Memphis Grizzlies sign Niagara River Lions forward to 10-day contract
The Memphis Grizzlies announced Monday that they have signed forward Xavier Sneed to a 10-day contract. Sneed now becomes the fourth player in three days to have played with a Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) team to be later added to an NBA roster after Javin DeLaurier of the Niagara River Lions, Cat Barber of the Guelph Nighthawks and Xavier Moon of the Edmonton Stingers were signed to the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers respectively.
Sneed has appeared in 14 games with the Charlotte Hornets NBA G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm this season, averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 26.3 minutes. He signed with Greensboro in September following his 2021 CEBL season with league runner-up Niagara, where he averaged a team-leading 17.8 points along with 4.7 rebounds and 30.4 minutes.
“We are extremely proud of Xavier for accomplishing his childhood dream of signing an NBA contract,” said Antwi Autahene, Head of Basketball Operations, Niagara River Lions. “We are thankful to his entire family, and his agent Gary Durrant for trusting in the Niagara River Lions organization to help develop his game. Our measure of success is to always give opportunities that help advance players to the next level, and Xavier is a strong example of that.”
The CEBL currently has eight players on NBA G League rosters. They include Lindell Wigginton, Wisconsin Herd, (Hamilton Honey Badgers), Justin Jackson, College Park Skyhawks (Guelph Nighthawks), Tyree White, Greensboro Swarm, (Niagara River Lions), Jaylon Tate, South Bay Lakers (Niagara River Lions), Demarcus Holland, Delaware Blue Coats (Saskatchewan Rattlers), Nino Johnson, Salt Lake City Stars (Hamilton Honey Badgers), Trevon Duval, Grand Rapids Gold (Hamilton Honey Badgers), and Jabari Craig, Motor City Cruise (Hamilton Honey Badgers).
Three players with prior NBA experience have played in the CEBL. They include Brianté Weber, Hamilton Honey Badgers (42 games total with Memphis, Miami, Golden State, Charlotte, Houston), Kris Joseph, Niagara River Lions and Ottawa BlackJacks (10 games total with Boston, Brooklyn), and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Hamilton Honey Badgers, (5 games with Memphis).
The CEBL begins its fourth season in May 2022. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. 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 from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .