With free agency for the 2020 season fast approaching, here’s a look at 12 of the top players from the 2019 inaugural season that deserve a look-in from all seven CEBL teams.

Note: This list does not include players that have signed option letters with their respective teams, which means that they are protected from contact with any other club until 12.01 a.m. ET on Monday, March 2, 2020, and only if not signed by that date. At that point, they may become free agents.

Xavier Rathan Mayes, Hamilton Honey Badgers, 25 (Guard)

What you need to know: As one of the more experienced players on the list, Mayes played five games for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2017-18 season, and for the New York Knicks Preseason Squad in 2017, bringing his effective scoring, playmaking ability and aggressive defense. The six‑foot-four former Grizzlies guard set the CEBL scoring record of 37 points in a game during his 32-minute-long league debut, shooting 16‑for‑23 from the field (including 2-for-6 from beyond the arc). Mayes also recorded a team-best of 27 points, with season highs of 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 turnovers (tied). During his career, Mayes has transitioned from a shooting to a point guard but can basically play either guard spot.

Did you know? Won Gold at FIBA AmeriCup 2017 together with Negus Webster-Chan.

What you need to know: Notice registered a team-best 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals during his 29 minute-long CEBL debut. Originating from Woodbridge, Ont., the six‑foot‑two guard opted to spend much of the inaugural CEBL season at the 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he joined the Toronto Raptors for two games alongside players such as Chris Boucher and Malcolm Miller. Currently playing a second season with Raptors 905 (Notice averaged 10 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 47 games in his first season), where he’s been looking to take on more of a leadership role while taking full advantage of his work ethic, defensive chops and physical abilities.

Did you know? Played nightly “one-on-one” matchups with his brother Marcus in his parents’ driveway, while growing up in Toronto.

What you need to know: Massey has three different NBA G League teams on his player bio, including Grand Rapids, Springfield, and Erie (having played with NBA players Brandon Jennings and C.J. Wilcox to name a few). He finished the CEBL season as the Rattlers’ steals leader (2.3), top‑second scorer (19.1), fifth field goal percentage leader (45.9) and 3-point shooter (11). The six-foot-three American (from Germantown, Md.) spent the current season with BC Odessa in the Ukraine Superleague as a starter (and teammate of Joel Friesen) where he’s a 77 per cent free throw shooter while logging 33.3 minutes in 19 games. He mixes experience with leadership and a whole lot of on-court emotion.

Did you know? At Middle Tennessee University, he played NCAA Division One basketball, and in 2013 won the NCAA Award: Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year.

What you need to know: During the 2018 Annual NBA Development League Draft, the Agua Caliente Clippers selected the six-foot-nine American (from Harbor City, Calif.) early in round two but unfortunately Dawson was sidelined by a back injury. Instead, he made his professional league debut in the CEBL, where he put up impressive numbers on both sides of the court. Dawson became the league’s and Rattlers’ top scorer (20.1). He was also the Saskatchewan team’s top-second rebounder (7.3) and steals leader (1.4). This season, he had a stint with Jämtland Basket of the Swedish Basketball League (Basketligan) but broke his ankle in one of the first games.

Did you know? He has received the NCAA Player of the Week Award four times.

What you need to know: McIntosh, who prior to coming to the league played with the Raptors 905, averaged 12.0 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.5 steals and 24.0 minutes in his two CEBL appearances. In his Hamilton debut, on July 21, 2019, vs. Edmonton Stingers, McIntosh totaled 17 points (including 4 triples, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block). But he had to leave the game at the 3:48 mark of the third quarter after receiving his second technical foul. During his senior season with University of Oregon Ducks, McIntosh ran into foul trouble setting the University of Oregon single season personal foul record with 119. The Honey Badgers selected the six-foot-seven forward, hailing from Pickering, Ont., with their first pick, fifth overall. In doing so, he was reunited with his 905 teammate, Duance Notice.

Did you know? Part of the Canadian Junior Men's National Team that took a sixth-place finish at the FIBA U19 World Championship in 2018.

What you need to know: Klassen topped both CEBL’s, and Fraser Valley’s, leader boards with the most number of assists for the season, 7.2. The six-foot-one point guard was also the Bandits’ top 3-point shooter (39), top-second scorer (14.3) and third 3-point percentage leader (36.8). On July 6, 2019, he set the record for most assists in one CEBL game, 15, when the Bandits faced off the Hamilton Honey Badgers on the road. The former B.C. Provincial Player of the Year got drafted by his hometown team, after a season with Socar Petkimspor in the Turkish Basketball League. Named to the CEBL Second All-Star Team, Klassen is known for his sharpshooting skills and consistent playmaking abilities.

Did you know? Every season since turning pro in 2015, he’s been making 5 to 8 assists per game while playing for North American and European b-ball leagues.

