In the fast-growing and fast-paced league that calls Canada home, elite talent comes together for a summer of some of the most exciting hoops.
The 7th season of the Canadian Elite Basketball League tipped off Sunday, and after almost 10 months of waiting, hype is at an all-time high. Over the last few days and the upcoming week, teams have been participating in their training camps, preseason games, and preparation for the season. It has been dubbed the “longest season yet”, as it extends over the next three months, packed with high-calibre competition that will lead to the championships hosted by the Winnipeg Sea Bears at the end of August.
If you’re still new to the league or haven’t heard of it at all, you’re in luck. This is the perfect place to start.
The CEBL was founded in 2019 to build the game in Canada and develop home-grown talent. The league has 10 current teams, spread from Vancouver to Montreal. Only a few years in, it’s clear they are continuing to achieve that, and in the process, they’ve created an incredible experience for fans, too. In such a short window, they already boast some of the most competitive basketball around.
From a numbers standpoint, the growth is obvious. Of the current players who are signed, 39 have previously held NBA contracts, 45 have played in the G-League, 33 players have suited up for Team Canada, 96 have played for NCAA programs, 77 from USPORTS and CCAA programs, and 98 players have professional experience overseas.
It’s beyond the numbers, too. If you ask the players who have been in the league for a little while, they say the exact same thing. I was able to catch up with a few of the Ottawa BlackJacks players at their training camp this weekend, and most of them echoed the same sentiments. Deng Adel, who is with the BlackJacks for his fourth season, said that he’s noticed “The level of competition has gotten better every year. Teams are adding more talent”, and with so many Canadian players in the league, “A lot of guys want to win for their town”. Meshack Lufile, who has appeared on five different CEBL franchises, noted growth throughout the league “has been tremendous” and can be attributed to the success of players like Xavier Moon. “The more talent you bring in, the better it will be”.
This year, famous trick-shot player Tristan Jass inked his first pro contract with the Vancouver Bandits. In preseason action, he’s already impressed fans with a 28-point performance. NBA Champion Quinndary Weatherspoon will also join the league with the Brampton Honey Badgers. Signings like this continue to highlight the level of talent and interest that the CEBL is generating.
Along with the talent the league is drawing, fans are joining in as well. Most of the teams saw record attendance last year, yielding continuation of broadcasting deals with TSN and RDS and sponsorships across the league.
Part of what makes the league so exciting is its use of target time. In the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, the first stoppage of time shuts the clock off, and the game won’t end until either team reaches a target score (9 points plus the leading team’s score when the time stopped). While it seems simple, it changes the game. There’s no running out the clock, no slowing down. Every point matters. The biggest comeback so far belongs to the 2023 Calgary Surge completed a 16-point comeback to secure the victory against their rivals, the Stingers.
The players enjoy target time too. League veteran and BlackJacks forward Justin Jackson said that “everything is about possession by possession… You have to be extremely strategic. It’s fun and brings a lot of excitement to the game”. His perspective wasn’t unique. A lot of players chimed in about the importance of each possession. “Every basket counts, you have to play your hardest,” said Shakur Danie,l who will be suiting up for his first CEBL game this season after playing for the San Diego Clippers of the G-League. Of course, some players also noted other aspects of target time, that although it might cause pressure, it is also exciting. Isaih Moore said it “Feels like pickup or a game of 21. You have to score”.
Some of the highest anticipated matchups this year will be the Battle of Alberta that will tip off the regular season tonight at 7 pm ET, the finals rematch between the Niagara River Lions and Vancouver Bandits on May 22 at 10 pm ET, the very first outdoor game, as the Montreal Alliance host the Ottawa BlackJacks on May 23 at 8 pm ET and the Calgary Surge hosting a game in the Saddledome for the second year in a row, this time during the Calgary Stampede on July 9 at 9:30 pm ET.
The Niagara River Lions will be looking to defend their title, emerging as the Champs in a tough matchup against the Vancouver Bandits last August. With much of the same core they had last year, they should have the momentum to build on that success. Jahvon Blair, Nathan Cayo, Elijah Lufile, Kimbal Mackenzie, Omari Moore, and Eddie Ekiyor were all significant contributors throughout last season and are all slated to return. The one defining difference is the absence of Khalil Ahmad, the reigning finals MVP. While their core is skilled and cohesive, the absence of Ahmad is their biggest weakness this season. The River Lions’ solution was to sign Ahmed Hill, a CEBL veteran who should be able to replace the production and facilitation.
In the West, the Vancouver Bandits are trying to emerge this year after a tough loss in the finals. Their backcourt with Duane Notice, Tristan Jass, and Shamar Givance will be a defensive challenge for every team in the league. Paired with Australian import Mitch Creek, returning big man James Karnik, and a solid core, their sights are set on no less than the chip this season.
One team that hasn’t gotten enough respect over the last couple of years is the BlackJacks. The last two years, they’ve been eliminated in the playoffs by the eventual champion, but have retooled their roster while resigning much of their core as well. Tevin Brown, last year’s Clutch Player of the Year, along with Tyrell Tate, Deng Adel, Isaih Moore, Meshack Lufile, Keevan Venoit, and Matt Coleman III, are all returning. They’ve added former champions Zane Waterman and Nikola Djongo, and newcomers Shakur Daniels, Wheza Panzo, Miryne Thomas and Rudi William,s who could all be difference-makers for the team this season. Their consistency is one of the keys to this roster and their biggest advantage.
So, who will it be? Only time will tell, but no time like the present to get in on the action, and get to know the teams and the players that are making the CEBL so exciting. The best part? It all starts tonight at 6 pm ET.