Amir Safar, a 6-foot-8 graduate of Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver, will suit up for the men鈥檚 basketball squad for the 2017-18 season.

The forward/centre started every game for five straight high school seasons and was a member of Team B.C. for one year. He was the MVP of the North Shore AAAA playoffs and led the Royals to the North Shore championship. Also a playoff all-star, Safar鈥檚 standout performance came in the semifinal where he had 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

In the classroom, Amir will be studying general sciences and his long-term academic goal is to attend medical school and become a surgeon.

鈥淚 chose UBCO because of the great campus, great science program and the great basketball team,鈥� said Safar. 鈥淭he chemistry the team shares and the high level of play combined with a former professional coach just made it hard to go anywhere else. It is a great opportunity for me to further my academic and athletic carriers. I plan to help the team win as much as possible and help the team reach its potential. 鈥�

Amir also coaches youth basketball, helps tutor students and teaches English to newcomers from Iran. He speaks Farsi fluently and is the first person in his family to play a university sport.

Head coach Pete Guarasci likes the prospects of Safar. 鈥淎mir is a smart player with a very good feel for the game,鈥� said Guarasci. 鈥淗e has size, good hands, and a great work ethic. We believe he can develop into a very effective forward at our level and we are excited to work with him.鈥�

The UBC Okanagan men will open their season at home in the 鈥楩urnace鈥� with two games against the B.C. rival Thompson Rivers WolfPack, on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.

Go to for the complete Canada West men鈥檚 schedule.