Canadian basketball duo looking to make their mark at UAlbany

By Carter Schum | August 31, 2026

Photo Credit: Bruce Dudek / UAlbany Athletics

The University at Albany men’s basketball team is looking to embrace talent from all across the world this upcoming season as they once again chase an America East conference championship. Part of the puzzle is a pair of Canadian players, and although they come to campus in different stages of their careers, each one shares a passion for competing and personality that will make them key players in the upcoming season. 

Canada in recent years has become a hotbed of basketball talent, and the Great Danes are looking to cash in on the Canadian basketball boom. 

Ollie Engen hails from the city of Kingston, situated between the Canadian cities of Toronto and Ottawa, and while this might be his first season playing at UAlbany, he is no stranger to collegiate basketball.

For the past two seasons, Engen played for the Queens University Gaels in U-Sports, the Canadian equivalent of the NCAA. During his time in Canada, Ollie proved to be a force in all parts of the game and one of the most dynamic guards in Canadian collegiate basketball. He averaged nearly 20 points a game across his pair of seasons, with more than four points and rebounds a game. These impressive performances presented him with a strong collection of awards. He was named the national U-Sports Rookie of the Year for the 2024-25 season, and was named to the Second Team All Canadian roster last season. 

Engen is expected to make an immediate impact for the Great Danes this season, as he looks to continue his progress on the court. In the classroom, he is a junior pursuing a degree in human biology. 

The other Canadian player joining the men’s basketball roster for the upcoming season is just beginning his collegiate basketball journey, but will bring a valuable skillset and unique backstory to campus this fall. 

Callum Smith, hailing from Ottawa, is a 6’11 center who brings a mix of size and flair on the court. He comes to the Capital Region from Ridley Prep, a top development school in Canada. Smith's intended major is business administration as a freshman at UAlbany. 

During his senior season at Ridley, he played a major role in his team winning the National Prep Championship. Displaying dominance on the glass and an ability to finish in from close, Smith cemented himself as a Division I prospect. 

This rise on its own would be impressive enough, but making the story even bigger, Smith has only played basketball for a season. Most Division I prospects spend 10 or more years getting special training and playing at elite tournaments before arriving on a college campus for the first time. Despite this non-traditional path, Smith has the size and attitude necessary to be successful both on the court and in the greater UAlbany community. 

The two prospects may have had different paths to the Capital Region, but together with a national connection, willingness to improve, and trust in the process, these two Canadian prospects are both looking to make their mark in the upcoming season at UAlbany.