After a couple days rest and time to travel into southern Ontario, the Winnipeg Sea Bears split back to back games over the Brampton Honey Badgers and Niagara River Lions. Both games saw contrasting versions of the Winnipeg Sea Bears, each of which we have seen this summer already. In their first matchup against the Honey Badgers, Winnipeg struggled to score consistently, while also playing good defence. The game never got away from either team and it was a close contest throughout. The best stretch of offence for the Sea Bears was during Target Time, in which they raced out to a 89-82 lead, with the Target Score set at 91. Even with this veteran team, execution late was sup par. Many missed free throws by Chad Posthumus, a couple turnovers, and some silly fouls saw Brampton tie the game up at 90. Luckily enough, Teddy Allen came to the rescue to seal it for Winnipeg, and extend their winning streak to 3. The following night was a much different story, along with how the team played. In the game against the River Lions, neither team early on could figure out how to get stops. Then Niagara was able to force some turnovers and bad shots, which lead to their run in the second quarter to take control of the game. Teddy Allen was even ejected in the quarter, which meant it was going to be harder for Winnipeg to get back in it. While they kept it close, not being able to get stops was a big issue in the Thursday game. The Sea Bears end up falling and their win streak ends at 3. With the little recap out of the way, let’s get into the three keys from the two matchups! Shutting Down Allen Both the Honey Badgers and River Lions were determined to make sure that Allen had a tough night when he had the ball. Both teams tried running box and one zones, blitzing him in pick and rolls, and anything else to slow him down. When Allen had the ball in his hands for longer periods of time, it caused chaos on Sea Bears possessions. Both opponents’ game plans were to see who else could beat them. In Bramptons case, they just could not score consistently, which is what did them in, along with Allen getting hot late in the game. But both teams created turnovers and chaos off of their work to limit Allen, which is something other teams will key in on. One way I would counter this would be to have Allen more off the ball and getting actions for him that way, rather than on ball pick and rolls constantly. Coach Mike Taylor turned to that in the Honey Badger game late, but it was sporadic. This could become a problem quickly if they don’t game plan around it. Up And Down Defence I’d like to preface this section by saying that the overall defence against the Honey Badgers was good. They got stops and it was consistent. What I think was the difference, and what we have seen so far this year is, depending on the guard play of the opponent, could dictate how good the defence is. Against Brampton, none of their guards really did too much damage, mainly because they weren’t being dominant on the ball. This allowed Winnipeg to set up properly and do a good job of containing them. But the complete opposite happened against Niagara. Jahvon Blair did anything he wanted in any pick and roll that he pleased. He got shots if he wanted, get got to the rim if he wanted, or he hit the roll man if he felt like it. Aaryn Rai did the same thing. This is a big issue that coach Taylor needs to fix and I believe it comes down to their PnR coverage. Hedging on screens is only allowing these more ball dominant guards to crab dribble and cover off their defender and allowing them more options. Consistent paint touches are going to kill you if you allow them. With many of the teams in this league having guards that have that ability, a change must be in order. Second Chance Opportunities One of the other big concerns that I have doesn’t so much have to do with the rebounding battle, but how some of these rebounds are playing out. You would look at the numbers and see that it was close in both games and it would not cause too much concern. But while you watch the game, many of the rebounds that the Sea Bears gave up in both matchups were offensive boards and second chances. It hurt them in both games and might become an issue. I understand that they are without Darius Days, who has been a great rebounder for them, but one singular player gone should not cause the team rebounding to go completely haywire. Winnipeg was the best rebound team last summer, and that does not seem to be the case this year. We saw glimpses of this in other games, but not to this extent. This flaw is going to hurt them the more it flares up. With those keys from the back to back out of the way, let’s go over individual performances. Teddy Allen Let’s start with the big one. While Allen still had a decent game against the Honey Badgers, there were no east buckets for him. Everything he put up he earned, and finally got hot late in that one. Same cannot he said against the River Lions. Aside from being ejected, (which I’m not going to get into because frankly, I’m as confused as the rest of us) Niagara forced the ball out of his hands and created turnovers. They did everything in their power to simply take him out of the game. All of his shots felt rushed or forced, and he never got into any sort of rhythm. I know he’s a tough shot taker, but not when you don’t even have a look at the rim. Turnovers are going to be a problem if he continues to play this way. Might really come back to bite them. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson JOJ has really found his groove here in the CEBL and it is so good to see. He’s scoring at all three levels, running the offence and being a playmaker. He’s even rebounding very well for his size, making an impact on every front. Hoping this continues because Winnipeg’s gonna need it. Byron Mullens Mullens’ performances are a pendulum swing. One night he’s fantastic, another just can’t get going. He was great in the game against Brampton, before it looked like getting injured and not checking back in. He was hitting shots, rebounding and protecting the rim. Exactly what you hope to get from him. But then in the game against Niagara, he just could not get a bucket to fall. He still rebounded, but it felt like Chad Posthumus was making a bigger impact on the floor. He did have six blocks, which all came later in the game. Hoping he can steady out. Shane Osayande Solid play as always for Osayande. Couple scores, some rebounds, and good defence. Can’t ask much more for a guy just trying to replace a bigger cog. Alex Campbell Campbell has been a great defender in every single game I have seen the Sea Bears play. Offensively has been a different story. He went scoreless in the matchup against the Honey Badgers, then was hot to start against Niagara. He followed up a decent first quarter was suffer for the following three. While the addition of David Muenkat should allow for less offence needed from Campbell, you hope that he still can hit some jump shots. Mason Bourcier Great two game set for Bourcier. Backed up JOJ perfectly. Nothing felt like it changed too drastically when he was in the game. Offensively wasn’t his best against Brampton, but certainly shined against the River Lions. The momentum he built seems to keep rolling which I think is huge. Sea Bears need him to be a high level guy. Simon Hildebrandt Tough first game of the back to back for Hildebrandt, two early fouls saw his day essentially end. Against Niagara, he looked much more comfortable and played a better game. Hoping more of the latter going forward. David Muenkat Great first impressions from Muenkat on this road trip. His surprise appearance saw him do a little bit of everything in both contests. He hit some shots, got to the rim, rebounded and even showed off some good defence. My only complaint may be that he took a couple too many shots, but not going to fault him, especially for that River Lions game with Allen out. Love what I have seen already from him. Chad Posthumus The man who might have been the MVP from this two game set. He helped steady the ship against the Honey Badgers, and even had some good stretches against the River Lions. While he wasn’t as overall effective in Niagara, he was still solid. As I’ve mentioned, in certain matchups he is still a very good player and we certainly saw that in the first game. He did miss three out of four free throws to win that one, but I’ll let it slide for his performance earlier in the game. Not sure how much more the Sea Bears can lean on him, but that will depend on matchups. Hoping he can get back to being a spot option for coach Taylor. All in all, the issues that I lined out in the beginning are most certainly fixable with some coaching adjustments, so I don’t feel as bad as you would if it was an issue with the roster. This is a veteran, poised team that’s going to continue to come out and compete. They have tons of talent that we know can get it done and I’m sure coach Taylor will make the appropriate adjustments, especially with the time they’ll now have. Winnipeg’s next game will now be across the country, continuing this four game road trip in Calgary against the Surge on Sunday afternoon.

As the NBA Finals capture the attention of basketball fans worldwide, Canada has a special reason to celebrate this year. Four talented Canadians have made their mark on the biggest stage in professional basketball. Oshae Brissett of the Boston Celtics and AJ Lawson, Dwight Powell, and Olivier Maxence-Prosper of the Dallas Mavericks represent not just their teams but the promise and potential of Canadian basketball. Their journeys from hometown heroes to NBA stars inspire young athletes across the country. This article highlights their paths and hometowns, shedding light on the roots of these exceptional players. Inspired by Shane Stirling of Vanguard. Oshae Brissett: Toronto's Pride Oshae Brissett's journey from the bustling streets of Toronto to the NBA Finals is a testament to his hard work and determination. Born and raised in Toronto, Brissett developed his game in the city's vibrant basketball scene. Toronto, known for its rich basketball culture, has produced numerous NBA talents, and Brissett is a shining example. Growing up, Brissett honed his skills at Athlete Institute in Orangeville, Ontario, a breeding ground for future stars. His high school success led him to Syracuse University, where he continued to impress with his athleticism and versatility. After declaring for the NBA Draft, Brissett faced challenges but eventually found his place with the Boston Celtics. His journey reflects the resilience and determination of Toronto's basketball community. AJ Lawson: Brampton's Rising Star AJ Lawson, a dynamic guard for the Dallas Mavericks, hails from Brampton, Ontario. Brampton, a city known for its diverse population and strong sports culture, has produced many top-tier athletes across various sports. Lawson's journey from Brampton to the NBA is a source of pride for his hometown. Lawson's basketball journey began at a young age, and he quickly became a standout player at GTA Prep, one of Canada's top basketball programs in it’s prime. His performance earned him a scholarship to the University of South Carolina, where he continued to develop his game. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Lawson worked tirelessly to secure his spot in the NBA with help from his agent Elias Sbiet. His perseverance paid off, and he now plays a crucial role for the Mavericks. Lawson's story inspires young athletes in Brampton, showing that dreams can come true with dedication and hard work. Dwight Powell: Toronto's Veteran Leader Dwight Powell, another Toronto native, brings experience and leadership to the Dallas Mavericks. Born in Toronto and raised in the city, Powell's basketball journey began at Earl Haig Secondary School. His talent and work ethic were evident early on, and he soon found himself playing for Stanford University. Powell's impressive college career led to his selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. Over the years, he has become a key player for the Mavericks, known for his versatility and defensive prowess. Powell's journey from Toronto to the NBA Finals is a testament to his commitment and determination. As a veteran leader, he serves as a role model for aspiring basketball players in Toronto and beyond. Olivier Maxence-Prosper: Montreal's Emerging Talent Olivier Maxence-Prosper, a promising forward for the Dallas Mavericks, represents Montreal, Quebec, on the NBA stage. Montreal, known for its vibrant culture and rich sports history, has seen a growing interest in basketball in recent years. Maxence-Prosper's rise to the NBA Finals showcases the city's burgeoning basketball talent. Maxence-Prosper began his basketball journey in Montreal, where he quickly stood out as a talented and hardworking player. His skills earned him a spot at NBA Academy Latin America, where he continued to develop his game. After a successful stint in the NCAA with Marquette University, he declared for the NBA Draft. Now, as a member of the Mavericks, Maxence-Prosper's journey inspires young athletes in Montreal, showing that the city can produce top-tier basketball talent. The Impact of Canadian Players in the NBA The presence of Oshae Brissett, AJ Lawson, Dwight Powell, and Olivier Maxence-Prosper in the NBA Finals highlights the growing influence of Canadian players in professional basketball. Their success is a testament to the quality of basketball development in Canada and the increasing popularity of the sport nationwide. These players' journeys from their respective hometowns to the NBA Finals demonstrate the importance of grassroots basketball programs, supportive communities, and the drive to succeed. Their achievements inspire the next generation of Canadian basketball players, showing that with hard work and dedication, they too can reach the pinnacle of the sport. As we watch the NBA Finals, let us celebrate the accomplishments of Oshae Brissett, AJ Lawson, Dwight Powell, and Olivier Maxence-Prosper. These four Canadians have made their mark on the biggest stage in professional basketball, representing their hometowns and their country with pride. Their journeys from Toronto, Brampton, and Montreal to the NBA Finals inspire young athletes across Canada, proving that dreams can become reality with hard work, dedication, and a supportive community. At The Maple Minute, we are proud to highlight the achievements of these remarkable players and look forward to following their continued success in the NBA and beyond. Their stories remind us of the power of perseverance and the bright future of Canadian basketball.

Justice Gordon, a talented guard transferring from Wayne State, recently made the decision to return to Canada and join the University of Windsor's basketball team under the guidance of head coach Chris Cheng. In an interview, Gordon shared insights into his motivations, the advantages of playing in a competitive Canadian environment, and the impact of Coach Cheng's coaching style on his decision and career goals. When asked about what motivated his decision to transfer from Wayne State and return to Canada to play for the University of Windsor, Gordon emphasized the importance of being home. “Being able to be back in Canada honestly just feels right. I’ve learned a lot in the NCAA, but nothing beats that ‘home’ feeling. Being a part of a family, Coach Cheng, and the rest of the staff and players have created that feeling for me during the recruiting process.” Gordon also highlighted how the University of Windsor's competitive environment would aid in his development and prepare him for a potential future in the CEBL via the USPORTS draft. He explained, “I think coming back and playing with a 24-second shot clock and adhering to FIBA rules will help with that transition as well. Coach Cheng has coached at many levels, and the knowledge he brings will guide me to become the best player I can be.” One of the key factors in Gordon's decision was Coach Cheng's personal approach to coaching and his ability to connect with players on a deeper level. Gordon elaborated on this, saying, "Coach Cheng has genuinely tried to build a connection with me as a person. He has helped me create new goals while making the transition across the border. This relationship allows me to receive constructive criticism, understanding that as a player, I see the game differently on the court.” Justice Gordon's return to Canada and his commitment to the University of Windsor signify a promising step in his basketball journey. With the supportive environment created by Coach Cheng and the competitive nature of Canadian basketball, Gordon is poised to develop his skills further and make a significant impact on the court. His decision not only reflects his desire to be closer to home but also his strategic approach to advancing his basketball career, potentially leading to success in the CEBL via the USPORTS draft.

