Rattlers Announce 2024 Training Camp Roster
Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday that their 2024 Training Camp Roster will get to work starting on Tuesday May 14th 2024 at Merlis Belsher Place on the University of Saskatchewan campus ahead of their home opener on Wednesday May 22nd 2024 when they meet conference-rivals, the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The Rattlers invite the public to training camp for an opportunity to meet the players and coaching staff on Friday May 17th 2024 at 5:00PM until 6:30PM at Merlis Belsher Place.
As the Saskatchewan Rattlers look ahead to training camp, we saw talent and personnel from NBA and NBA G League connections make their way to the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Coach Larry Abney of the Los Angeles was announced as Rattlers head coach in the beginning of the year. Abney has worked alongside the Clippers organization for seven seasons, including a six-year stint as the Player Development Coach where he coached NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard, and 2024 MVP-candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Rattlers made noise across the country when they welcomed 2020 NBA Draft Pick, Jalen Harris to their team. Harris played with the Toronto Raptors during the 2020-21 season, where he closed out their season with a season-high 31 points against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Harris returns to the CEBL for his third season, after second season with the Scarborough Shootings Stars and a season with the Windy City Bulls (Chicago Bulls affiliate) in the NBA G League. In his final game with the Bulls, he scored a career-high 50 points alongside 12 rebounds, five assists, and shot 67.7% from the field in 40 minutes.
A Clippers reunion is happening this summer in Saskatchewan with Coach Abney bringing two Clippers talent to the roster from the NBA G League. Elijah Harkless and Bryson Williams make their CEBL debut this summer. After being selected 23rd overall in the NBA G League Draft, Harkless made his Clippers debut averaging 11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 22.6 minutes, and shooting 47.5% from the field. Prior to the Clippers, Harkless played five seasons in the NCAA – most recently with UNLV where he started in all 32 games while averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 31.0 minutes. Williams played two seasons with the Clippers averaging 9.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 23.3 minutes in 57 games. Prior to his professional career, Williams five seasons in the NCAA with Fresno State, UTEP, and Texas Tech. As a senior with Texas Tech, he helped lead them to a March Madness Sweet 16 berth in 2022. Bryson Williams will join the Rattlers in June after he finishes his season in Israel.
Returning to the CEBL for his third season is six-foot-10 Canadian forward, Maurice Calloo who played with the 2023 Western Conference Champion, Calgary Surge. Along with his time in the CEBL, Calloo has played in the NBA G League, FIBA AmeriCup in Brazil, Luxembourg, and Taiwan averaging 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 17.3 minutes in 49 games with six teams. Prior to his professional debut with the Guelph Nighthawks, Calloo played four seasons in the NCAA with Oklahoma State and Oregon State. As a junior, he helped lead Oregon State to the Elite Eight in March Madness. Calloo most recently played in Taiwan, where he averaged 27.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 27.6 minutes.
The province of Saskatchewan will see the return of familiar faces – as five members from previous rosters return, which includes two U Sports player who are from Saskatchewan. The returning Rattlers include Julian Roche, Adong Makuoi, Anthony Tsegakele, Isaac Simon, and our 2021 U Sports Draft Pick Alexander Dewar make his return to the CEBL. Julian Roche returns to the Rattlers for his third season in the CEBL after playing in Germany with Padernborn Basket in the German Pro A League. The Simon Fraser-alumni appeared in all 20 games with the Rattlers last season, while averaging a team-high 59.7% shooting from the field. Adong Makuoi returns to the Rattlers for his second season after appearing in all 20 games in his rookie professional season. The Edmonton, Alberta-native played in Cyprus during the CEBL offseason with Proteas EKA AEL of Cypriot Division A averaging 10.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 26.8 minutes in 28 games while shooting 68.2% from the field.
The 2023 Rattlers Defensive Player of the Year, Anthony Tsegakele returns for his fourth CEBL season. The Brandon University-alumni was selected in the last three CEBL Drafts, he recently appeared on the roster of Pazi BC during the BAL-qualifiers and Chorale Roanne of LNB Pro A in France. During his last three years with Brandon University, Tsegakele averaged 11.5 rebounds per game which was the top spot for the team, top two in all of Canada West, and top five in U Sports. He was named to ten individual season awards over his U Sports career; which includes 2023 Canada West Defensive Player of the Year.
Isaac Simon from Regina, Saskatchewan joins the team after being selected third in the third round of the 2024 CEBL Draft. Isaac Simon made his CEBL debut in 2023, where he saw the court a couple of times – including a match-up with Scarborough where he guarded the league’s all-time scorer Cat Barber. Simon just finished his second season with the University of Alberta setting a new-career high of 33 points in a game. Alexander Dewar from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan makes his return to the CEBL after being selected eighth in the second round of the 2024 CEBL Draft. Dewar played five years with the University of Saskatchewan averaging 15.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 27.5 minutes over 110 games while shooting 47.2% from the field.
