Sea Bears Sign Winnipegger Ogungbemi-Jackson
The Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday they have signed Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, a Winnipegger who has garnered major accolades overseas. Most recently, the skilled guard averaged 18.9 points per game for Tsmoki-Minsk, good for third in the VTB United League, often considered one of the top five international leagues.
This past winter, he also became the seventh player in VTB United history to score more than 600 points in a season.
Ogungbemi-Jackson’s roots trace back to Winnipeg, where he led his Garden City Collegiate Gophers to back-to-back provincial titles. The humble and hard-working guard established a standard for work ethic while bussing to the school hours before the morning bell to get hundreds of shots up each day.
“I am estatic to be joining the Winnipeg Sea Bears this season! Playing professionally in my hometown where I was born and raised is a dream come true and something I never knew would be possible. I can’t wait to play in front of my friends and family and this amazing fanbase. I plan to bring my leadership, my talent and competitiveness to help us compete at the highest level every night,” said Ogungbemi-Jackson.
Ogungbemi-Jackson played his post-secondary ball with the Calgary Dinos, where his coach described his impact as “ridiculous.” The team-first workhorse still holds the record for steals in program history with 197 and ranks third all-time in points (1799). From there, the 5-foot-10 guard launched into a successful pro career, using his dedication, work ethic and high IQ to rocket him through several top-tier European leagues.
Ogungbemi-Jackson was named Guard of the Year in the Portuguese LPB, his first pro league, in just his second season. He went on to average 17.8 points per game in back-to-back seasons from 2019-2021, first in the Finnish league Korisliiga then in the Dutch Basketball League in the Netherlands. In the latter year, he was named the league’s Import Player of the Year. The following season, he scooped up an All-Star nod at the FIBA Europe Cup while playing for the Bakken Bears before helping his team win the Danish Basketball League championship.
“When we talk Winnipeg basketball and the best players the city has produced, one name consistently pops up: Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson. After playing all over the world, we are thrilled that Jarred will join our Sea Bears organization and have the chance to play in front of family and friends in Winnipeg, his hometown,” said Mike Taylor, head coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Sea Bears.
“Jarred brings outstanding point guard play, excellent three-point shooting and tremendous experience to our team. Just as important, Jarred is a homegrown talent who can inspire the next generation of Winnipeg players to pursue their basketball dreams. Jarred is a big part of making the Sea Bears Winnipeg's team.”
Ogungbemi-Jackson is now the seventh professional player and sixth Canadian signed by the Sea Bears this season, after
Chad Posthumus,
Alex Campbell,
Mason Bourcier, and
Shane Osayande. The team signed 2023 CEBL MVP, import
Teddy Allen on Feb. 7 and
drafted developmental players Simon Hildebrandt, Tyler Sagl and Shawn Maranan on April 11.
MEDIA: The Sea Bears open training camp Monday, May 13 at Sport Manitoba in Winnipeg before they head to Saskatchewan to take on the Rattlers on May 22. The team’s home opener is slated for May 24 at Canada Life Centre against the defending CEBL champions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars.
About the Winnipeg Sea Bears
The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as an expansion franchise in 2023. The city's only professional basketball team plays out of Canada Life Centre from May to August in a 20-game regular season schedule. In the team’s inaugural season, it placed second in the Western Conference and set new records for CEBL attendance on three occasions. The organization became the first in CEBL history to win four major awards: MVP (Teddy Allen), Sixth Man of the Year (Jelani Watson-Gayle), U SPORTS Player of the Year (Simon Hildebrandt) and Coach of the Year. The front office subsequently was awarded the 2023 CEBL Franchise of the Year.
More information on the Sea Bears can be found at seabears.ca and @wpgseabears on Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn & Facebook.
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 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.
