River Lions Re-Sign Canadian Forward Cayo for the 2025 Season

February 27, 2025

Cayo averaged 13.6 points in first campaign with the River Lions en route to hoisting the CEBL Championship trophy in 2024

The Niagara River Lions announced Thursday the re-signing of 6-foot-7 Canadian forward Nathan Cayo for the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The 27-year-old from Montreal, Quebec will return to the team for his second year after an outstanding 2024 championship run with the River Lions.

Cayo is currently playing for the Manchester Giants of the Super League Basketball (SLB) averaging an impressive 16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 32.5 minutes.

“We are thrilled to have Nathan back. Nathan broke out last season as one of the best forwards in the CEBL, and he was a massive part of our championship season.", noted Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. "We have sky high expectations for him this summer, and we are incredibly proud that he chose to come back to Niagara for the 2025 season!”

Cayo is now the second of two returning players from last season, following the announcement of Jahvon Blair's re-signing to the River Lions last week.

Cayo played basketball at the collegiate level attending the University of Richmond, where he averaged 8.9 points, 1.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 155 games over his 5-year tenure with the Richmond Spiders. Cayo ranked 4th all-time in field goal percentage for the Spiders, shooting an impressive 55.2%. Cayo helped the Spiders qualify for the 2021-2022 March Madness Tournament where he scored 15 points in a win over the University of Iowa to help reach the second round.

In his first season with the River Lions, Cayo averaged 13.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, starting 20 of 23 games. He elevated his play during the playoffs, where he averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks to help secure the CEBL title in front of family and friends in his hometown of Montreal. Cayo began his CEBL journey with the Montreal Alliance in 2022 where he played for two seasons . Aside from his experience in the CEBL, Cayo spent time with Astoria Bydgiszcz in Poland’s first division Polish Basketball League and the Ontario Clippers of the G-League.

Cayo quickly became a fan favorite in Niagara, delivering standout performances including his season-high 25 points and 8 rebounds in the CEBL championship game against the Vancouver Bandits.

"My family and I are so blessed and excited to come back to Niagara,” said Cayo. “Last summer was one for the books and I can't wait to run it back with my brothers, in front of the best fans in the league. I'm grateful for the opportunity and excited to get back to work soon to compete for a back-to-back championship. Go River Lions!"

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the league's reigning champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

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 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 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 with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

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The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), are committed to making a positive impact through basketball and growing the game across British Columbia, and this dedication was highlighted this past week in Kelowna and the Okanagan area. Coming off the recent announcement of Kelowna HOOPFEST, a brand-new basketball festival featuring a CEBL neutral-site home game in partnership with the City of Kelowna, Bandits head coach Kyle Julius spent time at five Okanagan-area secondary schools and both of Kelowna’s post-secondary men’s basketball teams, as part of the Vancouver Bandits third-annual Bandits School Tour. Julius and Bandits staff visited Mount Boucherie Secondary School, Immaculata Regional High School, Okanagan Mission Secondary, Rutland Secondary School and Kelowna Secondary, as well as the men’s basketball teams at UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College, providing dedicated and tailored practices along with motivational talks and training materials. Launched in 2023, the Bandits School Tour is supported by the Bandits Community Foundation, Preston Chevrolet and Envision Financial and offers a unique opportunity for student-athletes and volunteer coaches to learn directly from BC’s only professional basketball coach. “What stood out most during our visit was the impact basketball can have when it is rooted in mentorship and connection; it is clear how vibrant the basketball and business ecosystem is in the Okanagan,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We are thankful to the Okanagan and Kelowna communities for welcoming us so openly, and this is only the beginning. We are committed to being present and intentional in the lead-up to Kelowna HOOPFEST from June 5th to 7th.” In addition to the Bandits School Tour, Julius and members of Bandits staff had the opportunity to connect with various Okanagan business, media and community leaders, including attending the 51st annual Western Canada Tournament at Kelowna Secondary and a Kelowna Rockets hockey game. ###