UNB Saint John Athletics
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The UNB Saint John Seawolves men’s basketball team is set to have a pivotal player rejoin their team as Jack Fury-Miller is coming back to the Seawolves.

Fury-Miller spent three seasons (2019-20-2021-22) with the Seawolves (one shortened due to COVID), where he played 29 regular season Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association games. During that time, he scored 331 points, shooting 44%, while averaging just over 5 rebounds a game. Fury-Miller spent the 2022-23 season with the UNB Reds in Fredericton, before making the decision to return.

“UNB Saint John is my true home,” said Fury-Miller. I had never been closer to a team than my 2021-2022 season. It was very difficult for me to transfer in the first place, but I felt it was crucial for my development as a player and because of the limited success that the teams I had been a part of had. I am most attracted in the culture reform that I believe UNB Saint John athletics is going through. Newly appointed Coach Vaughan is a fantastic coach that I already have a strong relationship with. I am excited to have the opportunity to play with these guys again.”

Fury-Miller was the 2021-22 men’s basketball team Most Valuable Player and the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Ann Gorman Condon Award, given annually to two UNB Saint John Seawolves who best demonstrate academic excellence and contribute a great deal to their team. He was also named a CCAA National Scholar each of his three years with the UNB Saint John Seawolves, an award given annually by the CCAA to recognize student athletes who are honour students at their institution.

Newly appointed head coach, Paul Vaughan, is no stranger to Fury-Miller’s game as he coached against him while he was head coach of the Kennebecasis Valley High School Crusaders, and with him as a part time coach with the 2018 U17 Basketball New Brunswick team, and then the 2021-22 Seawolves when Vaughan was the assistant coach.  

“When Jack last wore a Seawolves’ jersey he was an all-conference caliber player who could dominate the game on both sides of the ball,” praised Vaughan. “He returns a year older with more experience, but more importantly, he returns as an improved, more confident basketball player with a renewed focus on what it takes to be an elite player. He's always been an elite shooter and very athletic, but the investment he has made in improving his fitness has had a noticeable, positive impact in all aspects of his game. Jack also addresses the scoring and leadership void created by Adam Lambert’s graduation.”

The Seawolves had a disappointing year in terms of results in the standings, but the Seawolves fought for every inch down the stretch of the season and had a chance to win seven of their final eleven games, including a pair against the ACAA silver medalist St. Thomas Tommies, 96-93 and an 86-82 double overtime loss.

“We ended last season with several strong performances against the top teams in the conference,” added Vaughan. “In the moment it was frustrating to come up short, but at the same time it gave us proof that we were improving and close to becoming one of the top programs ourselves. Adding a player of Jack's caliber not only accelerates that improvement but gives us a veteran presence on the court and in the locker room, improves the depth of our roster, and gives us a proven scorer that can close out games.”

Fury-Miller’s season with the Reds saw the team go 7-13 in the regular season before bowing out of the Atlantic University Sport Quarterfinals in a 95-89 overtime loss to the Cape Breton University Capers. Despite the losing season, Fury-Miller knows that his year with the Reds has made him a better player.

“I believe I was able to transform my game tremendously by playing against high level competition that pushed me to improve every single day. I also feel I was able to excel to another level by learning more about the training that goes into becoming an elite player. I was able to learn lots of basketball and weightroom workouts and have a better understanding of what an aspiring player should be focusing on.

“I am extremely excited and blessed to be able to return home and play with this talented team.”

Welcome home, Jack!