Slaymaker finds stability with the Vikes

VICTORIA - Cam Slaymaker may have the most formidable last name in Canadian university hoops, but the high school standout didn't arrive at the University of Victoria the way most top recruits do. By the time he put on a Vikes jersey this season, Slaymaker had already lived through more uncertainty than many players see in their entire career.

For a long time, Slaymaker looked like the kind of prospect who would never come back north. Growing up in Coquitlam, B.C., the 6'4" high school phenom played for the Quad-A men's basketball powerhouse Terry Fox Ravens. He forced his way onto the varsity squad by grade 10, a year ahead of schedule, and at times found himself carrying the province's top-ranked team, including a 31-point performance in a B.C. championship quarterfinal game that earned him a First-Team All-Star nod as a sophomore.

With the COVID disruption during his final year of high school, Slaymaker decided to spend his final prep season at the London Basketball Academy in Ontario, keeping his sights set on the NCAA. Slaymaker finished his high school career as a Biosteel All-Canadian, a First-Team All-Province selection, and Player of the Year, giving him plenty of options south of the border.

Three schools in three years

Like many of Canada's top prospects, Division I felt like the next step. Slaymaker committed to California State University Northridge (CSUN) in Los Angeles, where he picked up solid minutes as a freshman in the Big West Conference. He appeared in 26 games, averaging 12 minutes a night and setting himself up for what looked like a promising career with the Matadors.

Then everything shifted. At the end of the season, CSUN dismissed its entire coaching staff, leaving Slaymaker with little time and even fewer certainties. He entered the NCAA transfer portal late in the year and found himself starting over.

His next stop took him to Bethany, Oklahoma, at Division II Southern Nazarene University. The move was strategic. Slaymaker wanted the ball in his hands, wanted to score, and wanted to put himself in a position to get back on with a competitive Division 1 program. He did exactly that, starting 25 of 26 games and averaging 15.9 points per contest. The year was productive and enjoyable, but the fit never felt permanent.

So, he entered the portal again.

This time around, interest came quickly. Division 1 Idaho State emerged as the next opportunity, but once more, circumstances outside his control intervened. Slaymaker spent only a short time in the Gem State and didn't use any eligibility. After three schools in three years, the chase began to lose its appeal.

At this point, Slaymaker was ready for some stability and wanted to be closer to home.

A home on the island

Upon his return to Canada, Slaymaker began to explore his U SPORTS options. With less of a time crunch this time around, Slaymaker and his parents were patient with their decision, visiting programs across Canada before settling on Victoria. When he met head coach Murphy Burnatowski and his now Vikes teammates, the decision felt right.

"I met Murphy and the team, and it felt like a good fit," says Slaymaker. "I kind of wanted to stay on the West Coast, and the Island is perfect because I'm close to home, but not too close. Obviously, UVic being the number one team in the country at the time played a role as well."

He joined the Vikes midway through the 2024–25 season as a redshirt during their championship run. The timing allowed him to immerse himself in the program, learn the systems without the pressure to perform right away—even though he says watching from the sidelines was heart-wrenching at times.

Now 22 and with a year of eligibility back, Slaymaker enters the season as a second-year athlete but with the perspective of a veteran. His experiences south of the border have shaped his approach, both on and off the court.

"I'm grateful and thankful for the guys and a new environment," he says. "It felt like a long time coming. I finally feel like I'm playing for something bigger than myself."

Stepping onto the nation's top-ranked team, featuring the highest-calibre players in the country, is no easy feat, especially for a player used to being the go-to; however, his role this season reflects that maturity.

"I see myself as a glue guy," says Slaymaker. "Some nights I might be the leading scorer, and sometimes I might focus on rebounds or assists—I want to make everyone around me better. Every guy on this team could be a go-to guy, but we've bought into something bigger, which means I'll play whatever role I need to."

After years of movement and uncertainty, Slaymaker has found a place that fits. Not because the path led him there easily, but because it didn't.