The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) introduced the outcomes of the 2023 CEBL U SPORTS Draft on Wednesday after 10 CEBL franchises drafted 20 student-athletes from 17 Canadian universities over two rounds of choices. This presents a coveted alternative for high gamers in U SPORTS to get an opportunity to expertise skilled basketball by working towards and taking part in alongside veteran professional’s from the NBA, NBA G League, Canadian National staff, and high worldwide leagues.

Each staff had one choose in every of the 2 rounds. The order of choice had the newest enlargement staff, the Winnipeg Sea Bears, choose first, adopted by the reverse order of end within the 2022 common season standings. Winnipeg drafted Simon Hildebrandt as their first-ever CEBL U SPORTS Draft choose, a second-year 6-foot-9 ahead from the University of Manitoba. The Winnipeg native averaged 16.9 factors and 5.0 rebounds within the 2022-23 season and acquired the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy for U SPORTS Rookie of the Year honours. Hildebrandt was named a Second Team All-Canadian and given U SPORTS All-Rookie Team honours this previous season.

The Montréal Alliance chosen Aryan Sharma of Western University with the second choose of the primary spherical. The Milton, Ont. native averaged 23.4 factors and 6.1 rebounds in 2022-23 whereas taking pictures 45.1 % from the sector. The Calgary Surge then chosen present 12 months graduate Mason Bourcier of Trinity Western University who averaged 20.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 20 video games performed. The 6-foot-4 guard was additionally named a Canada West Team All-Star and a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian. The Kelowna, B.C. native was drafted 18th total within the 2022 CEBL U SPORTS Draft by the Newfoundland Growlers and sixth total within the 2019 CEBL Entry Draft.

Somto Dimanochie of York University was chosen fourth total by the Edmonton Stingers. The 6-foot-8 ahead averaged a profession and team-high 20.3 factors and 10.9 rebounds in 2022-23. Dimanochie was picked eleventh total by Edmonton within the 2022 CEBL U SPORTS Draft. The Saskatchewan Rattlers picked Anthony Tsegakele of Brandon University fifth total. This is Tsegakele’s third consecutive 12 months being drafted within the CEBL after being picked fourth total final 12 months by Saskatchewan and sixth total in 2021 by the Vancouver Bandits.

Vancouver chosen Diego Maffia of University of Victoria with the sixth choose. Maffia, a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and Canada West First Team All-Star in 2022-23 averaged 24.9 factors, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 20 video games performed. The Ottawa BlackJacks then chosen Sukhman Sandhu of University of British Columbia. The 6-foot-10 Surrey, B.C. native was drafted 14th total by Vancouver final 12 months.

The Niagara River Lions picked four-time U SPORTS nationwide champion Aiden Warnholtz of Carleton University eighth total. The first-team All-Canadian averaged a career-high 17.0 factors and 5.5 rebounds in 2022-23 earlier than profitable the Jack Donohue Trophy awarded to the U SPORTS Championship Finals MVP.

David Muenkat of STFX University was picked ninth total by the Scarborough Shooting Stars. Muenkat, a first-overall choose of the 2022 CEBL U SPORTS Draft, gained the 2022-23 U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year and was named a Second Team All-Canadian. Muenkat additionally led STFX to the U SPORTS National Championship remaining this previous season as he averaged a career-best 15.2 factors, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 20 video games performed.

The 2022 CEBL champion Brampton Honey Badgers chosen Najee Brown-Henderson of the University of Windsor tenth total with the ultimate choose of the primary spherical. Brown-Henderson averaged 20.6 factors, 3.8 rebounds and 5 assists in 22 video games performed within the 2022-23 season.

The full 2023 CEBL U SPORTS Draft outcomes are under:

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian gamers, coaches, sports activities executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the best share of Canadian gamers of any professional league within the nation with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players convey expertise from the NBA, NBA G League, high worldwide professional leagues, the Canadian National staff program, and high NCAA applications in addition to U SPORTS. Nine gamers have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL gamers attended NBA G League coaching camps final October. The 2023 CEBL season suggestions off May 24 with the Brampton Honey Badgers visiting the Ottawa BlackJacks in a sport that can be nationally televised on TSN.

More details about the CEBL is offered at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Quotes:

“This 2023 Draft class is elite. Congratulations to all twenty (CEBL U SPORTS) Draft picks. We can’t wait to see everyone take the court starting May 24 and hope that unique experiences and opportunities like this continue to help showcase and nurture the depth of talent within U SPORTS programs across this country. The future of pro basketball in Canada has never been brighter.”

[Mike Morreale, Commissioner & Co-founder, CEBL]

“Congratulations to the 2023 CEBL U SPORTS Draft class! The 2022-23 U SPORTS season saw tremendous performances on the court, and we are very excited to witness that momentum carry forward this summer,” mentioned Lisette Johnson-Stapley, Chief Sports Officer, U SPORTS. The CEBL partnership gives significant alternatives for gamers to study and develop alongside among the finest Canadian expertise, and we couldn’t be extra pleased with this 12 months’s class.”

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the nationwide model for college sports activities in Canada. Every 12 months, over 14,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 nationwide championships in 12 totally different sports activities. U SPORTS additionally gives excessive efficiency worldwide alternatives at FISU Winter and Summer University Games, World University Championships, University World Cups and varied instructional initiatives.

U SPORTS works in collaboration with 56 members and 4 conferences in addition to the Canadian sport system and Corporate Canada on the expansion and supply of college sport to student-athletes throughout the nation.