Growing up, Thomas LeGallais was always an athlete. He played lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, and golf, but his favourite sports have always been hockey, football, and basketball. He eventually chose basketball as his winter sport and when three concussions sidelined him from football, basketball became his primary focus.

“Ever since, basketball has been my life,” he says. “The concussions made the decision for me, but it has allowed me to work out a lot more and focus on one sport.”

He says basketball, unlike any other sport he has played, has allowed him to be himself the most.

“I have realized two things about basketball since I have been at Mount Allison,” he says. “That I love the team aspect of the game and I love the creativity. There are so many different ways to score and moves you can make.”

LeGallais played for his school team at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Cornwall, ON from Grades 7-13, as well as for club teams three times a week, more than an hour away in Ottawa. In his final year, he travelled even further to Kingston. He credits his parents for spending countless hours driving him to practices and games.

Coming from a small high school, he thought he wanted to attend a large university. But after visiting Mount Allison for a workout with the basketball team, he changed his mind.

“I was leaving and coach [Steve] said to me, ‘I hope to see you in a couple weeks,’ and I knew right then I would be back,” he says. “Everyone was so friendly.”

That feeling has carried on throughout his first year. He says having his teammates, along with living in residence, has made the transition to living far away from home much easier.

“Our team is like family,” he says. “Everyone is so selfless. I would do anything for them and they would do anything for me and it has been like that from day one.”

LeGallais has been making a difference on the court from day one too. The 6’0” guard was recently named Joey’s Male Athlete of the Week for his performance against top-ranked Holland College, scoring 28 points in 33 minutes of play and going 7 for 12 from the field, including 3 for 5 from three point range.

Looking ahead, LeGallais plans to make basketball his future, hopefully playing professionally and eventually coaching and teaching skill development.