Through two games at Canada Life Centre, the Winnipeg Sea Bears are 2-0. This time it was the starting five that came to play and got it done for the home side after a slower start. A strong second quarter saw them tie up the game, the Sea Bears then took control in the second half, which they rode to a comfortable victory. It took a quarter and a half once more for them to get going, but once they did they did not look back. They got lucky once more that their opponent didn't pull away early while they were struggling. As well as their offence getting going, the defence came alive and the Sea Bears started to string together scores and stops. When all cylinders were firing, it really felt like there was no way they were going to relinquish the game. This is a veteran team that is really starting to gel and definitely showing their experience as each game goes along. Let's get into the three keys from this one! Starting Five Coming Together I've already mentioned this a couple times, but I think it is so key that Winnipeg's starting five got into a rhythm in this one. Not only did Teddy Allen still get his shots, their flow allowed for three of the other four to get touches as well and they were effective with them. Allen, Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, Byron Mullens, and Darius Days combined for 82 of their 93 points. While that could be seen as a concern, we have now seen the bench and starters each have a game where they took over and got the job done. Best case scenario is that they find a solid balance between the two, but even if they don't it's good to see that either or can get the job done on their own. Ending Possessions After two straight games of rough defence, the Sea Bears figured out how to get stops and most importantly, end possessions on the first time of asking. While they didn't win the rebounding battle by a wide margin, certainly down the stretch they did what they needed to do. There were many more encouraging signs on their level of play defensively than there had been the first two games of the season. Tighter defence, tougher shots, much more to like and hopefully some momentum on that end of the floor. First Half Three Point Woes While Winnipeg ended up shooting 35% from three, seven of their ten makes came in the second half. Both of the first two home games have seen the Sea Bears get going from beyond the arc in the third quarter, in which they've used it as an offensive weapon. This is more nit picking, but if they can hit a couple more threes in the first two quarters, then they would probably be up more at the half. But we've seen them hit shots more so in the second half, which isn't too much of an issue. I have a good feeling they'll figure it out and do a flip in form. It would just make their lives easier if they could. With that out of the way, let's get into the individual performances on the night! Teddy Allen Well, unfortunately the 40 point game streak has come to an end but that does not mean Allen didn't do his thing. 27-5-6 is still a great performance, but those six turnovers worry me a little. He is going to have a little more than anyone else on the team because of how many times he touches the ball, but still. Otherwise, MVP gonna MVP. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson JOJ has definitely arrived. That second half against the Shooting Stars seemed to have ignited his play, and he is helping Allen not have to do it by himself. 20 points and six assists is super solid. Target Time winner to go along with it, and not a bad way to cpa off a great performance. If he can keep it up, we won't have to have a conversation about the guard position this summer. Byron Mullens A much better complete performance from Mullens on Saturday night. This coincides with more touches, but he did make the most of his chances in the game. He showed off his range, hitting a couple jumpers, use his length and athleticism to stay in the game against a smaller team. Definitely had stretches where he looked dominant. Now he just needs to find a way to string that into a full game. Hoping like JOJ, a game like this helps his confidence and is a stepping stone for him. Darius Days Solid game from Days, who has also improved game by game as the time has gone on. 18 shot attempts is a little high for me, but if he is creating offence, then that is totally fine with me. Another double double for him as well? Sign me up for more games like this. 14 rebounds is fantastic. Days must have also read that I challenged him to hit at least two threes in each game and he certainly did that in this one. Hoping he can keep it up because I think he might be a lowkey X-factor for this squad. Alex Campbell The last of the five starters, it was an alright performance for Campbell. He did play good defence in this one without fouling, but didn't do too much on offence. While he didn't have to, you would hope he would take advantage of the chances he did get. But I'm sure that will come around. He already looked much better than in the home opener. Mason Bourcier Bourcier didn't get on the board in this one, but he filled the box score everywhere else. Six rebounds, four assists, solid defence and good guard play is good to see. We've seen the baskets fall so I'm not too concerned with the goose egg there. Simon Hildebrandt Three rebounds is the only stat registered on the sheet for Hildebrandt. Not even a field goal attempt recorded either, which is surprising. I wouldn't anticipate that happening again, especially when Winnipeg needs him. Played decent defence which is encouraging. They didn't need the bench on this night, but I would hazard a guess they will down the line and Hildebrandt is going to be pivotal to that. Shane Osayande A very short outing for Osayande so it's hard to be picky on his performance. I hope his minutes don't get cut too short with the eventual arrival of David Muenkat and now Emmanuel Akot, but we will have to see. Chad Posthumus Posthumus was solid once again in limited minutes with six points and six rebounds. I've mentioned it so many times over the last two years, he brings so much energy and solid play, especially in those shorter minutes. Coach Mike Taylor has gotten so good on figuring out when to deploy him, and I hope that does not change. He had the only bench points in the game which makes his play even more valuable. All in all this was a big step in the right direction for the Sea Bears, as if we get the team from the second half and Target Time, we really have a championship caliber team on our hands. They just need to find a way to put it together for a full game before I start hedging my bets. Either way this a good, veteran basketball team that is going to get better as the summer goes along. Winnipeg's next game is Wednesday June 5th in Brampton against the Honey Badgers, which is the first of four games on the road.

Another weekend means another road trip to Alberta to evaluate the amazing talent that is being produced out west. This time I had the chance to catch up with many familiar faces in the Calgary basketball community and watch the Genesis Classic. With 300 teams competing, this tournament was huge. I focused on the loaded High School boys platinum division which featured 10 teams. The division was all loaded and some very good basketball was on display. These are the 10 players that caught my eye. Magnus Carlos Position: PG Height: 6'3 School: Vincent Massey (Winnipeg, MB) Club: Ignite (Winnipeg, MB) Class: 2026 This Grade 11 point guard showed an elite all-around game while competing against some amazing guards (profiles below) and leading his team to the tournament championship. Magnus had full control of the team at all times and consistently made the right play especially when facing full court pressure. He is an active defender, and showed the ability to knock down his shot whenever the opportunity arose. Nash Semeniuk Position: PG Height: 6'1 School: Kelowna Secondary Club: Goodwin Hoops Class: 2024 - University of Alberta commit There is a reason Coach Craddock has him signed at the U of A, he is smooth and makes his team go. He is a creative guard that was able to get to the rim with ease. Nash made his teammates better with every decision he makes and I can not wait to watch him for the next 5 years in CanWest play. Cason Scott Position: F Height: 6'7 School: Westsyde Secondary (Kamloops, BC) Club: Northern Bounce Class: 2025 Watching Cason, it is easy to see why NCAA D1 and USport coaches are already making him offers. The 6'7 forward uses his great athleticism and feel for the game to challenge every shot that comes his way. His offense is smooth and he can finish both in the paint and from the 3 point line. Marodama Benjamin Position: F Height 6'7 School: Edge Prep Club: Genesis Class: 2025 Marodama stands out the second you walk into the gym, he has fluid movement that just makes the game look so easy. He takes the ball effortlessly to the rim off the bounce and finishes with authority, add this to a good looking shooting stroke and he proves to be a tough player to defend. As i watched him throughout tournament, his rebounding really stood out as he attacked the ball and expected to get every missed shot. Birk Placsko Position: F Height: 6'5 School: Foothills Composite (Okotoks, AB) Club: FYB (Okotoks, AB) Class: 2026 Birk battled all weekend against some great competition and held his own. He was able to make an impression with his energy and ability to get out on the break quickly. The pick and roll game is where he truly excelled, his knack for setting good hard screens and efficient footwork on the roll gave him plenty of easy looks. Julius Holmes Position: G Height: 5'11 School: Lillian Osbourne (Edmonton, AB) Club: Good Hoops Class: 2027 Julius was everywhere on the court all weekend. The high motor guard plays with a reckless abandon that is a delight to watch. He pushes the pace on the break, finds ways to finish at the rim through all sorts of contact, and isn't afraid to mix it up in the paint on defense. This grade 10 is someone we will have to keep an eye on because there is no doubt he will continue to refine his skills and make an impact. Muhammad Omar Position: G/F Height: 6'5 School: WCPA Club: Good Hoops Class: 2025 This is second weekend I have gotten to see Muhammad and he played big for his Good Hoops team in Calgary. With some of his teammates travelling to EYCL games, I saw Muhammad really show the ability to step up and score the ball. He is an explosive finisher and threw down some big dunks but it was his physicality that really stood out to me. He anticipates well on defense and makes the game very tough on his opponents. Karan Singh Position: G Height: 6'1 School: O'Leary (Edmonton, AB) Club: NexGen (Edmonton, AB) Class: 2025 Karan had a great weekend leading a very good NexGen team. His ability to shoot the ball as well as set his teammates up showed why he should be not still be unsigned. If you aren't familiar with Karan's game be sure to look for Harrison Paulichuk's article here on the Maple Minute published this week. Reed Jakubiszyn Position: G Height: 6' School: Strathmore (Strathmore, AB) Club: PEAK (Airdrie, AB) Class: 2024 Reed is an unsigned gem that just graduated high school. He has good size for a guard, shot the ball well and was able to finish inside in a variety of ways. He would be a good late signing depth guard for a CCAA program still looking. Dillyn Morin Position: G Height: 6'1 School: Walter Murray (Saskatoon, SK) Club: Rise Above (Regina, SK) Class: 2024 University of Saskatchewan commit I have saved Dillyn for last this review as I have been watching him play for almost 3 years now. Dillyn is the ultimate competitor and only has one gear - full intensity. His step back 3's and lightning quick drives make him an offensive juggernaut. No matter what team he is on, he finds a way to blend in and make an impact. The U of S have a good one here and I am excited to watch him play for another 5 years.

