Ottawa BlackJacks Re-Sign Montreal Forward James Jean-Marie
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that Canadian forward James Jean-Marie has re-signed with the Club for the 2024 CEBL season.
A six-foot-eight forward from Montreal, Quebec, Jean-Marie averaged 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 20.3 minutes in 69 professional games across various leagues in Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece, and the CEBL.
Jean-Marie joined the BlackJacks during the summer of 2023, where he averaged 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 17 games played with the team. He scored a season-high of 13 points on July 5 against Saskatchewan and grabbed a season-high of eight rebounds on June 27 against Brampton.
He is currently completing his winter season with Kaposvari KK in the Hungarian NBIA, averaging 10.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. He began the season with Okapi Aalstar in the BNXT league in Belgium and the Netherlands.
After spending six years in the United States, the Portland State alumnus returned to his hometown in 2022 to debut his professional career with the Montreal Alliance of the CEBL. He scored in double digits twice, including a season-high of 11 points on July 24 against Newfoundland and 10 points on July 7 against Brampton.
Jean-Marie played 67 games for three different NCAA first division teams, including Portland State (14), Hawaii (21) and San Diego (32). As a senior with the Vikings, he averaged 12.9 points and 8.9 rebounds and recorded six double-doubles.
Jean-Marie attended Jeanne-Mance Secondary School in Montreal and earned RSEQ MVP honours, before moving to Austin, Texas, to complete high school with Athlos Leadership Academy.
The Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 home opener will take place at the Arena at TD Place on May 29. Fans can now purchase BlackJacks season seat memberships, Flex Packs and Voucher Packs at theblackjacks.ca/tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Ottawa BlackJacks Membership Services team directly at 613-690-0519 or by email at [email protected].
Quotes:
“I am excited to be back in Ottawa for another season. The BlackJacks organization is fantastic, and I can’t wait to continue building on what we’ve achieved as a team last year and make the Capital proud.”
- James Jean-Marie, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
"James exemplifies a great attitude and work ethic. He will bring length and rebounding to the team we’re building. He is currently having a great season in Hungary and we’re happy to welcome him again in Ottawa this summer.”
- James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
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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.