CEBL NEWS ARTICLES

EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite basketball League (CEBL) have announced the signing of 6’7” forward Jermaine Haley to their 2024 roster. Initially signed with the team in 2023, Haley did not suit up for the Stingers after suffering a hand injury prior to the CEBL Season. The West Virginia Mountaineers alumni brings three seasons of NBA G-League experience to the Stingers frontcourt. “Last year I had an unfortunate injury that didn’t allow me to be with the team,” said Haley. “This year, I will be healthy and ready to contribute to bringing a championship to Edmonton. I am super excited and ready to go to work.” During this past year, Haley completed his fourth professional season primarily as a member of the London Lightning of the Basketball Super League. He averaged a 15.2 points per game appearing in 15 games, netting a season-high 30 on March 1st against the Newfoundland Rouges. The Vancouver native also appeared in 1 game for the Motor City Cruise, playing 22 minutes with 3 points and 3 rebounds. This was his third stint in the G-League, as he also played 9 games with the Cleveland Charge and Grand Rapids Gold in 2022-23 and 7 games with the Gold during the 2021-22 season. Collegiately, Haley averaged 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 130 games in the NCAA Division I and in the NJCAA, including two years with West Virginia University, one year with Odessa College and one year with New Mexico State University. In 2018-19, during his first year with West Virginia, he recorded 12 games in double figures, including nine of the last 10 contests and led the team with 37 steals. “Jermaine’s versatility on both ends of the floor will allow us to play big, to play fast, and to be very tough defensively.” said Stingers head coach and general manager Jordan Baker. “He is a great addition and we are very excited for his long-awaited CEBL debut.” Haley and the Stingers will return to the Edmonton EXPO Centre on June 2nd to host the Saskatchewan Rattlers in their home opener. Tickets are available for as low as $20 per seat and can be purchased online or by contacting the Stingers head office via email ( [email protected] ) or phone (1-87STINGERS). About the Edmonton Stingers The Edmonton Stingers play a 20-game season from May to August in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, the top professional league in Canada with 10 teams in major markets from coast to coast. The Stingers joined the league in its inaugural season in 2019 and have twice been crowned CEBL Champions. The Stingers play in the 3,600 seat Edmonton Expo Centre. Our core value as an organization is to offer affordable, family-friendly fun at our games and be a positive force in our community all year long. About The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees. 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 moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season. 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 and YouTube .

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the signing of American Guard Ibrahim Watson for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season. A six-foot-four guard from Pickerington, Ohio, Watson averaged 13.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 23.7 minutes across 72 games played in Sweden and in the NBA G League. Currently concluding his 2023-24 campaign with Boras Basket in Sweden, Watson is averaging 21.2 points, 4.9 rebounds in 32 games played this season, with a noteworthy .423 average from three-point range. He scored 25 or more points 10 times, including three performances of over 30 points. Watson has two years of NBA G League experience, having competed with the College Park Skyhawks, the G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, from 2021 to 2023. In his debut professional season, he averaged 7.0 points and 2.7 rebounds, with a season-high performance of 22 points, seven rebounds, and one assist against Capital City Go-Go on February 23, where he made four triples. Additionally, Watson participated in the 2021 NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks, maintaining averages of 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds across five games. Collegiately, Watson split his career between the University of Dayton (2019-21) and the University of Michigan (2016-18). As a senior with Dayton, Watson was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 (A-10) after finishing 11th in A-10 in scoring (15.8), fourth in minutes (37.1) and fourth in both three-pointers percentage (.416) and three-pointers per game (2.6). He was the only A-10 player listed in the top five in both three-point categories. 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'm very grateful and excited for the opportunity to play for the BlackJacks this year and can't wait to get started.” - Ibrahim (Ibi) Watson, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club “Ibi Watson comes from two great college programs in Michigan and Dayton. He is a young player who is climbing the professional ranks overseas, completing at MVP level this season in Sweden. He is on the rise, and we are thrilled to have him.” - 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 .