It’s hard to say if I’ve ever been inside a building with more energy than the one on Friday night in Winnipeg. Tied at 106, Jackson Rowe of the Scarborough Shooting Stars has a chnace with two free throws to win the game, as the Target Score was 107. With the noise of the crowd, whether that was boos, boom sticks, or just plain yelling, somehow Rowe missed both free throws and the game stayed tied. A rebound from Teddy Allen saw him push the ball in transition, draw two defenders in the paint and hit Alex Campbell in the corner for a three, which of course he drained. That three put Campbell over 1000 points for his CEBL career and made him the first Canadian to eclipse thag mark. It was an incredible moment that was the perfect cap for a home opener that was a little up and down for the Winnipeg fans. Both teams led by 10 or more at multiple points in the game and neither really took control. Both CEBL stars and newcomers had their moments in this one and it was most definitely a show. Here are the three keys from this game! Out Of This World Allen Look, I normally don't have singular players as a key to a game, but after two outstanding performances, Teddy Allen deserves it. In both Wednesday's and Friday's game, Allen was unbelievable in just doing whatever he wishes. This season in particular it isn't just his scoring he is showcasing, he's doubling down on the rebounding as well as playmaking. His defence is still a little shaky at times, but he's jumping into passing lanes even better through two games. The Sea Bears would not have been in that game in Saskatchewan or come back at home without his efforts. While Allen can't do it all by himself, he may have done enough for the rest of the guys around him to start getting up to speed. Inconsistent Defence One of the aspects of Winnipeg's game they are still working on is their defence. While it wasn't as bad as it was in Saskatchewan, they still need to figure out what they want to do in the pick and roll. Kadre Gray was banged up and came off the bench in this one for Scarborough, but still had any options he wanted when he had the ball in his hands. You could extend this to Shamar Givance or any of the other players who took a ball screen. Three point defence at times was also a little shaky, leaving a couple guys wide open. Lob in transition defence that was leaky as well and you have some of the problems that plagued Winnipeg in this game. Of course they win the game and tightened up on that end of the floor, which ended up being a reason they got back into it. Still a work in progress, but at least there were flashes in the home opener, which was much different than the season opener. 0-15??? This isn't going to happen often with a professional team (unless your the Houston Rockets of the late 2010's) where you miss your first 15 THREES of the game. It took until two and a half minutes left before the half for Teddy Allen to put the Sea Bears on the board in that category. Even with Scarborough hitting many of their threes in the first half, the game was tied at 48 going into the break. Winnipeg bounced back and hit 50% of their threes in the second half, which ended up helping them stay with the Shooting Stars. I don't expect another 0-15 game at any point in this season with how good their shooters are, but it really dried up their offence for a while when they didn't hit. Good to see that they bounced back in the second half, but a game like that can't happen again. On another day, they would have gotten buried. With those keys out of the way, let's move onto the individual player performances! Teddy Allen Averaging 40.5, 10.0, 5.0 with 1.5 steals through two games is unreal. The MVP gonna MVP. That's really all there is to say. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson Overall this was a better game for Ogungbemi-Jackson than his CEBL debut. While the first have was beginning to look eerily similar to his first, he went on his own little seven point run and with that he seemed to find his footing. He looked much more calm, poised and found his rhythm in the second half. He really looked like the player we had hoped he'd be in this one. Darius Days This one is a little harder to formulate a full opinion on. This was another game in which I thought Days looked good at times, but also made some interesting decisions that led to not so great plays. A double double was solid and he finished well inside once more. Defending was still a question mark and his shot selection was still a little puzzling. At times it also felt like he disappeared from the game. Took him until the second half to also hit a three, which was his only one of the night. The Sea Bears need him to hit at least two a night to really be effective. Days still has tons of time to get things going and I'm sure he will. Byron Mullens Mullens seemed to be a step behind in this one. It was a tough matchup to begin with for him, having to guard the extra mobile athlete Hason Ward. He struggled in pick and roll defence, and just could not be a net even by hitting his three point attempts. He got a couple post looks early on in the third quarter, which I thought he did decently well with. I think the struggle for coach Mike Taylor is, he wants to establish Mullens down low early, it just hasn't happened yet. Hoping that gets going because I think it would add another layer of offence Winnipeg can go to when they're jumper is cold. He did have two big blocks, but that was the most of his impact. Alex Campbell The man who almost fouled out. You can blame JOJ for that one. Both of them got their foul counts mixed up, but it got sorted out by the referees. While it wasn't the best night for Campbell overall, he did hit two important threes and obviously one of them was the game winner. Hoping the end of the game is a springboard for him because his defence wasn't always there. Great moment and congratulations on 1000 career CEBL points. Simon Hildebrandt Another solid game for Hildebrandt. Had a very nice and one early on in his stint on the floor, hit a three (would have had two if he didn't step out of bounds) and made some really nice plays on defence. I will admit that he gets moved around sometimes down low, but he is so good at drawing charges whether with a players back to the basket, or driving at him. Hildebrandt has looked so solid for Winnipeg off the bench in these first two games, which should give coach Taylor even more confidence to play him a ton of minutes. Mason Bourcier I asked coach Taylor after the game what he thought of Bourcier's performance and he was super pleased with his play and hoped that would continue. I will second that motion as I thought he had a great game. He was aggressive driving to the hoop, making a couple of tough finishes, he hit a three and played great defence. He got a lot of minutes down the stretch of the game in place of Campbell, and I do hope that happens from time to time. It really felt like he and Hildebrandt at times turned the game around with their play and that's what you hope you can get from a good bench. Chad Posthumus Once again Posthumus did not play very much in this one, but his fresher legs made a couple of plays, cleaning up a few rebounds and even had a post score. His energy and hard work is nice to have as a change of pace off the bench. Hard to play him over Hildebrandt though when the young Bison offers more. Shane Osayande Not a great game from Osayande, even though he grabbed three offensive boards. Coach Taylor just didn't get what he hoped from him on the night, but it was good that Hildebrandt made up for it. I would assume that it'll be tough for him not to follow this up with a better game, especially with his play style. Overall the first half of the game was as close to a nightmare as it could have been, safe for it being a tie game at the break. The second half for Winnipeg was much much better and showcased what they were really about. Hopefully this is the game that gets them going, as we see looking at the standings, the West is really strong. Their short turn around becomes a week long break for the Sea Bears, as they aren't in action until Saturday June 1st at home against the Ottawa Blackjacks.

