It wasn't a foregone conclusion that Ajay and Maddox Alleyne would take their talents to the same university but having grown up pushing each other on the basketball court, it made sense for them to take the next step together.
 
The 6-foot-3 twin brothers from Northstar Prep have committed to Mike Raimbault's Winnipeg Wesmen men's basketball program as the newest recruits to the Class of 2026, giving them a chance to write their next chapter as a packaged deal. 
 
"We've played together pretty much our whole lives," Maddox said. "Ever since we were little kids, our dad always put a basketball hoop in front of us."
 
"Me and Maddox push each other a lot every day," Ajay said. "So, it's like even when there was no one to play with, we'd always push each other to keep working hard."
 
The Alleynes started at Sturgeon Creek as Grade 10s playing for former Wesmen assistant Steven Tackie and alongside current Wesmen guard Noah Kankam as the Huskies made a run to the AAAA championship game. 
 
"That was a big eye-opener for us," Maddox said. "I feel like that really showed us that we can be at play the next level because we're Grade 10 playing good minutes at that varsity level."
 
Both brothers said Kankam influenced them as they watched his work ethic and desire close up. 
 
"He really pushed me and opened my eyes on what it takes to make the next level," Maddox said. 
 
"He just committed early (in Grade 12), so it's like when you see him commit early, you see how hard he's working in practice every day," Ajay said. "That kind of pushed me early on as a Grade 10."
 
Raimbault likes the combo of size and athleticism the Alleynes can bring to the backcourt. 
 
"The addition of Ajay and Maddox provide us with an infusion of versatility and positional athleticism that we are excited about," Raimbault said. "They both have the opportunity to be strong two-way players as they develop and grow within our program."
 
Both brothers talk a big game when it comes to the confidence they have in themselves, their willingness to buy in and the potential successes of one of the top programs in the Canada West.
 
"I'm just happy to get this work in. I'm happy that we're here and I'm happy that we have a good platform to build off of," Maddox said. 
 
"People say we're going to take a step back losing two seniors (Donald Stewart and Malachi Alexander), but I think we're going to take a step forward." 
 
"I'm super excited to be playing in front my family," Ajay said. "So it's gonna be great playing here. I want to put a show off for the city and show what I'm really about. I feel like we've been slept on a little bit and I feel like this is gonna be a great way to show it."