CEBL mid-season check-in: Chase for standings and hardware remains wide open
Whether it’s been show-stopping game-winners, record-breaking performances or more fans in seats than ever before, the first half of the 2024 CEBL season has had it all.
Year six of the Canadian Elite Basketball League has gotten off to a roaring start, once again proving to staple fans and newcomers alike why the league has become so popular north of the border. And now that we’ve just passed the halfway point, it’s given us enough of a sample size to look at both conferences, see how teams are shaping up and breakdown who’s made an early case for some hardware when it’s all said and done.
Spoiler alert, although some teams and players have shined more than others, the second half leaves plenty of room for things to change. Here’s your 2024 CEBL mid-season check-in.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Looking out East and it may seem like a two-horse race at the top, but things are closer than they appear. Niagara and Scarborough might’ve started strong but have slipped closer to .500 as of late, inching themselves closer to the logjam that is seeds three through five. Only 1.5 games separate Brampton, Ottawa and Montreal – a couple wins or losses either way, waiting to define the second half of the campaign. Add the fact that the Alliance, as hosts of Championship Weekend, get automatic qualification to the Conference Finals and things get even more precarious for the teams at the bottom.
And if last year’s title run from then third-seeded Shooting Stars taught us anything, it’s that CEBL supremacy can be claimed by anyone so long as they have a ticket to the dance.
| SEED | TEAM | RECORD | OFF RANK. (PPG) | DEF. RANK (PPG AGT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niagara River Lions | 7-5 | 6th (89.6) | 2nd (85.9) |
| 2 | Scarborough Shooting Stars | 6-6 | 2nd (92.6) | 7th (91.3) |
| 3 | Brampton Honey Badgers | 5-8 | 10th (82.8) | 6th (88.8) |
| 4 | Ottawa BlackJacks | 3-8 | 9th (86.6) | 9th (94.6) |
| 5 | Montréal Alliance | 3-9 | 8th (87.1) | 6th (89.1) |
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The West is similar to the East, in the sense that there appears to be two top dogs – Edmonton and Vancouver tied with the best record -- and then there’s a gridlock between seeds three through five. Calgary and Winnipeg are tied at 6-5, putting them just 1.5 games ahead of Saskatchewan that sits in last.
Leaving it at that wouldn’t be doing justice to the gauntlet that the Western Conference appears to be turning into. Calgary and Winnipeg are making strides at the right time as winners of four and three in a row, respectively, while a team like Saskatchewan – after starting 3-0 – has gone in the opposite direction losing five straight games. And with no concerns over an auto-spot from a host team, it’s a true race for seeding in the West through the second half of the season.
| SEED | TEAM | RECORD | OFF RANK. (PPG) | DEF. RANK (PPG AGT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton Stingers | 9-3 | 4th (90.6) | 3rd (86.0) |
| 2 | Vancouver Bandits | 9-3 | 1st (93.6) | 1st (83.8) |
| 3 | Calgary Surge | 6-5 | 5th (90.5) | 4th (86.2) |
| 4 | Winnipeg Sea Bears | 6-5 | 3rd (92.3) | 10th (96.1) |
| 5 | Saskatchewan Rattlers | 5-7 | 7th (88.4) | 8th (92.3) |
EARLY AWARD FAVOURITES
(Stats as of June 28)
Most Valuable Player
Taze Moore (VAN) | 18.1 PPG (9th) | 8.6 REB (4th) | 8.4 AST (1st)
The first year CEBL guard’s case for the league’s most prestigious individual accolade has been simple – the best player on the league’s best team. Moore has a knack for stuffing the stat sheet, evidenced by a 35-point triple-double against Winnipeg, and so far, the team has lost just once with him in the lineup.
Justin Wright-Foreman (WPG) | 27.0 PPG (1st) | 7.2 AST (2nd) | 36.4 MPG (1st)
His sample size may be smaller than others in consideration, at just five games played, but the impact from last year’s MVP runner-up is hard to deny. Thrust into the role of primary scorer and lead ball-handler after the Sea Bears moved on from Teddy Allen, Wright-Foreman has delivered in stride. It’s no coincidence their best stretch of play all year, which has brought them back in the mix for a playoff spot, has come during the import’s tenure. And aside from leading the league in scoring through his five-game span, he’s racked up plenty of dimes, like dishing a CEBL single-game record 16 assists against Niagara.
Jalen Harris (SSK) | 26.0 PPG (2nd) | 4.5 AST | 34.4 MPG (2nd)
Harris has arguably been arguably the league’s top scoring threat and has slotted into the lead guard role for the Rattlers with little hesitancy. On multiple occasions, his scoring outbursts have led Saskatchewan to victories. And earlier this season when caught fire for 45 points against Brampton to set a new CEBL single-game record for points in a game, it cemented his place as one of the top bucket-getters in league history.
