Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Montreal Forward James Jean-Marie
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that Canadian forward James Jean-Marie has signed with the Club for the 2023 CEBL season.
A six-foot-eight forward from Montreal, Quebec, Jean-Marie has averaged 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 20.5 minutes in 35 professional games in Cyprus, Greece and in the CEBL.
The 25-year-old recently played eight games for Achilleas in Cyprus, averaging 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds. He recorded four double-doubles, including a season-high 25 points and 11 rebounds on February 16, 2023, against Anorthosis. He also grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds a week before against Proteas. Jean-Marie started the 2022-23 campaign with Aias Evosmou of the Greek HEBA A2, where he posted averages of 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 20.3 minutes in 10 games.
After spending six years in the United States, the Portland State alumni returned to his hometown last summer to tip off his professional career with the Montreal Alliance of the CEBL. He averaged 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, while shooting .500 from the field. He scored in the double digits twice, including a season-high 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 2023 season opener will take place at the Arena at TD Place on May 24. Fans can now purchase BlackJacks season seat memberships and Flex 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 would like to thank God for the opportunity to join the Ottawa BlackJacks this summer. I’m excited to meet the staff and my teammates. I’m looking forward to playing at a high level and improving my game as we compete for the championship.”
- James Jean-Marie, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
"James Jean-Marie is young, enthusiastic, and hungry. We are looking forward to working with him. His tenacity and his ability to rebound the basketball will be important assets for our group this summer.”
- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, 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. Having recently completed its third season, the BlackJacks have reached the championship semifinal three times. 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 Vice-President, Basketball Operations Jevohn Shepherd, Ottawa plays its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. For more information visit www.theblackjacks.ca.
About Canadian Elite Basketball League
The CEBL features 10 teams in six provinces, making it the largest pro sports league in Canada. The CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.