PG - 6’1 - Archbishop O’Leary/NexGen Basketball - C/O 2025 The final buzzer rings through a small school gym in Red Deer signalling the end of a heated fifth-place Provincials match. With this buzzer came the end of the regular school season for two teams who both fell short of their Provincial title aspirations. Archbishop O’Leary from Edmonton came out on top in this match, winning by two points in a game that went to the buzzer. This may not have been the finish that everyone had hoped for, but this was far from an unsuccessful season for their program. One of the most exciting things on display for this O’Leary team was the all-star calibre play that came from their senior, star point guard, Karan Singh. Karan averaged 23/4/4 with 3.8 steals per game this season, earned a tournament MVP award at the Sir Winston Churchill Tournament, and was named to the Edmonton Stingers All-Star Showcase roster. After his star-studded regular season with the Spartans, Karan has taken his talents to the NexGen basketball club out of Edmonton to round out his high school career. Karan is the type of player that any coach would love to have on their roster. He is an athletic, 6’1, point guard who loves to push the tempo and can run an offence with ease. This young man has a confident composure with the ball in his hands that was forged through a history of playing at an elite level. He grew up playing basketball and has experienced the highest levels of ball including a year abroad playing in the States (Which is a whole different type of game). Back in the summer of 2023, he was recruited to play prep down in Florida. This short, yet impactful season visibly moulded his game through his tough defence and hustle on the court. Nothing is handed to players at the prep level and everything a player wanted, including play time, had to be earned. Playing in a hard-nosed system like he did down south helped shape the type of hard worker that Karan is today. Playing ball is the first thing that Karan does when he wakes up in the morning and the last thing that he does before bed. Karan is a student of the game who lives and breathes basketball. He models his game and floor general presence off NBA players such as Kyrie Irving and Devin Booker. Two players who are next to none at shot creation and reading defences. This offensive IQ allows him to play his game and thrive as a three-level scoring threat, spreading defences thin. His mid-range pull-up is his self-proclaimed strongest shot and is a rare find in a game that seems to have often neglected the importance of a mid-range game over a three-point shot. Don’t sleep on his perimeter shooting though, as I have seen him hit shots far beyond the high school three-point line when needed. The shooting along with an impressive show of athleticism for his size allows him to comfortably run a fast-paced offence and finish in acrobatic ways that are needed for a smaller guard. As much as he has already shown on the court, he is still always working to improve. He works out three times a day most days, twice on the court and once in the weight room utilising every minute of the day that he can to work on his game. Anyone who knew Karan in earlier years or has watched his progress knows how far he has come even in a short period. His high school coach explained to me that the largest growth in his game came while he was away in the States playing prep and was not on the offensive end. At the start of his high school career, he was the one that teams would seek out on the defensive end for a favourable matchup and this was one of the weakest parts of his game. In the final year, the one that mattered most, Karan became a guy that the coach would look at to get stops on even the strongest offensive perimeter threats. He has a strong eye for steals and reads the play in a way that allows him to take advantage of weaker offensive players and strip the ball. Working on an offensive game for most players is easy, especially when you are already naturally skilled at it. It takes dedication and grit to be able to improve drastically and work on something that you are not good at, and for Karan, this was his defence. His coach could not stress enough how large of a jump this was and how much of an impact it made on their season. Basketball is Karan’s biggest hobby and main passion. The love for the game stems back to his childhood, where his father first introduced him to the game of basketball. His dad was always his number one fan growing up and is one of the biggest reasons that he played. The love for the game that was shared between the two of them has never been more important since the tragic passing of his father during his grade 10 season. This devastating loss forced Karan to take time for himself and his family back home in India. Throughout this period, Karan unfortunately missed a good portion of his school year and basketball season. Missing a whole semester during a largely developmental year has forced Karan to work overtime just to keep up with other kids in his class. This effort level and life experience have only made him stronger and set him apart from others as he developed an even stronger work ethic on, and off the court. Skill level aside, Karan has a why; he plays for his dad. Josh McJannet, his high school coach, has never had a kid go through as much as Karan has and is so proud of how far he's come since. This is a player who carries a sense of maturity that is rare for kids his age and makes an immensely positive impact while he is on the court. After chatting with both Karan and his coach individually, I was able to piece together a portrait of a stand-up guy and a phenomenal athlete that deserves to find a program that can support him on and off the court. “Basketball aside, he's a kid that truly deserves to be in a great situation. I love him like a son. I hope he finds somewhere that contributes to his life success and basketball success alike” (Coach McJannet). This athlete is one of the premier point guards in the province and he will be the hardest-working athlete on any team that he signs with. Growth is not a question with Karan, and he will never stop looking to improve himself. He has had interest from a few programs already but is still unsigned for his post-graduate career. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at hpaulichuk@gmail.com if you are interested in Karan joining your program and I would be more than happy to discuss and pass along information and game tape!

The 2024 season got underway for the Winnipeg Sea Bears in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Wednesday night with quite the hitch. A very slow start saw Winnipeg down early, and got themselves into a hole they never really dug out of. Despite the heroic efforts of Teddy Allen, who once again showed why he was MVP a year ago, the Sea Bears sputtered on both ends of the floor. Never being able to string stops and scores together, only ever doing one or the other. While it was a frustrating first game, there were still some positives to take from it. With that being said, let’s go over the three keys from this game, then we will dive into individual player performances! Leaky Defence Coach Mike Taylor’s emphasized in the offseason that he wanted his team to be better defensively, and he tried to bring in the players accordingly. Well, in the first half of this game, that certainly did not look like the case. The Sea Bears were once again getting beat in transition, the pick and pop game, and even shooting the three ball. They looked sluggish, a little slow on rotations, and it just seemed like communication was lacking at times. While that last part should come with time, it was really rough to watch. The most important thing I want to point out is this: last summer when coach Taylor was signed by Winnipeg that his pick and roll/pop defence might be an issue. It was at times in 2023, but not very prevalent. In the game against Saskatchewan, I’m sure if the Rattlers had wanted to, they could have kept running pick and pop while getting any looks they wanted off of it. Too many open threes for the roll man, and if the guard didn’t give it up, he had time and space to do what he wanted. But that’s what comes with not switching on screens and rather hedging hard, trying to get back and give time for the defensive guard to get around the screen. With a lot of the teams in the CEBL having shooting bigs, it could really hurt Winnipeg this summer. We will see if coach Taylor makes some adjustments. Shot Selection This was also a topic of 2023, with select players last year not taking the best shots on many possessions. That felt like the case Wednesday night as well, with some of the new acquisitions not always making the right play and forcing up shots when they didn’t need to. It made it hard for the offence to get into a flow and allow everyone else on the floor to get going. We all know that Teddy Allen is going to get his shots up, but when he puts up 40 points, you can live with a couple duds. As for others, you need to make sure that your shots count when you put them up. With a team