Jean Pigoué is a second-year basketball player with the Mount Royal University Cougars. A former student of the Wild Rose School, it was somewhat by accident that he became a basketball player.
Every lunchtime at school, we played soccer, but when the snow came, we went to the gymnasium. No one goes to the gym to play soccer, so I started playing basketball
he remembers.
By his own admission, basketball was not innate to him.
I was really bad
he says. A lot of people were making fun of me, but I’m really competitive, so I said, “I’m going to show you… in a year and you won’t be able to recognize me.”
He started training, then playing every week with his friends. He kept his word: a year later, he had become an excellent player.
At the end of ninth grade, he received offers from English-speaking high schools who wanted to have him in their ranks. After discussions with his family, he made the decision to stay at the French-speaking school, which, he believes, allowed him to better develop as a player.
When it came time to choose a university, Jean knew what he wanted: I wanted to play in college Mount-Royal because it was close to home, it was familiar, I often came here to train and I wanted to play where I was used to.
He therefore contacted the Cougars coach, who did not hesitate to invite him to join the team.
Josh Mullen is the head coach of the Cougars.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Nick Brizuela
Jean was the first player I got along with when I joined the team
remembers Josh Mullenwho, like the Franco-Albertan player, is in his second season with the Cougars.
The young player’s imposing size, measuring 1.98m, the way he moves around the pitch, the way he protects the ball and his defensive play were assets he could hardly do without.
From his first season with the Cougars, Jean was used regularly by his coach, which is very rare for new recruits.
Jean describes himself as a versatile player, and that is what makes his strength, he believes. He is excellent at grabbing rebounds and, thanks to his size, he can veil opponents.
Jean Pigoue hopes to play professional basketball.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Nick Brizuela
I know that I am still capable of playing better than what I am currently doing
affirms the Franco-Albertan. And there are things that I haven’t shown yet at this level.
The accounting student wants to play with the Cougars for the next three seasons. He doesn’t know what the future holds yet, but he wants to go where the ball takes him.
I would like to become professional, it could be anywhere, on any continent, that’s really my goal.