What you need to know: The six-foot-two guard and Rattlers team captain, out of Brampton, Ont., became the CEBL Championship Weekend Finals MVP after scoring a team-high 20 points and 11 rebounds in the final against the Hamilton Honey Badgers. Campbell placed first as the team’s 3-point scorer (50), second in 3-point percentage (35.7), third in scoring (15.5) and assists (2.5), and fourth in rebounds (5.2). Prior to joining the league, he played for Island Storm Basketball, where his position changed from a combo to a point guard. Campbell’s passing skills and ability to set up plays saw him return to the Storm this season as one of their leading players.

Did you know? Increased his PPG and APG per minute in every season since turning pro.

What you need to know: The Sarnia, Ont.-native, and ex-Ravens, became one of only three Hamilton players to compete in every game this past season, recording a season-high of 28 points plus 8 rebounds and 2 steals during a game against the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Six-foot-four Rocca, a former starting guard in the top tier of the Slovak Basketball League, finished third on the Honey Badgers’ leader board in field goal percentage (46.4) and 3-pointers (19), and fifth for 3-point percentage (30.6) and blocks (0.2). An efficient scorer, he returned to Europe for his second season abroad, after he signed with Mgzavrebi-Armia Tbilisi of the Georgian Super League.

Did you know? Rocca runs his own basketball academy, the Rocca Elite Basketball Academy.

What you need to know: Webster-Chan (nicknamed " NWC ") became the Rattlers' top-second assister (3.3) and 3-point scorer (35), top-third 3-point percentage leader (35.7), top-fourth scorer (12.7) and top-fifth steals leader (0.9), all while dealing with an ankle injury. The six-foot-seven guard of Scarborough, Ont., joined the Saskatchewan team after two years of playing for the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. A versatile player, who can either play guard or forward, he averaged 3.48 points and 12.6 minutes per game. Helping the Rattlers win the first‑ever CEBL championship, Webster-Chan is no stranger to winning trophies. In 2017, he was part of the Raptors 905 team that won the NBA G League championship. But he missed the following 2018 season due to recovering from a hip injury.

Did you know? Named MVP at the All Canadian Classic in 2011, which featured players such as future Raptors 905ers Sim Bhullar and Kevin Pangos, future NBA players Nik Stauskas and Anthony Bennet (first overall draft pick 2013).

What you need to know: The six-foot-five two-way guard from Abbotsford was the number one overall pick in the inaugural CEBL Entry Draft, having previously won three NBLC titles and representing Canada at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China. He finished the season as the Bandit’s top-fourth scorer (8.9), assister (1.6) and field goal percentage leader (42.4). Recognized nationally as one of the game’s hardest workers, and an outstanding perimeter defender, Friesen is having a great off-season with BC Odessa in the Ukraine Superleague as a starter (and teammate of Bruce Massey) where he is averaging 62.2 per cent from the field while logging 24.9 minutes in 12 games.

Did you know? Told he may not play again after tearing his ACL, as a 17-year-old, in 2008, Friesen has made quite the comeback as a veteran professional.

What you need to know: The six-foot-ten forward, a former University of Victoria Vikes’ player and named CIS First Team All-Canadian, made an impressive CEBL debut for the Bandits against the Edmonton Stingers on June 22, 2019. The Oakville native averaged 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 shooting from the free-throw line. One of the most effective players at getting to the free-throw line, McLaughlin made more free throws per game than any other player on the Bandits during his time in the CEBL. Averaged 7.8 rebounds per game, which makes him a powerhouse in the paint.

Did you know? A late bloomer in university basketball, McLaughlin led UVic Vikes in rebounds during his fourth year and was named a second team Canada West All-Star.

What you need to know: Toronto-born Glaze, who registered the first dunk in CEBL history for the Stingers, finished the season as the team’s top‑second field goal percentage leader (53.7), top-third rebounder (7.7), top-third steals leader (1.3), and top-fifth assister (2.5). Prior to Edmonton Stingers drafting the six-foot-seven forward, Glaze came off a strong season with the National Basketball League of Canada. Currently in the Basketball Champions League Americas, playing for Mexico City’s team, where he averages 34.6 minutes and nearly 14 points, proving that he’s ready to play heavy minutes in the CEBL this season.

Did you know? Won Gold at FIBA AmeriCup 2017 together with Negus Webster-Chan and Xavier Rathan Mayes. Could we potentially see an America’s World Cup super team in 2020?

The talent within Canada, and beyond, is rich but just looking at these players’ inaugural season performances alone, teams will certainly keep their names on their radar.

What are your thoughts? Who did we miss? Let us know via social media: Instagram , Twitter and Facebook.

And in our second feature on free agency, we take a look at the top 12 heavy hitters on the protected list.