Gavin Illangakoon, a four year standout (2004-2007) for the Owls who is playing professionally in Australia, helped coach the Ellington, Conn., High School team.
When he was eight years old, Australian native Gavin Illangakoon - a former Westfield State standout - developed a love for the game of basketball. Today, that love is still strong as he plays professional basketball in Australia and for the past few months, Illangakoon has served as a mentor for the Ellington High School boy’s basketball team.
Illangakoon played for the Knights while attending Ellington High as an exchange student back in 2002-03. After being named the teams’ Most Valuable Player and earning all-conference honors, Ilangakoon accepted an academic scholarship at Westfield State College in Massachusetts.
At Westfield, Illangakoon played basketball for four years and was a captain his junior and senior seasons. Illangakoon was a two-time all-conference recipient and won a conference championship his junior year. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in January of 2008 with a degree in economics and a minor in finance.
His love of the game still strong after college, Illangakoon decided to try his luck playing overseas. He has spent much of the past five seasons playing in the Australian Basketball Association, which is Australia’s top winter league. Illangakoon has had an opportunity to play with and against some of the top players in Australia as well as players from top American programs like Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and Michigan State.
All of which helped to prepare him for his role this past autumn when he worked as a volunteer assistant with the EHS basketball team.
After his Australian season ended, Illangakoon decided to return to Ellington in September. The primary purpose of the visit was to see his host family – the Scannells – and his girl friend of seven years who still lives in Ellington.
But a phone call from EHS coach Don Flint gave Illangakoon one more reason to extend his stay.
Flint asked Illangakoon if he would help with the team while he was in town.
"I was more than happy to lend a hand because it kept me busy and helped me keep in shape," Illangakoon said. "I worked with the guys on the team for 10 weeks before practices officially began in November, so the guys got a jump start on the season. Having spent so much time with the guys during the off-season, I was able to assist them with all forms of basketball skill development.’’
Illangakoon’s area of specialty is defense and he has tried to help instill a defensive mindset with this year’s team.
"Those weeks before the season were so valuable because I worked with them every day trying to get them to understand the power of team defense by their positioning on the court and mental application to stopping opponents," Illangakoon said. “”They have improved so much and I am very proud of their hard work and willingness to listen. If they keep improving and keep striving to get stops on every possession, Ellington High School will have a formidable defense by the end of the season, one which other teams will fear. It takes all five guys on the court to buy into that philosophy."
Junior point guard Mike Gresh feels that Illangakoon's instruction has been very beneficial for the team.
"Gavin has been in the weight room with us since pre-season and has helped all of us train for this season," Gresh said. "He showed us different workouts that would help us in certain areas of the game. Outside of the weight room he has really been working on our team defense. I've been playing with this group of kids for a long time now and I have never seen us play such good defense."
He continued, "Speaking of the team, he has helped us come together and really taught us the concept of 'team' basketball. As many people know, team chemistry is so important in winning basketball games and Gavin understands this. He has been a role model for me and other members of the team."
Illangakoon has also had a direct impact on Gresh in that he knows the position Gresh plays and has added insight into the position.
"Being a point guard like Gavin, he teaches me a lot about seeing the floor and the decision making that needs to be done," Gresh said. "I don't think I have ever learned so much about basketball in my life. Every day I feel myself becoming a better player and I owe a lot of that improvement to Gavin. Watching him play in high school and seeing how much better he is now shows me how hard work really does pay off."
In all the time Illangakoon has spent playing basketball, he has never had the opportunity to coach a team.
"It is only over these past few months I have realized what a joy it is to coach," he said. "I have seen my game improve over the months because I get to analyze the game from outside the lines. This has opened my mind up to new reads on offense and defense that I couldn't see when I was playing. I am a firm believer that the time I have spent coaching these guys in the off-season, I have become a smarter basketball player. So the players have helped me just as much as I hope I have helped them."
In few days, January 15th to be exact, Illangakoon will once again board a plane destined for Australia. He recently signed with the Frankston Blues, last year's ABA South Conference Champions and runner-up in the National Championship. Frankston has a long winning history and is a powerhouse within the league.
"I am eager to begin working with my new teammates when I get back to Australia in January," Illangakoon said.
But even though his new team will be playing thousands of miles away, Illangakoon is not likely to forget the past few months he spent with the Ellington kids.
“I think the greatest things the EHS Basketball team has provided me are the friendships I have developed with all the players over the months,” he said. “They are a tremendous group of guys who I enjoy spending most of my day with. I wish them success for the remainder of the season and the rest of their lives."