as high of IQ, I expect more from them this year. Hopefully they can correct it on Friday at home. Target Time A Success? I don’t want to make all three of these keys to be negative, so let’s talk about one of the positives. Besides Allen going nuclear and almost single handedly winning the game for the Sea Bears, I thought Target Time was managed decently well by the newcomers. For the most part they didn’t panic, they made smart decisions and ultimately it helped them get back into the game. When the clock turned off, I think it was their best stretch of the game. Just unfortunate that they were already too far behind to make a full comeback. Solid foundation to build on, with the chance they can use that as a spring board. With my three keys out of the way, let’s hop into the individual player performances on the night. Teddy Allen Welcome back MVP. 40 point double double for Allen in a game he dominated from start to finish. While he did have six turnovers, they were mainly on players where he was trying to create. With him being the only creator of offence on Wednesday, I can live with that. Good to see he’s picking up right where he left off in 2023. Also the first time he’s put up 40+ in a loss. Darius Days Let’s talk about one of the newcomers here. Days had an up and down performance in his Sea Bears debut. He finished well in the paint, a couple of them through contact, but launched a couple of threes which put him at 2-8 on the night from behind the arc. His shot selection at times was a little iffy and it seemed to frustrate Allen a little bit. If he can reign in the shots a little and get a couple more stops, I think he’ll be just fine. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson Not the prettiest of debuts for Jackson with the eyes, but the box score tells a little bit of a different story. 12 points and seven assists is a solid outing for the point guard. He seemed quite shaken to begin the game, but ultimately grew into it as it went on. Thought Target Time was the best chunk of time on the night for him. 4-11 isn’t pretty, but a lot of that was early on in the game. He’s a true professional and should bounce back from this. Would be great to see him have a night on home floor for the first time. Byron Mullens Bit of mixed feelings for Mullens debut. He didn’t get the touches I thought he would, and didn’t really make the most of the ones he did get. He did hit a three, which is a very welcoming sign. The best bright spot for his game on the night was his defence in the paint. He was a little shaky on the perimeter, but Mullens’ rim protection was really good. Four blocks and two of them saved big buckets. I do hope that coach Taylor can find a way to incorporate him into the offence more. I really liked when he had the chance to showcase his passing ability, an underrated part of his game. Alex Campbell It was a rough debut for Campbell, who is still six points away from hitting 1000 in his CEBL career. A couple early fouls really took him out of the game and made it harder for him to play defence. He still gets some stops later on, got a couple rebounds and assists, but never really looked comfortable. Hopefully he can bounce back on Friday night and shut down the guards for Scarborough. Simon Hildebrandt While it wasn’t the perfect return for Hildebrandt, I thought that he had a good game. He looked even more like he belonged and impacted the game in a positive way. His one three on the night was an important one that helped Winnipeg get back on track and force a timeout out of the Rattlers. Thought besides Chad Posthumus that he had the most impact off the bench. Mason Bourcier Safe from the fourth quarter and Target Time, I felt like Bourcier didn’t have too much of an impact on the game. I’m hoping he gets some more usage because I thought he fit in quite well with the rest of the team and really helped change the pace for the better. Hopefully Bourcier gets more touches and little bit more run than Wednesday. Shane Osayande While he didn’t have a huge impact on the game, I though Osayande had a good game. He was even keel, played good defence and didn’t make mistakes. Liked how he was used sparingly to leverage his play. Chad Posthumus Posthumus played the least amount of time out of all the bench players for the Sea Bears and I think he had the most impact. He drew the defence into the paint, played with energy, rebounded and even scored on his first touch. Hoping he gets a little more time on Friday because I think he’ll make an impact again. Daren Watts The final player to talk about got the chance to make him professional debut. Watts was surprisingly one of the first players off the bench for coach Taylor after having a good camp for Winnipeg. While his performance was a little disappointing, this was still valuable experience for him. He looked a little out of his element and got beat multiple times for easy buckets on defence. He may get another chance on Friday with Tyler Sagl still injured and David Muenkat still in Germany. I do hope if he gets another opportunity that he seizes it. A disappointing opener is followed by a quick turn around as Friday night is the Sea Bears first home game of the summer. They’re going to need to quickly forget about Wednesday’s loss and be ready for a battle with the reigning champions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars. Tip-off is set for 7:30 and is available on TSN, TSN+ and CEBL+. If you have a ticket for this sellout game, enjoy! Should be a good one.

Edmonton, Alberta - All basketball seasons have their ups and downs, but the title of city champions is reserved for only the greatest teams at the end of each season. The stage was set for a thrilling championship match between an underdog success story of Ross Sheppard school and an undefeated first place team in Saint Francis Xavier (ST FX). It was anyone's best guess as to how this game was going to play out and, on a cold, snowy Saturday evening, hundreds of local basketball fans, students, and families showed up at the home of the Edmonton Stingers (Flair Airlines Hangar) to find out. Both teams had earned themselves a berth at provincials through simply winning their semi-finals playoff game and making the city finals; that didn't take away from any anticipation going into this game. City champion was still a huge honour and, in a year where Edmonton had three 4a provincially ranked teams this game was important for both programs. Each team had something to prove going into this game and wanted to walk away with some new hardware for their trophy cases. The ST FX Rams came into this championship game feeling good about themselves. They had just completed an undefeated regular season in league play with an average margin of victory of 29 ppg and came out on top of both their first two playoff matches wielding a comfortable 15.5-point playoff victory margin. They have one of the most balanced teams in the city and according to their head coach, Brad Farish, they have the best defence in the province. Led by their four veteran anchors they have prided themselves on being a very disciplined and hard-working squad that doesn't stop pushing the tempo until the final buzzer has sounded. This final was no joke for their team as the past two seasons had ended in unfortunate heartbreak that they wanted to finally overcome. Last season they lost their first-round matchup by just two points and the season prior, that they had a chance to seal a finals berth with a couple of missed late-game free throws, leaving them on the wrong side of a miraculous half-court buzzer beater for the win. This is a team that wanted to prove that they had put in enough work over the past two seasons to finally earn the title of city champions. The Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds on the other side, are a historically strong basketball school with a solid coaching staff that always seems to get the job done when it matters. This group had a solid showing over the regular season finishing third in league play and competing in several high-level tournaments. Archbishop O'Leary seemed to be the clear favourite to win the semi final matchup against Ross Sheppard, being the fifth ranked team provincially after previously being first seed earlier in the year. I can't speculate too much about what transpired during that game as I was not personally there. What I do know though, is that the game was a hard-fought contest between both squads and ended up in a layup at the buzzer from Kai Dunkley, Ross Shep's starting point guard and one of the best senior guards in Edmonton. The one thing that this Thunderbirds squad brought with them into the finals was grit and hustle. They may not have been the higher seed in their match or one of the best teams in the province, but they were a team that would keep fighting the whole game and was capable of beating even the strongest team, given the chance. You have to outwork Ross Shep if you want to truly beat them. Hustle and heart were never too much to ask for from a veteran ST FX team, and in a packed arena with their lossless regular season record on