More players with NCAA experience make their Rattlers debut – Emmanuel Bandoumel from Quebec City, QC, Grant Basile from Pewaukee, WI, and fifth year CEBL guard Cody John from Mississauga, Ontario. Bandoumel makes his CEBL after his professional debut in Denmark playing with the Svenborg Rabbits averaging 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 30.3 minutes in fifteen games. Prior to playing professionally, Bandoumel played with Hill College, Southern Methodist University, and Nebraska in the NCAA. Basile represented the Italian National Team in his professional debut. The six-foot-nine forward played five seasons in the NCAA playing with Wright State and Virginia Tech averaging 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 25.2 minutes over 129 games. Basile most recently played for GaGa Milano of Legadue Gold in Italy where he averaged 20.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 36.3 minutes in 21 games.
Cody John joins the Rattlers in his return to the CEBL - previously playing with Hamilton Honey Badgers (now Brampton), Ottawa Blackjacks, and Brampton Honey Badgers. During his five-year professional career, John has played with nine teams in Cyprus, Kosovo and Canada. He has a career average of 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 24.3 minutes in 99 games. Prior to his professional career, John played four seasons with Weber State University in the NCAA where he helped lead the team to 2015 Gulf Coast Championship, and an appearance in March Madness.
Rounding out the team with high-level talent from U Sports programs – Somto Dimanochie and Fareed Shittu. Dimanochie joins us after two seasons with the Edmonton Stingers. Dimanochie was selected by Edmonton in the CEBL Draft; 2022 11th overall, and 2023 fourth overall. He played four seasons with the York University Lions averaging 11.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 25.3 minutes playing 67 games with 61 appearances in the starting lineup. As a senior – he ranked seventh for points per game (20.3), third for total blocks (33), and second for rebounds per game (11.3). His season was cut short in Edmonton due to injury, and looks to return to CEBL action this summer. Six-foot four forward Fareed Shittu of UBC joins the training camp roster filling in the open spot from the absent Elias Ralph. The Edmonton, Alberta native averaged 12.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 27.3 minutes while shooting 53.2% from the field in 18 games.
Coaching under head coach Larry Abney are familiar faces and local basketball connections – returning assistant coach Eric Magdanz and assistant coach Rob Lovelace, and new assistant coach Steve Burrows from the University of Regina. Magdanz served as assistant coach of the Rattlers since the 2022. Prior to the Rattlers, he was assistant coach of the Edmonton Stingers in 2019, assistant coach of University of Alberta, head coach of MacEwan University for seven seasons, and played with McMaster University.
Lovelace has worked alongside the Rattlers and the CEBL as part of the Broadcast Team. He served as assistant coach of University of Saskatchewan for two seasons after playing for the team for five. Lovelace is the current President of Basketball Saskatchewan. Joining the two local coaches, we have Regina, Saskatchewan-native Steve Burrows. Burrows grew up playing high school basketball which led him to play at the U SPORTS level at University of Regina. He has served as Head Coach of the University of Regina Cougars since the 2013-14 season. Under Coach Burrows, the Cougars have competed in a Canada West Final Four (2022) and they advanced to the conference quarterfinals in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022.
“We are anxious to get started with training camp to see exactly what kind of group we have here,” said Rattlers General Manager Barry Rawlyk. “The pre-camp coaches meetings have been very focused and I know they feel very excited about seeing how the talent we have assembled fits together. We have a lot of players that are versatile so that makes the process of assembling this team an intriguing one..”
The full 2024 Rattlers schedule has been released, which features a full 20-game slate with one potential home playoff game and Championship Weekend (CW24) happening in Montréal, QC from August 9-11, 2024.
Individual game tickets range from $20 in the Fang Zone section to $95 for seating in courtside row 2 (All row 1 options are sold out). Flex Ticket Bundles and Group tickets can be purchased to access bulk discounts. Season tickets range from $175 in the Fang Zone to $850 for courtside row 2 (All row 1 options are sold out). Premium seat options are available including VIP tables, Luxury Suites, and the Rattlers Courtside Lounge. All ticket options can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website, or via Ticketmaster. Current season ticket members can manage their seats by using Account Manager. For more seating options, and partnership opportunities; fans can contact an account executive or Ivan Brown (Director of Partnerships).
About the Saskatchewan Rattlers
The Saskatchewan Rattlers are Saskatchewan’s professional basketball team, one of the six original teams in the CEBL – the Rattlers won the 2019 inaugural season championship. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – the Rattlers offer an entertainment-focused environment surrounded by some of the world’s top professional athletes. The Rattlers are a community-first organization and take pride in their ability to bring communities together while making sport more accessible to the province.
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, 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.
For more information on the Saskatchewan Rattlers professional basketball team - visit therattlers.ca