LANGLEY, B.C. , April 18, 2024 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has signed Portland Trail Blazers and Rip City Remix experienced guard Taze Moore for the club’s upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). Taze Moore appeared in four games for the Trail Blazers this past 2023-24 NBA season, most recently suiting up in Portland’s regular season finale against the Sacramento Kings where he scored an NBA career-high 12 points, eight rebounds (four offensive) and four assists in 30 minutes of action. Prior to being called up to the NBA, Moore played 22 games for Portland’s G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix, where he averaged 15.6 points, 7.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.8 per cent shooting from field goal range over 22 games played. “I am excited to be part of the Vancouver Bandits family and to work relentlessly toward winning a CEBL championship,” Moore said. Moore becomes the second member of the Bandits to play in the NBA, joining MJ Walker who played for Vancouver last summer and suited up for the Phoenix Suns in 2021-22. When Vancouver tips off its highly anticipated home opene r a gainst Montréal on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. PT, Moore will cement himself as the latest addition to a growing list of players–19 in total once Moore takes the hardwood at LEC–that have played in at least one CEBL and NBA game. Tickets for the home opener and all regular season games are on sale now at this link . Moore turned pro in 2022 after playing five seasons of NCAA Division I basketball at the University of Houston (2021-22) and California State University, Bakersfield (2016-21). He averaged 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.1 minutes per game for a Houston Cougars squad that advanced to the Elite Eight at the 2022 March Madness tournament. To cap off his impressive collegiate career, Moore showcased his high-flying skillset by winning the 2022 NCAA slam dunk contest . In addition to his athleticism, Moore is a two-way player that impacts the game on both sides of the basketball. He was named to the All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament team in 2022 and ranked in the conference’s top 10 leaders in the categories of assists, minutes played, defensive and offensive rating, offensive rebounds, steals, two-point field goal percentage and win shares. “We are all incredibly excited to work with Taze and for the Bandits to be a part of his development. He is one of the best athletes I have ever seen and his overall skillset and feel for the game is even better. We think he is the perfect addition to our already strong roster because he will also have the opportunity to be a leader and push us towards competitive greatness,” said Bandits’ head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. Prior to Portland, Moore also spent time as a member of the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Summer League rosters in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Vancouver will play a total of 10 regular season home games in 2024 between Thursday, May 23 and Thursday, July 18. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against Montréal on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of tickets are invited to consider a flex pack or season tickets . More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing [email protected] . A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter . About the Vancouver Bandits The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Langley Events Centre (LEC).  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 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 .

Tyrell Vernon will be the next head coach of the Calgary Surge and lead the team for the 2024 season, the team announced Thursday. Vernon just wrapped his third season as head coach of the St. Francis Xavier X Men basketball program. He joined the X-Men and X-Women coaching staff as an associate coach in April 2019. He then succeeded long-time head coach (and Surge Senior Advisor) Steve Konchalski, as the head coach of the X-Men basketball program at the completion of the 2020-21 season. Vernon was named the 2023 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Coach of the Year and led the X Men to the AUS Championship title and a U SPORTS silver medal. “Tyrell is one of the most elite young coaches in our country,” said Surge Senior Advisor Steve Konchalski. “He has won at every level (including the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association, U SPORTS, and the Canadian Elite Basketball League) and we are fortunate that he has chosen the Surge to be a part of his coaching journey. I am confident we can continue to grow together.” The Hamilton, Ontario native is no stranger to the CEBL. He served as assistant coach for the Scarborough Shooting Stars for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He played a critical role in the Shooting Stars’ success with the team making Championship Final appearances in both years and winning the CEBL Championship in 2023 over the Calgary Surge. Vernon has also served as the head coach of the boys basketball team at TRC Academy, a prep school in Brantford, Ontario. During his tenure, the team realized many successes including winning back-to-back OSBA championships in 2018 and 2019. He was named 2019 OSBA Coach of the Year. “We are thrilled about the addition of Tyrell Vernon to the Calgary Surge. Tyrell is a rising star in the Canadian basketball scene and is known for his infectious positive energy and strong connections within the community,” said Surge General Manager Shane James. “With his extensive knowledge of the game, Tyrell has achieved remarkable success in his coaching career at St. FX University. We have full confidence that he will bring that same level of success to the professional level and could not be more excited to have him on board.” Prior to his coaching career, Vernon played with the X-Men for two seasons in 2011-12 and 2012-13, having been a key part of the team that won a U SPORTS bronze medal in 2012. He went on to play with the Mississauga Power of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) and then earned the 2013 North of the Border Basketball League (NBBL) most valuable player and a championship with Team 905. “I am honoured and excited for this opportunity with the Calgary Surge,” said Surge Head Coach Tyrell Vernon. “I am looking forward to working with everyone in the organization and connecting with the Calgary community.” Fans can now purchase their tickets to the highly anticipated 2024 Season Opener at the Scotiabank Saddledome on May 21 at www.calgarysurge.ca/surge2thedome . About the Calgary Surge The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). From day one, the Surge have been committed to being the Home Team for Calgary and a space where everyone is welcome. The Calgary Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport and entertainment. In their inaugural season, the Surge finished 1st overall in the Western Conference and were crowned Western Conference Champions in the playoffs. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . About the 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 .

The Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that Devan Blair has been named the second head coach in team history. Blair succeeds 2023 CEBL Champion Chris Exilus who led the Shooting Stars to the CEBL’s Championship Game in back-to-back seasons. Exilus was promoted earlier this year to Vice President and Senior Advisor. Blair is the current Head Coach of the Barbados Men’s National Team as well as the Associate Head Coach of the Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks.  Prior to his position with Westchester, he spent six years with the Houston Rockets organization as their Video Coordinator and Offensive Strategist from 2015-2020 while also acting as assistant coach of their G-League affiliate the Rio Grand Valley Vipers from 2019-2020. During the 2021-22 season, Blair was named assistant coach of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. “I think the CEBL is a tremendous league that has grown exponentially since its inception. I’m excited to be a part of a league that the rest of the world is beginning to realize contains very high level players and amazing support throughout the country,” noted Blair on joining the CEBL. “I’m beyond excited to have the opportunity to coach the Shooting Stars. Scarborough is an elite organization with top caliber staff that have had unmatched success in their short history. I can’t wait to attack each day with my coaches and players as we aim to repeat as champions in front of the best fans in the league.” Blair is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BS), Sport Marketing and Management while acting as team manager for the women and men’s basketball teams. The reigning CEBL Champions open their season on May 24 at the Canada Life Centre where they will take on the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The team welcomes the Niagara River Lions to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on June 1 for their home opener and championship banner drop. For more information on the team, tickets and schedule visit scarboroughshootingstars.ca .

T he Calgary Surge have signed six-foot-eight forward Gabe Osabuohien fo r the 2024 season, the team announced Wednesday. Osabuohien recently played with the Cleveland Charge of the National Basketball Association (NBA) G-League where he averaged 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 15.1 minutes in 52 games played. “We are thrilled to welcome Gabe Osabuohien to our team. He is young, eager to learn and will be a force on the defensive end,” said Surge General Manager, Shane James. “I have no doubt he can help us win.” The six-foot-eight forward from Toronto, Ontario graduated from West Virginia University where he averaged 4.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 18.1 minutes in 31 games played. Prior to his time in West Virginia, he played with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks where he averaged 3.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 18.5 minutes in 28 games played. “I am very excited to be a part of the team this season as this is my first time playing in the CEBL and visiting Calgary,” said Osabuohien. “I am thankful for the opportunity and excited to get to work. Let’s bring a championship to Calgary!” Fans can now purchase tickets to the 2024 Season Opener at the Scotiabank Saddledome at www.calgarysurge.ca/surge2thedome .  About the Calgary Surge The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). From day one, the Surge have been committed to being the Home Team for Calgary and a space where everyone is welcome. The Calgary Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport and entertainment. In their inaugural season, the Surge finished 1st overall in the Western Conference and were crowned Western Conference Champions in the playoffs. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . About the 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 S PORTS. 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 .

The Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday that Chris Exilus has been promoted to Vice President and Senior Advisor. Exilus, a 2023 CEBL Champion, led the Shooting Stars to the CEBL’s Championship Game in back-to-back seasons. “I am very excited about my new promotion into this role,” said Exilus. “As our franchise continues to evolve, the growth opportunity and platform to use all of my abilities is what I am looking forward to the most. This season is going to be great, we can’t wait to get started”. The Shooting Stars open their season on May 24 at the Canada Life Centre where they will take on the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The team welcomes the Niagara River Lions to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on June 1 for their home opener and championship banner drop. For more information on the team, tickets and schedule visit scarboroughshootingstars.ca .

T he Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday they have signed Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, a Winnipegger who has garnered major accolades overseas. Most recently, the skilled guard averaged 18.9 points per game for Tsmoki-Minsk, good for third in the VTB United League, often considered one of the top five international leagues. This past winter, he also became the seventh player in VTB United history to score more than 600 points in a season. Ogungbemi-Jackson’s roots trace back to Winnipeg, where he led his Garden City Collegiate Gophers to back-to-back provincial titles. The humble and hard-working guard established a standard for work ethic while bussing to the school hours before the morning bell to get hundreds of shots up each day. “I am estatic to be joining the Winnipeg Sea Bears this season! Playing professionally in my hometown where I was born and raised is a dream come true and something I never knew would be possible. I can’t wait to play in front of my friends and family and this amazing fanbase. I plan to bring my leadership, my talent and competitiveness to help us compete at the highest level every night,” said Ogungbemi-Jackson. Ogungbemi-Jackson played his post-secondary ball with the Calgary Dinos, where his coach described his impact as “ridiculous.” The team-first workhorse still holds the record for steals in program history with 197 and ranks third all-time in points (1799). From there, the 5-foot-10 guard launched into a successful pro career, using his dedication, work ethic and high IQ to rocket him through several top-tier European leagues. Ogungbemi-Jackson was named Guard of the Year in the Portuguese LPB, his first pro league, in just his second season. He went on to average 17.8 points per game in back-to-back seasons from 2019-2021, first in the Finnish league Korisliiga then in the Dutch Basketball League in the Netherlands. In the latter year, he was named the league’s Import Player of the Year. The following season, he scooped up an All-Star nod at the FIBA Europe Cup while playing for the Bakken Bears before helping his team win the Danish Basketball League championship. “When we talk Winnipeg basketball and the best players the city has produced, one name consistently pops up: Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson. After playing all over the world, we are thrilled that Jarred will join our Sea Bears organization and have the chance to play in front of family and friends in Winnipeg, his hometown,” said Mike Taylor, head coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Sea Bears. “Jarred brings outstanding point guard play, excellent three-point shooting and tremendous experience to our team. Just as important, Jarred is a homegrown talent who can inspire the next generation of Winnipeg players to pursue their basketball dreams. Jarred is a big part of making the Sea Bears Winnipeg's team.” Ogungbemi-Jackson is now the seventh professional player and sixth Canadian signed by the Sea Bears this season, after Chad Posthumus , Alex Campbell , Mason Bourcier , and Shane Osayande . The team signed 2023 CEBL MVP, import Teddy Allen on Feb. 7 and drafted developmental players Simon Hildebrandt, Tyler Sagl and Shawn Maranan on April 11. MEDIA: The Sea Bears open training camp Monday, May 13 at Sport Manitoba in Winnipeg before they head to Saskatchewan to take on the Rattlers on May 22. The team’s home opener is slated for May 24 at Canada Life Centre against the defending CEBL champions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars.  About the Winnipeg Sea Bears The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as an expansion franchise in 2023. The city's only professional basketball team plays out of Canada Life Centre from May to August in a 20-game regular season schedule. In the team’s inaugural season, it placed second in the Western Conference and set new records for CEBL attendance on three occasions. The organization became the first in CEBL history to win four major awards: MVP (Teddy Allen), Sixth Man of the Year (Jelani Watson-Gayle), U SPORTS Player of the Year (Simon Hildebrandt) and Coach of the Year. The front office subsequently was awarded the 2023 CEBL Franchise of the Year. More information on the Sea Bears can be found at seabears.ca and @wpgseabears on Instagram , X , TikTok , LinkedIn & Facebook . 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 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 .