Another River East Kodiak star with a familiar name is coming to play for Winnipeg.
 
Michael Kallon, a 6-foot-4 guard from River East and the Basketball Manitoba provincial program, has committed to Mike Raimbault's 2026 Winnipeg Wesmen men's basketball recruiting class. 
 
Kallon is the younger brother of Jennifer Kallon on the Wesmen women's team and will, to a certain extent, follow in big sister's footsteps into Downtown Winnipeg. 
 
"It's gonna be cool because we went to the same high school for one year, so going to the same school as her again, it's gonna be cool and interesting," Michael Kallon said. "Her journey is honestly pretty similar to mine. When she was in high school, she was playing for the provincial team and all that. I played for the provincial team. Now she's at U of W and I'm gonna be at U of W. So, it was always like, you kind of looking up to her. It's kind of like that's the bar there and I just gotta keep reaching for it."
 
And while Jennifer has established herself as a bona fide university talent, Michael Kallon has undoubtedly etched out his own name in basketball circles in Winnipeg. 
 
He suited up for the Manitoba provincial team at last year's Canada Summer Games, where he helped the team to a fifth-place finish. 
 
One of the top-rated recruits in the province, Kallon is excited to have the opportunity to take another step in his basketball journey. 
 
"I am ready. I am ready to get in the gym and I'm excited and I'm grateful," he said. "I mean, all glory to God that he helped me be in this position that I'm at right now because not a lot of people can be in this position."
 
In Grade 9, Kallon said he began thinking he could pursue basketball to a greater extent and started doing so with Dan Becker's 204 Elite program. Around that time, he found his way to the provincial program and making the Basketball Manitoba U15 side. 
 
He eventually moved into the River East varsity program and was coached by former Wesmen Tyler Kohut, who was also a former assistant under Coach Raimbault. 
 
"I am really excited for Mike and the opportunity he has earned to join the Wesmen program," Kohut said. "Mike is a selfless leader who can handle the ball, create opportunities at the rim and play outside the arc. He has a high basketball IQ and studies the game, and I know he will fit in nicely with the Wesmen style of play."
 
Raimbault, whose squad is once again a top-10 team in the country, has made a commitment to recruiting high-character local talent and in Kallon he's found another. 
 
"We are excited to add Michael to our group for next season," Raimbault said. "He is a smart and athletic talent and has the potential to impact the game at both ends of the floor."
 
Kallon had plenty of options, but knew his heart was here at home.
 
"I feel like I'd always lean towards U of W more because my sister plays here and my family and stuff, we go to all their games and watch the guys game. So, I'm already kind of in that U of W culture, so it's like this would've always been my first option. There was no point waiting, right? Like, if this is the top  U Sports option, then why wouldn't I sign here?"