the line, they came out swinging. FX caught fire early on both ends. As a team that spreads out the offensive load among their team and prides itself on their defence, they brought exactly what anyone would expect. Scoring was coming from everyone and not a single offensive player stood out as the go-to weapon in the first half. This earned them a commanding first-half lead. The offence wasn't even the best part of the Ram's game as their stifling defence held Ross Sheppard to under ten points in the first quarter, providing them an 18-point lead going into the break. They had strong defenders at every position on the floor but were led by their floor general in Kalan Smith, a senior guard who, according to FX's head coach, is "one of the best defenders in all of Alberta". Kalan leads by example and helps run the floor on both ends with confidence and leadership that never faltered all game. With a defensive system that had every player smothering opponents and limiting shots in the paint, FX left Ross Shep “looking lost” offensively and left to the locker rooms feeling pretty good about how they had come out in such a big game. Throughout the season FX played phenomenal team basketball and this first half put this on display. No single player was the offensive weapon, and everyone appeared to be gelling and working together flawlessly. The coaching staff are huge fans of FIBA basketball and their coaching style reflected that. The overabundance of teamwork and hustle on both ends of the floor was exemplified throughout the season for ST FX and was especially apparent in this first half of play. A huge credit goes to the coaching staff for doing a great job at instilling these values and creating a culture of hard work that paid off over the past three years. The depth of this team was also proven as they were missing one of their best regular season players during a large portion of the finals due to foul trouble; and were able to adjust their game plan effortlessly to continue their domination of the first half. The player in foul trouble in the first half was Aleks Popovic. This grade 11 starting center for the Rams was a key piece to this team's success all season and had shown significant improvement over the season. When I watched him at the start of the season, I had several questions and concerns over his play style and IQ. Seeing him in the finals, Popovic seemed to have pulled a 180 from that first game. His shot selection was phenomenal, he was using his size to his advantage, and he was out-rebounding everyone on the floor with ease. According to Coach Brad, he wasn't even playing his best brand of basketball in the finals, due mostly to foul trouble. In the two playoff games before this, he scored over 25 points and averaged 17 rebounds per game, using his size and length to alter several opponents' shots in the process. When asked about Aleks, Coach Brad had the following to say, "[Aleks] dominated this league as a grade 11 in my opinion and he did it without even fully believing in himself. I think the more he believes in himself the more you're gonna see the real potential of what Aleks has". Going into Provincials, Popovic is going to be one to watch, especially going into next season. This is just one of FX's players who should be a household name for post-secondary scouts as long as he keeps developing as I think he will. After going into the half with such a commanding lead it would have been easy for the Rams to go into the second half overconfident, allowing the Thunderbirds to catch them off guard. Instead, and to Ross Sheppard's dismay, ST FX came out even harder than they did in the first half. The Rams started the third quarter pressing the guards, forcing several turnovers, pushing the tempo in transition, running the fast break, and getting easy points every chance they could. This may have been one of the most impressive parts of the game for me. For anyone who followed this team over the season, this should be no surprise. This is exactly what the team was trained for and how they try to play every game. Every one of the seniors has bought into a hustle culture and a defence-first mindset from day one, which has been a major contributing factor to their deep playoff run and undefeated regular season. Not too long after this second-half push from the Rams, Ross Shep decided to finally come alive and push back. They started hitting their stride and went on a run of over ten unanswered points and it seemed they had finally adjusted to the Stingers home court and found their range from deep. The three-point shot is a vital part of the Thunderbirds game and when their shots start to drop it’s hard to slow them down. Kai Dunkley put the exclamation point on this run by hitting a contested three far beyond the high school three-point line and making it look effortless. The Thunderbirds seemed like they finally had it, and it appeared the tides were starting to shift in their favour. As Coach Brad preached though, the Rams never looked nervous and just kept pushing and looking for ways to end this run. Someone had to rise to the occasion and stop the bleeding for ST FX and in one of the biggest games of his high school career to date, rookie, and starter, Nathan Yamba-Yamba came alive. He made back-to-back three-pointers and used his length to block a drive to the hoop in the process to slow this Thunderbirds run to a halt. This type of commanding play is something you would expect to come out of a vet in a high-stakes game such as this, rather than a rookie. Yamba-Yamba being the spark plug in this scenario was extremely impressive to me, which speaks volumes for the potential and confidence that this kid has. Yamba-Yamba is a 6 '6'’ wing with guard-like handles and a motor that doesn't stop. He hustles for every board and loose ball and can shoot the lights out from deep. “In that [championship] game, he showed up…it’s a big game that would make the most normal kids nervous…I’m not saying that it’s a surprise. He was [just] Nathan” (Coach Brad). This type of high-level competition and experience that the team will get heading into the provincial weekend will be a huge learning experience and should have Nathan looking like a stand-out next season, more than he already is. Basketball is a game of runs. In this championship game, FX was able to capitalize on all of theirs and finish the game strong. Taking their last third quarter right to the final buzzer and earning their first division one city championship since the 2016/17 season. A fitting end to a dominant regular season and, after the previous season's heartbreak, this was a well-deserved victory. The team celebrated in the moment, but everyone knew that the job wasn't finished. The end goal for this team was still winning a provincial title, and after a strong showing in this league final, the Rams had to be feeling confident moving forward. The first seed provincially in the final rankings are the Raymond Comets. Earlier in the season the Rams played the Comets and though they lost in a close game, Coach Brad was still feeling confident against their competition. "Raymond played hard and won. We were up for most of the game, and we lost in the fourth. They had a home-crowd advantage. It was a very competitive and favourable environment for Raymond, so I like our chances". When asked what was going to make them stand out from the pack in provincials, Coach Brad couldn’t stress enough about the importance of his group's defensive prowess. This group has one of the best defences in the province and is going to lean into this going into provincial championship weekend. The other part of this team that the coach stressed multiple times during my interview with him was how deep this team's offensive arsenal is. They do not have a single star player that they rely on each game and save the day when they are in need. They have an entire team of polished and skilled players that each individually has a chance to go off in any given game. The coach described this as a blessing and a curse as it is every coach's dream to have such a deep roster, but it hurts the individual player's chances of getting recognized by scouts due to the unselfish nature of their game. This style of play was not going to change heading into the provincial championship weekend though. "At this point, we have had success. We won our city, we did well in the playoffs, and we have gotten into a good position with these teams. Now, it's just continuing to improve and commit". They have an identity as a defensive team and are going to lean into this and capitalize on that going into next weekend. This championship was well-deserved for the Rams, and I look forward to watching them in Red Deer over provincials’ weekend. I want to send a huge thanks out to Coach Brad for sitting down with me for an interview this week and look forward to covering the ST FX team more going forward! If anyone reading this would like me to cover their team or would like to have a conversation with me, please feel free to email me at hpaulichuk@gmail.com. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it!

