Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Local Guard Yasiin Joseph
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the signing of Canadian Guard Yasiin Joseph for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season.
A six-foot-one guard from Ottawa, Ontario, Yasiin Joseph is set to make his return to the Capital after making his professional debut with the Ottawa BlackJacks at the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines. Joseph has also played professionally in several European countries, including France, Hungary, Ukraine, and the Netherlands.
Currently concluding his 2023-24 campaign with ALM Evreux in the LNB Pro B in France, Joseph is averaging 12.6 points, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 27.7 minutes in 30 games played this season. He scored 15 or more points in 18 games, including 20 points on January 26 against AVA. He recorded two double-doubles, one on March 29 against Saint Chamond Basket (14 points and a season-high 11 assists) and another on October 17 against Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket (11 points and 10 rebounds).
Joseph found significant offensive success during the 2022-23 season, averaging 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 29.6 minutes in 36 games played with Sopron KC in Hungary. He scored a season-high 31 points on April 18 against Zalakeramia-ZTE KK and hit a season-high five three-pointers as part of a 27-point effort on April 12 against the same team.
Joseph’s professional career tipped off with the Ottawa BlackJacks during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines. That year, the BlackJacks did not compete at home, so this will mark Joseph’s debut on home soil at The Arena at TD Place.
Collegiately, Joseph won four U SPORTS National Championships and three OUA titles throughout his five-year career from 2015-20 with the Carleton Ravens. As a senior with the team, he averaged 14.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 21.3 minutes in 22 games played and was named an OUA Second Team All-Star. He recorded a career-high 34 points on January 25 against Ryerson. Additionally, he earned honors in 2017-18, being named to the OUA First Team All-Star. He achieved his first career double-double that season, scoring 26 points and tallying 10 assists on February 24 against Laurentian.
The Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 single game tickets are on sale now at https://www.theblackjacks.ca/single-game-tickets. The team's fifth season will kick off at The Arena at TD Place on May 29, promising professional basketball and exciting entertainment in a family-friendly environment. For more information, please visit www.theblackjacks.ca or contact the Ottawa BlackJacks Membership Services team directly at 613-690-0519 or by email at [email protected].
Quotes:
"I am thrilled to hit the court in my hometown again, representing the Ottawa BlackJacks with passion and pride!”
- Yasiin Joseph, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks
“It's always special to sign a local player who is eager to represent his hometown. Yasiin is a great talent who has previously been part of the BlackJacks but never had the chance to compete at The Arena at TD Place in front of his friends and family. We're excited to welcome him back home, knowing he'll bring energy and pride to this team."
- James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
About the Ottawa BlackJacks
The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital. The Ottawa front office brings NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. Led by General Manager and Head Coach James Derouin, Ottawa plays its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. The anticipation is building for the upcoming 2024 season, slated to tip off at home on May 29 against the Edmonton Stingers. For more information, visit www.theblackjacks.ca.
About Canadian Elite Basketball League
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its 2023 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.