Valparaiso University men’s basketball head coach Matt Lottich announced today that Daniel Sackey has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Crusaders as a freshman for the 2018-19 season.

“Daniel is an exciting player who brings a unique combination of skill and athleticism,” said Lottich. “He is a blur in the open floor and creates numerous opportunities for his teammates. Daniel has a natural ability to lead, and will excite the Valparaiso community for years to come.”

Sackey, a 5’10” guard from Winnipeg, Manitoba, played this past season for Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario, where he earned First Team All-Star honors from the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association. Ranked #16 in his class in Canada by North Pole Hoops, Sackey was selected to the 2018 BioSteel All-Canadian Game. He won the Slam Dunk Contest in the festivities leading up to the game, and then finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go with five rebounds and four assists as a starter in the All-Canadian Game.

Sackey is also the latest in a long line of Crusaders who have represented their native countries on the international level. Sackey suited up for the Canadian u17 squad at the 2016 FIBA u17 World Championship in Spain, helping the team to a 6-1 record and a fifth-place finish at the tournament.

Sackey becomes the second incoming freshman to ink an NLI with the Valpo men’s basketball program, joining Illinois First Team All-State selection Javon Freeman-Liberty, who signed during the November early signing period.

The program also announced on Wednesday that Parker Hazen and Marten Linssen have both been granted their releases from Valpo and will be transferring.