Published Aug 01, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n For Manitoba\u2019s Provincial 17U basketball coach Dan Becker, Settimo Yugu is a \u201cunique player.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s about 6-foot-9, very long, very skilled, very versatile, very smart,\u201d said Becker. \u201cYou know, very unique for our province. He\u2019s got a lot of upside. He\u2019s a starter for us heading into the Canada Games (the male basketball tournament runs from Aug. 10-16) and he was a starter for us last summer, too. He\u2019s definitely one of our leaders this year.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThen, in the fall, he\u2019s going to CIA Bella Vista College Prep in Phoenix, Ariz. It\u2019s a big Prep school. They play in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball (EYBL) Scholastic League, which is the biggest prep league in the U.S. It\u2019s going to be quite an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Settimo Yugu is a star. Last season, along with his Team Manitoba teammate Terry Ogbeide, Yugu led the Kildonan East Reivers to an undefeated 23-0 campaign in 2024-25. They beat Dakota 67-52 in the MHSAA Championship tournament final as Yugu was named the tournament\u2019s Most Valuable Player and Ogbeide was selected as a tournament all-star.<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n But according to Yugu, who just completed his Grade 11 season, the 2024-25 campaign was going to be his last at Kildonan East. He was already planning to play elite prep basketball in the United States before the undefeated season began.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the founders of Uplay, Dwayne Washington, made me an offer to play on his AAU team out in Toronto,\u201d Yugu explained. \u201cAnd then he found out that I didn\u2019t have a school to go to next year. So, he offered me a school in Phoenix called Bella Vista. He said, just come out here, just go and play.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t planning to go back to Kildonan East for my last year. My plan all along was to play Prep school ball in the States. So, after going undefeated, high school was done. It was a storybook ending.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Despite his size and skill, Yugu is just 16-years-old. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he came to Canada 2010 with his parents Batista and Sylvia, when he was just a toddler, so his transition to a new home across the world was never difficult for him.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n TAYLOR: Why Max Murphy is calling Winnipeg home<\/p>\n![\"Settimo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/yugu-5-e1754095078141.jpg\")
Basketball wunderkind Settimo Yugu, 16, plans to play elite prep basketball in the United States.\u2002 Photo by Carey lauder \/Submitted photoArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.2.5\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.2.5\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-sun-headlineNews.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/goldeyes-2-scaled-e1753198405516.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Byron-Goodwin-at-the-University-of-Manitoba-in-1994-2-e1746837311734.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n