Honourable mention: Omari Moore (NRL), Sean Miller-Moore (CGY), Nick Hornsby (EDM)
Canadian Player of the Year
Koby McEwen (VAN) | 18.5 PPG (4th) | 5.4 REB | 3.6 AST
After taking his talents out west, moving on from Brampton after two seasons and a title in 2022, the former Sixth Man of the Year has helped raise Vancouver to another level. McEwen is averaging a career-high in scoring, spearheading the Bandits league-leading offence alongside Moore, Nick Ward and co. The Toronto native’s scoring outbursts, on more than one occasion, have single-handedly lifted Vancouver to wins.
Sean Miller-Moore (CGY) | 18.1 PPG (7th) | 5.9 REB | 33.0 MPG (5th)
It’s no surprise that Calgary’s turnaround has been led by the Brampton, Ont. Native. Miller-Moore has been the unquestioned leader for the Surge for two seasons now and his steadying presence has brought them back from a 1-4 start and in the midst of a three-game win streak. He lead’s Calgary in scoring, is tied-second for rebounds and third in assists.
Jahvon Blair (NRL) | 18.2 PPG (6th) | 4.2 REB | 2.3 AST
Having to step up in the absence of Khalil Ahmad, the reigning Clutch Player of the Year and former MVP who only recently re-joined Niagara, was the hand Blair was dealt to start the season. And the Brampton, Ont. Native stepped up admirably as he led the team in scoring and spearheaded them to first place in the East.
Honourable mention: Jackson Rowe (SSS), Lloyd Pandi (OTT)
Defensive Player of the Year
Omari Moore (NRL) | 1.7 BLK (4th) | 1.5 STL (t-5th)
After an impressive NBA G League campaign with the Raptors 905, Moore transitioned almost immediately to the CEBL. And so far, he’s earned himself a reputation as a do it all player. But even with that, defence has quickly become the import’s calling card. Moore often takes on the toughest perimeter assignments for Niagara and tends to find plenty of success. Against Montreal, he held Jordan Bowden (third in scoring) to 5-of-15 shooting while Moore finished with five steals and three blocks to go with a triple-double.
Mathieu Kamba (CGY) | 1.8 STL (t-3rd)
The Calgary native has been an anchor for his hometown team all season. With a defence filled with versatile ball-stoppers, he appears to be at the centre. While Stef Smith has been absent, only recently re-joining the team, Kamba has stepped up and helped the Surge resemble the league-leading defence they were a season ago.
Honourable mention: Hason Ward (SSS), Tazé Moore (VAN)
Clutch Player of the Year
Current Target Score Winner Leaders:
Aaryn Rai – NRL – 3
Jalen Harris – SSK – 3
Sean-Miller Moore – CGY – 3
NOTE: 10 Players Tied at 2
Sixth Man of the Year
Tyrell Tate (OTT) | 15.4 PPG
A CEBL veteran, he’s been arguably the league’s hottest scorer off the bench this season. Tate has popped off for multiple 20-point point scoring nights which have injected much needed energy to the squad. Not more impressive than his performance against Montréal that saw the guard drop 33 points off the pine.
Aaryn Rai (NRL) | 12.2 PPG | 6.6 REB
The Markham, Ont. Native has been a versatile option off the bench for the East-leading River Lions. And his sharp decision making and heads up play has earned him plenty of reps during crunch time situations. Like when he helped Niagara stave off a collapse against Montréal by knocking down a pair of game-winning free throws. He is tied for the league-lead with three Target Score winners in 2024.
Kadre Gray (SSS) | 11.1 PPG | 6.5 AST (3rd)
The reigning Canadian Player of the Year has taken on a new role since joining the defending champs. Gray is now one of the first options off the bench for Scarborough after being Ottawa’s lead guard last season. And he’s transitioned exceptionally well, as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker. He leads the team in assists, spearheading the squad that averages the most dimes per game (22.5). And earlier in the season, the Toronto native became the first player in league history to record 300 total assists.
Honourable mention: Mike Nuga (EDM), Malcolm Duvivier (CGY)
Coach of the Year
Kyle Julius
The general manager and head coach has turned the Bandits around in the span of one season. Mid-way through 2024, Vancouver has exceeded their win total from last year and are the top team on both ends of the floor. He architected the roster that currently holds the best record in the CEBL with the league’s current top offence and defence as the executive of their gameplan on the sideline.
Tyrell Vernon
In his first year as a CEBL head coach, Vernon has proved his worth. After a 1-4 start that saw the reigning Western Conference champions sitting at the bottom of the conference, he showed few signs of concerns. His philosophy was that taking lumps early and adjusting would be better than building complacency through a picturesque start. And it’s safe to say lessons were learned as Calgary flipped the script and have gone 4-1 in their last five games and are back to being one of the league’s premier defences.
Honourable mention: Jordan Baker (EDM), Devan Blair (SSS), Mike Taylor (WPG)
- CEBL –
About the CEBL
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 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. 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 with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.
