Ottawa BlackJacks Sign NBA G League Guard Elijah Pemberton
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that American Guard Elijah Pemberton has signed with the club for the 2023 season.
A six-foot-five guard from Middletown, Connecticut, Pemberton averaged 12.0 points in 65 professional games played with the Golden States Warriors’ G League affiliate, Santa Cruz Warriors.
A Hofstra University alumnus, Pemberton tipped off his professional career with Santa Cruz in 2020-21 and is still a member of the team to this day. He is currently averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 26 games played this season. He recorded a season-high 24 points on December 20 against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants while hitting four three-pointers in that game. Last year, Pemberton scored 20 or more points six times and scored a season-high 29 points while shooting six-for-nine from the field. He went a perfect nine-for-nine in free throws on January 6 against the Oklahoma City Blue.
Pemberton was named to the USA Basketball World Cup Qualifying roster on February 16, 2023, and played four games with the team, scoring on average 5.5 points per game. He also competed in the FIBA AmeriCup in 2022 where he averaged 3.7 points and 7.4 minutes in six games played. The team finished with a bronze medal in the competition.
Collegiately, Pemberton had an illustrious career with the Hofstra University Pride in Hempstead, New York, and averaged 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 34.8 minutes across 129 games. He ranked ninth in program history with 1,982 career points and fourth with 215 three-pointers made.
He had his best statistical season as a senior, averaging 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 34 games played and draining 60 three-pointers. He was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Second Team, ranked second on the team in points (599), rebounds (189), assists (65) and steals (44), and eighth in the CAA in scoring. He finished his university career at home with a career-high 35-point performance against James Madison on Senior Day.
TSN and the CEBL announced that Canada’s Sports Leader will showcase live coverage of select CEBL games on TSN and TSN+ throughout the 2023 season, tipping off at the Arena at TD Place in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 24, when the BlackJacks take on the reigning CEBL Champions Brampton Honey Badgers. Season seat memberships, Flex Packs and single game tickets are available at www.theblackjacks.ca/tickets.
Quotes:
“I am grateful to become a part of the BlackJacks organization and move to Ottawa for the summer. I’ve heard great things about the city, and I can’t wait to learn and develop in Canada’s capital!”
- Elijah Pemberton, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
“We had a chance to see Elijah compete for Team USA at the FIBA AmeriCup this past summer and we’re excited to have him on board. He is coming off a great season where he’s shot the ball extremely well. We can expect a big summer from him.”
- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, 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. Having recently completed its third season, the BlackJacks have reached the championship semifinals 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
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 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. TSN, Canada's sports leader, is the official broadcast partner of the league. 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. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. 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.