketball and what were the main factors that got you interested in the sport?
I’ve been around basketball ever since I can remember. My dad played basketball, so that’s how I got into it. I played a lot of different sports growing up—volleyball, baseball, soccer—but I really locked in on basketball when I was 12. It grew into one of the biggest parts of my life. The opportunity my dad gave me was huge, but honestly, my enjoyment of the game is what kept me in it.
2. What are some early defining memories that you have playing basketball that contributed to you becoming the player you are today (e.g., AAU, Prep, life in general)?
One of the first times I felt starstruck was playing EYBL in grade 11 for Bounce at the Pacers Center. I remember walking into the gym and seeing every high-major coach you could think of. It was overwhelming at first, but it showed me how big the game could get and made me want to keep pushing.
Early Season Team Success
3. As a freshman, you are currently the starting point guard for a top 3 team in the OUA. How have your coaches helped give you the confidence to run the team, and where do you think you can improve from a leadership perspective?
The coaches here have blessed me with an incredible opportunity. They’ve allowed me to play 100% free, which has really helped me build confidence in stepping into this bigger role. The confidence they’ve instilled in me, combined with the work I put in every day, has made me feel ready for this situation.
In terms of growth, I think the biggest area I need to improve is on the defensive end. I want to be someone the team can rely on to get the job done defensively and help out more on the glass.
4. How has your team gelled so far, and what do you think your ceiling for the season is?
Since the first meeting we had, it’s very easy to tell in this program that everybody is welcome and everybody is able to be themselves. That culture was created long before any of us guys got here, and it’s made us all really close with each other. It’s at a level that makes us go harder for each other when we play. I think that’s a big testament to our success—playing for the guy beside us.
The confidence we have is huge—we feel like we can rock with anybody. And if we stay true to our work and the daily stuff we do, our ceiling is as high as it can be. We’re striving to be at the top, and I don’t think that plan is going to change
5. How do you guys match up with the other top teams in the OUA, like Carleton, Lakehead, TMU, and Ottawa? Beating Lakehead specifically, what did that show you about your team?
Beating Lakehead showed us we have the tools to compete with anybody. We have a team that, even though people might not have expected much from us at the start, can go toe-to-toe with anyone. The unity and confidence we have make us feel like on any given night, we can beat anyone. That’s a huge testament to the work we’ve put in.
Early Season Individual Success
6. In our first interview, you said that your calling card was being able to get into the paint and break down defenses. We’ve seen that on display this year with you being second in points in the OUA, averaging 20 points per game. Is the OUA what you expected so far in terms of defensive schemes and how players have tried to guard you?
It’s definitely been tougher than anything I’ve faced before. The defenses are so much better structured and better coached. You can feel the game plans coming into fruition as you play, and there’s a level of physicality that I’ve never experienced before. Even with all the older and more experienced players I’ve gone up against, there’s been a learning curve. But I’m trying to stay confident. The older guys on the team have made it clear that it’s a process, and that’s made the adjustment a lot easier.
7. Although you are seen as a score-first guard, you’ve showcased your passing ability as well, being top 15 in assists. How have you been able to balance scoring and being a floor general at the collegiate level?
The other guys on the team make it really easy because they’re all high-level players. We’re taught every day how to play the game the right way, which allows us to get into situations where we can make the right play. It’s not about playing for the stats, but playing the game the right way, no matter what position you play or system you’re in. Becoming a better playmaker is still something I’m working on, and I’m growing in that area.
Ollie’s Advice
8. What’s your advice to other freshmen trying to make a meaningful impact on the game?
The process of getting an opportunity and making the most of it starts long before you even get there. You’ve got to find a way to get better that works for you, and then hammer that every day. It has to become a daily habit—something that you do religiously so you can leave the gym each day knowing you got better. It may sound cliché, but the only way to survive in basketball is to keep evolving.
You also need to be prepared for the rockiness of it all. That doesn’t just apply to basketball; it applies to life in general. Stay level-headed in situations you’re not comfortable with and keep pushing through, no matter how tough it gets.