We are just one day away from the 2024 CEBL season getting underway! Having gone through each of the ten teams rosters over that same time period, it is time that I do my complete overview for the entire league for the season! This article will cover what I think will be the major storylines of the summer and where I think the final standings will sit at. Before we get going, a final congratulations to the Scarborough Shooting Stars for being the current reigning champions. Let's see if you can be the second franchise to ever repeat. Without further adieu, let's get into the things to watch for 2024! Upgraded Talent Across The Board One note I wanted to make is that not only do the top teams in this league have immensely good rosters, the league seems to have upgraded as a whole. We have entered a new era here in the CEBL, just six years in. This league is starting to attract many of the top talents across the world and especially in it's own country. While there are tiers of teams, the gap between them does not seem very vast because the level of player has been improved as a whole. We saw a high level of basketball in year five, and that level of play is only going to be better this summer. The CEBL as a league should be proud of their achievement and excited for what it will do for their exposure. The Title Fight Is A Quartet After having sung the league's praises for their overall increased talent level on this summers rosters, let's dig into who are the real contenders in 2024. Out of the CEBL's ten teams, there are four of them that has the potential to hoist the title at Championship Weekend in Montreal. The Niagara River Lions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars, the Winnipeg Sea Bears, and the Edmonton Stingers. Those four to me have the best built rosters, with the best makeup of Canadians and imports. The reigning champs have added two of the best players from the Ottawa Blackjacks in Kadre Gray and Jackson Rowe, while bringing back Cat Barber and Kyree Walker. The River Lions add Nathan Cayo from the Montreal Alliance, while bringing back essentially the same squad from 2023. The Sea Bears return the reigning MVP Teddy Allen, while adding a lot more talent around him, which should allow for his load to be a little less than 2023. The Stingers brought back a mix of returnees, while also elevating the talent around Brody Clarke and Nick Hornsby. These four teams will be battling it out for CEBL supremacy in 2024 and challenging each other for top spot in their conferences. West Coast Sleeper One of the more anticipated teams last year has become one of the underrated squads this summer. The Vancouver Bandits struggled to get going in 2023 after lofty expectations. While having a better roster this year, many people are skeptical to have high expectations, based on last season. Bringing back Nick Ward, one of the best big men in the league is a plus. You also return the best player in U Sports Diego Maffia, who showed really well in his limited opportunities last summer. One of their biggest acquisitions was signing Kobe McEwen away from the Brampton Honey Badgers. New imports Zach Copeland and Taze Moore should be other contributors in the back court. All in all, expect this Bandits side t surprise some people and be higher in the standings, if they can put it all together. Predicted Standings It wouldn't be a CEBL overview article without some predictions for the upcoming year! I will preface that these are before the season has started and we have not seen any of the teams play one another. I will also note that each team will have a record beside their name and that is just a placeholder to give a sense of where I think they will finish. Without further adieu, here are my predictions for the 2024 CEBL season! Eastern Conference Scarborough Shooting Stars (14-6) Niagara River Lions (14-6) Ottawa Blackjacks (11-9) Brampton Honey Badgers (9-11) Montreal Alliance (7-13) Western Conference Winnipeg Sea Bears (13-7) Edmonton Stingers (13-7) Vancouver Bandits (10-10) Calgary Surge (8-12) Saskatchewan Rattlers (6-14) Championship Weekend Final Four Host: Montreal Alliance Eastern Conference Representative: Scarborough Shooting Stars First Western Conference Representative: Winnipeg Sea Bears Second Western Conference Representative: Vancouver Bandits 2024 CEBL Champion: Scarborough Shooting Stars I predict that we will have our second ever repeat champion in the Shooting Stars! With that out of the way, enjoy the summer everyone, it's going to be a good one!

Welcome back to part eight of my ten part series previewing every single team for the 2024 CEBL season. This is a daily series where I will choose to preview one of the 10 teams in the league, which will lead up to my complete overview and predictions piece! These articles will go over who is on each of the rosters, followed by some main headlines to lookout for, and ending off with a little sneak peak at my prediction for that teams finish. In the eighth edition of this series, we will be taking a look at probably the weakest team in the CEBL, the Saskatchewan Rattlers. While a couple of their acquisitions were head turning, the rest of their roster is quite underwhelming compared to the rest of the league. But they may still surprise some people, just like they did late last year. Legend -Sorted by “Guards” and “Forwards” -Canadians will be identified by “(C)” -American imports will be identified by “(A)” -If applicable, International imports will be identified by “(I)” -U Sports draftees will be identified by “(U)” -If applicable, Development players will be identified by “(D)” Guards Cody John (C) Emmanuel Bandoumel (C) Elijah Harkless (A) Jalen Harris (C) Alexander Dewar (U) Isaac Simon (U) Forwards Anthony Tsegakele (C) Maurice Calloo (C) Adong Makuoi (C) Bryson Williams(A) Somto Dimanochie (I) Julian Roche (C) Grant Basile (A) Fareed Shittu (C) Struggle Bus It seems to have been a struggle the last couple season for the Rattlers on the team building front. New head coach Larry Abney has down his best to try and bring in a couple players from his Ontario Clippers squad, but I’m not sure it’s going to be enough. Saskatchewan was in a similar situation last summer after bringing in Justin Wright-Foreman because they had struggled out the gate. While having brought in Jalen Harris from Scarborough to begin this season, the roster power may still just not be enough to compete in a tough and competitive Western Conference. Player To Watch: Jalen Harris Harris is one of the best players in the CEBL and he finds himself in a situation that another former NBA draft pick was in 2023. JWF and Harris have both been put in a situation to try and succeed with a less than optimal roster around them, and try to get their club to the playoffs. Unlike JWF though, Harris will have a full season to do so, instead of joining mid-season. Harris is an athletic guard that can score the ball at a high rate from all three levels, rebound well for his size and defend good enough. He might be the lone bright spot for the Rattlers this summer, but it will be fun to see him go to work. Basement Dwelling It’s so hard to tell this early in the summer, but this might be the weakest roster in the entire league. It’s going to be tough for the Rattlers to make any noise in such a competitive conference and with the jump in talent across the CEBL. Saskatchewan will most definitely be fighting for that final playoff spot for most of the season, while trying to get out of last place. While I don’t think they’re going to get rolled every single night, that record after 20 games might not be pretty.

Welcome back to part ten of my ten part series previewing every single team for the 2024 CEBL season. This is a daily series where I will choose to preview one of the 10 teams in the league, which will lead up to my complete overview and predictions piece! These articles will go over who is on each of the rosters, followed by some main headlines to lookout for, and ending off with a little sneak peak at my prediction for that teams finish. In the tenth and final edition of this series for the summer, we will be taking a look at one of the most interesting teams in the league, the Calgary Surge. With last years run to the final getting stopped just short of glory, the Surge are looking to bounce back and make another run in 2024. A mix of old and new should allow them to be competitive, but I’m not sure it’s enough to put them into proper contention. Legend -Sorted by “Guards” and “Forwards” -Canadians will be identified by “(C)” -American imports will be identified by “(A)” -If applicable, International imports will be identified by “(I)” -U Sports draftees will be identified by “(U)” -If applicable, Development players will be identified by “(D)” Guards Sean Miller-Moore (C) Stefan Smith (C) Malcolm Duvivier (C) Corey Davis Jr. (A) Mathieu Kamba (C) Dondre Reddick (U) Mike Demagus (U) Noah Wharton (U) Forwards Gabe Osabuohien (C) Emmanuel Ansah (C) Justin Lewis (A) Justin Jackson (C) Billy Preston Jr. (A) Matt Grace (C) So Close, Yet So Far The Surge were one of the best teams in 2023 and fell short to a hot Shooting Stars team in the final of Championship Weekend. They return one of the best guards in the league, Miller-Moore and his running mate Smith. The rest of their roster is similar to last in that they have many players that are flexible in where they can slot in, giving them lots of lineup options. I am very interested to see if they have enough talent to stack up to the top dogs in the West. Player To Watch: Rugzy Miller-Moore Rugzy is becoming a CEBL regular, as he will return to the Surge organization for the third straight season. He’s a tall, athletic guard that does the majority of his damage inside the arc. Great finisher at the rim and beautiful mid-range jumper. Still trying to improve on that three point jump shot. Miller-Moore is a good defender too and reads passes really well to jump them for steals. Last years team had a little bit more talent than this one, be on the lookout for him to try and do a little more every single night to get his team a win. Outside Looking In While I do think this Surge roster is good, I’m not sure if it has enough juice to compete with the top four “true contenders” of the league. Both the Surge and the Bandits feel like they’re in that same tier, just on the outside looking in on those big four. I will say there is definitely a possibility that they go on a major run this summer and be top dogs once again in 2024.