The Mount Baker senior basketball teams are now firmly connected to Wild teams of yore.

Alumna and senior women's coach Courtney Coyle is back for her second year at the helm of the girls' team, while former Wild standout Harvey Bradford has just taken over the boys' side.

Like Coyle, Bradford graduated to play hoops in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport circuit. He graduated with an education degree last spring, after five years with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, the last two as captain.

Mount Baker athletic director Greg Colburn and senior boys' assistant Rick Stechly convinced Bradford to come back to the Wild and impart his wisdom upon the boys.

"It took a little convincing, just because I had spent the last however many years committed to basketball and I wanted a bit of a break," said Bradford. "The opportunity was there, and it was a good group of guys so I decided I would help out with it."

Bradford is a teacher-on-call in School District 5.

"It's a great asset to our program to have a kid that's graduated and gone on to play such a high level nationally - including the Nationals in CIS - come back and coach our kids," said Colburn, who was Bradford's bench boss at Mount Baker.

Colburn drove the bus to last weekend's tournament at Ross Sheppard high school in Edmonton, and he said it was great to see Bradford coach and see how he's matured from a young athlete into a man.

Colburn said great coaches can teach the game.

"I think he's got that kind of talent," he said. "He's a good teacher of skills, and he's going to develop into a fine coach. It was a very proud moment for me to see that out on the floor."

Colburn said Bradford was one of the most gifted athletes to go through Mount Baker, playing for U-16 and U-17 provincial teams. After beating up on Vancouver's Hugh Boyd Secondary in provincials during his Grade 11 season, Bradford was recruited by Santa Clara University, Steve Nash's alma mater.

To qualify for provincials that year, the Wild first had to defeat L.V. Rogers in a three-game series.

After winning the first game, Mount Baker ran into foul trouble and dropped the second.

"He was sharing a room with me and I got very sick," recalled Colburn. "I told him, 'I don't think I'll be able to do go tomorrow, Harvey.' He said, 'We ain't (frigging) losing. I'm going to provincials... You be sick, don't worry. I'm going to take over.'"

Forgoing college in America, Bradford went to U of A to play for coach Don Horwood, then Greg Francis.

Horwood once told Colburn that Bradford was the hardest working player he had ever coached. It seems to be an ethic he demands from his own players.

"When he comes back and comments on how they did, it's not what their win-loss record is, it's how they've competed on the floor," said Colburn.

Bradford said his former coaches have all had an influence on the way he leads; even now, Colburn is a resource.

"I've got a stack at home about three feet high of binders from all the coaches in the area trying to help me out," said Bradford. "I've got lots of resources. My mom is an experienced coach up at Laurie (Middle School), so I've got lots of help."

His education background has also helped, particularly when it comes to managing large groups and maintaining their focus. It has come in handy when dealing with teenaged boys.

"You've got to crack the whip a lot with them, or else they'll just goof off the whole time," he said.

That hasn't been a big issue two tournaments into the year. Last weekend, they played at the Totem Hoop Classic in Edmonton.

They beat Morinville 65-55 to advance to the championship bracket.

Up next, they faced the host team, and Ross Shep won 67-51.

The teams had been tied at the half, and Mount Baker had trailed by seven with two minutes left.

It was a big turnaround from last year, when the Wild lost by 46 points to the Thunderbirds.

In their final game, the Wild took on Paul Kane, losing a squeaker 59-57.

Bradford said he was impressed with his team's play against the latter two clubs, both highly touted in Alberta.

"They had a lot more composure than I gave them credit for at the beginning of the year," he said. "There are some pretty smart guys out there, and they're coming together pretty good. I think we're going to have a pretty damned good team."

Senior James Stechly said Bradford relates well to his young charges, and has been able to produce as close to a perfect practice as he has participated in.

He also said he and his teammates are excited to learn from someone with five years' experience playing the highest level of university basketball in the country.

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This weekend, both the senior boys' and girls' teams will get to show off their early-season game as they co-host Hoopfest 2010.

The boys tip-off at 1 p.m. against Grand Forks, while the girls host Invermere's David Thompson at 2:30.

Tonight the Wild teams will both play Brooks Composite. The boys play at 7 p.m., while the girls hit the court at 8:30.

Kimberley's Selkirk boys play at 4 p.m. today (Lethbridge's Catholic Central) and 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Nelson's L.V. Rogers).