Olu Famutimi’s basketball career began before the world of Canadian basketball took shape. Before basketball was widely covered around the country. Before Canada’s national teams made headways at almost every international event. Before the game of basketball took over The North.
Things were very different for players like Famutimi back then. They typically had to transfer away from Canada as early as high school, as that was the only way to achieve the goal of becoming a professional basketball player. Save for playing for their home country in international tournaments, Canada’s best hoopers only returned home once their careers were complete.
Fast forward to 2020, and Famutimi has returned back home, except, his career is not done yet. Over the past 20 years, basketball in Canada has launched into a different stratosphere, and so much has changed. Opportunities for home grown players have continuously increased, culminating into perhaps the best showcase of Canadian talent yet, the CEBL. Now, Famutimi is able to play in front of a national audience on his home soil.
“I think guys coming up now, it’s a blessing for them,” said Famutimi, a forward for the Guelph Nighthawks, “Because I didn’t have this when I was younger.”
With the CEBL’s Summer Series marking its second season since its inception, the league houses a wide variety of Canadian hoopers arriving from different backgrounds.
Their main emphasis though, are young, rising graduates from U SPORTS, Canada’s league for university athletics.
Thanks to a partnership between the CEBL and U SPORTS, student-athletes have the opportunity to jumpstart their professional careers in their home nation. With this partnership, all teams must have either one currently enrolled U SPORTS player, or one recently graduated player on their roster. To help with this, the CEBL has set up a U SPORTS draft, giving teams the ability to select the best of the best from around the country.
Rashawn Browne started his college career at NCAA D-1 New Mexico State University. However, after realizing that the NCAA path was not for him, he decided to transfer back to Canada, where he attended the University of Manitoba. After three seasons, Browne cemented himself as one of U SPORTS’ best guards. So much so, the Saskatchewan Rattlers selected Browne with the first pick of the second round of the U SPORTS draft. Thanks to the great partnership between the CEBL and U SPORTS, Browne got an opportunity, and was the runner-up for U SPORTS player of the year.
“I think it shows the growth of the U SPORTS pathway,” said Browne, “I feel like if we take a deeper look at the U SPORTS game, a message to all the players in similar situations I was in, coming back from the US or looking to transfer to another school in the US, really consider transferring back to U SPORTS because it is really growing.”
Browne now walks around on the court with a chip on his shoulder. He plays with extreme intensity, and is one of the most vocal players in the entire CEBL. For many, Browne could be a great example of what playing college basketball in Canada looks like. He knows that there are others that are in a similar situation he was in, and hopes that more players give the U SPORTS pathway a shot.
“I hope to continue to show people that it’s possible. The Division 1 route is great, but its not for everybody,” said Browne, “I think there’s a lot of people like me that could come home and see great success.”
The road from U SPORTS success to professional opportunities wasn’t always as fruitful, however. It wasn’t too long ago that Canada’s best were almost completely devoid of professional options, let alone ones in their home nation. Playing for the 2020 Champion Edmonton Stingers forward Jordan Baker won the Canada West Player of the Year in 2014, and that led to some contract offers overseas. Still, after two seasons abroad, Baker decided that he couldn’t live a life travelling around the world, and hung up his laces.
Baker has now finished his second season in the CEBL, and won Canadian Player of the Year. It’s clear that he was not devoid of talent, he just needed a chance to play back at home.
“People don’t understand how difficult it is to play overseas. You’re away from your family, away from your friends and it’s a grind,” said Baker, “But being able to be back in the summer in Canada, around friends and family, being able to play in front of your parents and your wife, that’s exciting, that’s fun.”
Looking throughout the league, every team has a Canadian basketball story to tell. Whether it’s Niagara’s three-headed Toronto backcourt of Trae Bell-Haynes , Kassius Robertson and Daniel Mullings , Hamilton’s lengthy Raptors 905 ties, or Ottawa’s roster of entirely Canadian raised players.
The opportunities don’t end with the athletes, however. Charles Kissi’s basketball career ended before the boom of Canadian basketball even occurred. A star guard at McMaster University, Kissi enrolled into the Toronto Police Services, where he was an officer for 10 years. On the side, he coached basketball in the community, but continued to climb up the coaching ladder, until it became his profession. Now, thanks to the CEBL, Kissi is the head coach and general manager of the Guelph Nighthawks.
“I think it’s important to continue to give people opportunities, and this league is a great way for us to do that,” said Kissi, “This league is a tremendous way for people, whether its coaching opportunities or playing opportunities, this league is perfect for that.”
Kissi’s journey shows people all across Canada that if basketball is your passion, there is a place to start achieving your goals. There are programs and plans in place to jumpstart a career, just as Kissi did over 10 years ago. Now, he’s is in a position to pay it back, and he looks forward to provide chances for other eager basketball players and coaches.
“The game is growing in this country and it’s our job, my job, and anyone in a position of power to give people opportunities,” said Kissi, “I’ve been given opportunities and obviously worked for them too.”
Playing in the 2020 Summer Series, despite tremendous circumstances means positive momentum for the future of the CEBL. Showcasing the best that Canadian basketball has to offer when the country is searching for something to cheer about has gotten people excited about what this league can offer in the basketball landscape. Fraser Valley coach Kyle Julius doesn’t take that opportunity for granted, and knows it can only mean great things going forward.
“The fact that we get to be in this situation and just play tonight is amazing. I look around and tell my staff it’s crazy that we’re actually going to a basketball game right now,” said Julius, “I can’t say enough about the CEBL, it’s only going to get better, there’s a ton of great players playing in this league and there’s a ton of great players that will.”
The league is certainly spreading, something that seemed almost unimaginable 20 years ago when Olu Famutimi left Canada for a better opportunity. So much has changed for the better, and the CEBL is a massive reason why. Now, Famutimi watches down, sort of as a big brother to his younger teammates. He’s watching the future of Canadian basketball on the court alongside him, and the future is as bright as ever. To those guys, Famutimi keeps his message simple.
“My message to them is to just take advantage of it, because a league like this can give a lot of these players opportunities to go a lot further.”