Jonas Emilsson
www.KramMag.com

After watching Awet Abraha play the game of basketball it’s hard to settle on just one adjective to describe his game.

And it’s not because there are too few words to think of, it’s because his game is so well rounded that finding that one descriptive word is almost impossible.

Is he quick? Definitely. Is he a shooter? Yup. Fearless? For sure. Athletic? No doubt.

But if only one word is allowed to describe the 6’3” forward from Bishop McNally, it has to be smooth.

The kid doesn’t run the floor, he floats across the hardwood and makes normally difficult plays look easy.

“He is a very, very fluid player,” said Timberwolves’ head coach Dave Finn. “He plays in the CYDC program and obviously that program has helped him.”

In last week’s Spolumbo’s Game of the Week, Abraha played a huge role in getting the Timberwolves past a very strong Notre Dame Pride Squad by an 81-78 score.

Abraha finished the game with 25 points and a hand full of assists and rebounds.

The win was huge for the Timberwolves, who came into the game with a 2-4 record, so the two points were vital for the Timberwolves to ensure they stayed in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Since the victory over the Pride, the Timberwolves have reeled off two straight wins to grab the third spot in the Div. I North standings with a 5-4 record.

For the Timberwolves to be successful come playoff time they’re going to need Abraha to be at his best if they want to get to the later rounds.

If he’s proven anything this season, it’s that he’s capable of taking over a game when his team needs him the most.

Yes, the Timberwolves have a lot of other dangerous weapons capable of doing special things, but Abraha brings that special attitude that only certain players can find at just the right time.

“He brings a calmness to our offense and he certainly is a threat every time he has the ball,” said Finn. “He can go inside, he can pull up and he can shoot the three.”

Abraha demonstrated his abilities as a do-it-all player against the Pride.

His points came from hitting the outside shot, using his speed and slickness to slash to the hoop for an acrobatic lay-in and from converting on buckets off the fast break.

“My game is pretty versatile I guess.,” said Abraha. “I’m a wing/slasher that likes to penetrate but I can shoot from the outside as well. I just do what the team needs me to do.”

On the defensive end, Abraha is able to use his quickness and long frame to make life difficult on the opposing attackers.

“Defensively he is very smart, he doesn’t take a lot of bad fouls and he’s an all-around gifted athlete,” said Finn.

According to his coach, his high basketball IQ is another aspect of his game that helps set him apart from a lot of other players.

“He is very smart,” said Finn. “He has great basketball abilities and he’s an intellectual player, not a bruiser.”

Abraha has received plenty of interest from several post-secondary institutions inside and outside of Calgary and his goal is to keep playing hoops past his high school graduation.

There’s no question that he has the raw talent to be effective at the Univeristy or College level, but he’s well aware of the things he needs to do to be successful at that level.

“I need to hit the weights more to get stronger work on my ball handling skills,” said Abraha. “At the next level you have to be able to take care of the ball to get on the court.”

KRAM 5 with Awet Abraha
What are your sneakers of choice? Nike Flex
What is your favourite movie? Remember the Titans
What is your favourite NBA team? Boston Celtics
Who is your favourite NBA player? Dwyane Wade
What is your favourite pre-game meal? Chicken