Image credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea

By Marty Hastings

CANADA WEST

Two Jaydens and a Jaeden: WolfPack basketball recruiting class includes promising homophone trio

Oct 30, 2025 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — A theory has emerged.

“I guess he went in the transfer portal and typed up Jaydens and I guess he came out with three of them,” said Jayden Stephens, having a little fun at the expense of TRU WolfPack men’s basketball head coach Chad Jacobson.

Stephens, a 6-foot-7 guard from Calgary, Jaeden Bynoe, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ajax, Ont., and Jayden Green, a 6-foot-2 guard from Fresno, Calif. all joined the WolfPack in time for the 2025-2026 campaign.

Jacobson assured CFJC Today that Stephens’ theory is bunk.

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“It just kind of played out that way,” Jacobson said with a laugh. “You know, we were kind of worried at the beginning about which Jayden is which, but they figured it out. We’ve got some nicknames for them and it all worked out.”

Jacobson said Stephens (J-Smooth) is natural scorer and rebounder who has size, athleticism and skill, Green (J-Green) brings a bulldog approach on defence and Bynoe (J.B.) is a crafty guard who can shoot.

They also happen to be roommates.

The trio was brought in to help continue the program’s upward trend after the loss of several key players to graduation, including Asher Mayan, Simon Crossfield and Denys Bachurin.

Stephens led the team with 23 points in a 76-57 win over the UBC Okanagan Heat last Friday (Oct. 24) in Kelowna, the season-opening contest for both teams.

“We’ve got a lot of good pieces,” said Jacobson, whose WolfPack reached the playoffs last season for the first time on merit since 2020.

“We’ve got Dami [Farinloye], Steve [Stinson] and Tommy [Olsen] and there’s a good mix of new additions, as well. I was really happy with the recruiting class that we had. It’ll be nice to have Cason [Scott] here sooner than later and get him back in the mix.”

The WolfPack rolled out the red carpet for Scott in April as they hosted a press conference for the Westsyde Secondary graduate after he decided to take his talents to TRU.

Scott – considered among the top players in his age group in the country – was injured in the WolfPack’s pre-season opener against Brock University on Oct. 3 in St. Catharines, Ont.

He will not play this weekend in Vancouver, where the WolfPack (1-0) are scheduled to square off twice against the UBC Thunderbirds (2-0), but Scott is likely to return to the lineup in the next few weeks, according to Jacobson.

TRU posted a 10-10 record last season to place fourth in the Pacific Division and vanquished the hometown Alberta Golden Bears of Edmonton 78-63 in a Canada West play-in game on Feb. 21 in Winnipeg.

The Manitoba Bisons knocked off the WolfPack 70-67 in a conference quarter-final tilt on Feb. 22 in Winnipeg.

“We definitely want to build on what we did last year, and you definitely get a taste,” Farinloye said. “It’s a different atmosphere, a different energy, when you get to playoffs and you want to get back. You get that feeling. Obviously, we didn’t end the way we wanted last year, so a lot of guys want to make up for that.”

A 2025-2026 Canada West pre-season coaches’ poll had TRU ranked 14th among 17 teams – indicating the Pack are not considered among top contenders across the conference.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Jacobson said. “The guys use it as a little extra motivation.”

One of the Jaydens is taking the poll personally.

“That doesn’t feel good,” Stephens said. “It doesn’t make you comfortable. We got some new guys in. You didn’t account for us. I’m part of that group. It’s kind of like throwing me in the garbage. It’s a new year and they have to respect us just as we respect anybody else.”