A six-foot-seven forward from Malton, Ontario, Jermel Kennedy is set to bring a wealth of experience to the Capital for the team’s fifth season. Kennedy has been playing professionally for 10 years, including having played with four CEBL teams. Kennedy has also played professionally in Iraq, Mozambique, as well as in the United Kingdom, France, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Uruguay, and Germany...
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The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday the signing of Canadian Forward Jermel Kennedy for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season. A six-foot-seven forward from Malton, Ontario, Jermel Kennedy is set to bring a wealth of experience to the Capital for the team’s fifth season. Kennedy has been playing professionally for 10 years, including having played with four CEBL teams. Kennedy has also played professionally in Iraq, Mozambique, as well as in the United Kingdom, France, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Uruguay, and Germany. Currently concluding his 2023-24 campaign with Zakho in Iraq, Kennedy also competed with Ferroviario de Beira in Mozambique earlier this year, averaging 10.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 34.6 minutes in the Qualifications for Basketball Africa League (BAL). Kennedy was welcomed back to Ferroviario de Beira this season after competing with the team during the inaugural BAL season in 2021-22, where he helped lead Ferroviario to the quarter-finals averaging 13.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 31.0 minutes in 12 games with the team. The Basketball Africa League was introduced by the NBA and FIBA, highlighting African basketball players with the addition of two non-African players per roster. Kennedy has previous CEBL experience, having played with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, the Newfoundland Growlers, the Brampton Honey Badgers (formerly known as Hamilton Honey Badgers) and with the Guelph Nighthawks in the CEBL’s inaugural season. This past summer with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, he played in all 20 regular season games. He averaged 7.7 points per game and grabbed a season-high 13 rebound on July 2 against Niagara. Kennedy was recognized by the Newfoundland Growlers with the Unsung Hero Award in 2022, while he averaged 7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 27.7 minutes in 19 games played. Collegiately, Kennedy split his career between Lander University (2010-12), Volunteer State Community College (2009-10), and Iowa Community College (2008-09). In his first year with Lander, Kennedy played in 26 games in the NCAA Division II, averaging 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, which earned him the team Rebounding award for the season. The Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 single game tickets are on sale now at https://www.theblackjacks.ca/single-game-tickets . The team's fifth season will kick off at The Arena at TD Place on May 29, promising professional basketball and exciting entertainment in a family-friendly environment. For more information, please visit www.theblackjacks.ca or contact the Ottawa BlackJacks Membership Services team directly at 613-690-0519 or by email at [email protected] . Quotes: "I’m very excited to be joining the BlackJacks this summer and I am looking forward to contributing everything on the pursuit to bringing a CEBL championship to the Capital!”” - Jermel Kennedy, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks “Jermel is a player with a ton of professional experience, in the league but also around the world. He knows what it takes to be successful in the CEBL, he knows the ins and outs of this league and he will be a great leader for our squad this summer." - James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday the signing of American Forward Jakeenan Gant for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season. A six-foot-eight forward from Springfield, Georgia, Gant has competed in Israel, France, South Korea, in the NBA G League, and in the CEBL across a six-year professional career following a successful NCAA Division I collegiate career. Last summer, Gant averaged 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in eight games played with the BlackJacks. He recorded season highs of 13 points and seven rebounds while also hitting the Target Score winning bucket on July 9 against Vancouver. Gant gained his first CEBL experience during the summer of 2021 with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, averaging 13.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in seven games. Gant spent the 2023-24 campaign in Israel with Hapoel Beer Sheva. He averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 25 games played. He scored a season-high 32 points to go along with five rebounds, one assist, and three steals on Dec. 9 vs. Ironi Nes Ziona. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette alumnus tipped off his professional career with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League. In 29 games played, he averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 16.5 minutes. He scored a season-high 27 points, shooting 11-for-19 from the field and four-for-eight from three-point range on January 3 against the Capital City Go-Go. He also played four games with the Indiana Pacers at the 2019 NBA Summer League and averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds. Gant split his university career between the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (63 games) and the University of Missouri Tigers (53 games). As a senior with the Ragin' Cajuns, Gant earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors, was named the league's Defensive Player for the second straight year and claimed Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America honors for the second consecutive year. He led Louisiana and finished third in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) in scoring (20.5), led the league in rebounds (8.7), blocked shots (2.6), and double-doubles (13) while finishing second in the SBC in field goal percentage (.543) and offensive rebounds per game (3.2). He finished the season ranked in the top 50 among Division I players in six categories, and his 81 blocked shots and 2.6 blocks per game average were the fourth-best, single-season marks in school history. The Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 single game tickets are on sale now at https://www.theblackjacks.ca/single-game-tickets . The team's fifth season will kick off at The Arena at TD Place on May 29, promising professional basketball and exciting entertainment in a family-friendly environment. For more information, please visit www.theblackjacks.ca or contact the Ottawa BlackJacks Membership Services team directly at 613-690-0519 or by email at [email protected] . Quotes: "I’m excited to be coming back to Ottawa. I am ready to have a great summer and win!” - Jakeenan Gant, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks “Jakeenan is an athletic forward who excels in shooting and scoring, while also adding a strong defensive presence in the key. He joined the team halfway through last summer's season, and we're excited to have the opportunity to begin working with him right from the start this summer, allowing us to build on the foundation we established last year." - James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the signing of Canadian Guard Yasiin Joseph for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season. A six-foot-one guard from Ottawa, Ontario, Yasiin Joseph is set to make his return to the Capital after making his professional debut with the Ottawa BlackJacks at the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines. Joseph has also played professionally in several European countries, including France, Hungary, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. Currently concluding his 2023-24 campaign with ALM Evreux in the LNB Pro B in France, Joseph is averaging 12.6 points, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 27.7 minutes in 30 games played this season. He scored 15 or more points in 18 games, including 20 points on January 26 against AVA. He recorded two double-doubles, one on March 29 against Saint Chamond Basket (14 points and a season-high 11 assists) and another on October 17 against Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket (11 points and 10 rebounds). Joseph found significant offensive success during the 2022-23 season, averaging 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 29.6 minutes in 36 games played with Sopron KC in Hungary. He scored a season-high 31 points on April 18 against Zalakeramia-ZTE KK and hit a season-high five three-pointers as part of a 27-point effort on April 12 against the same team. Joseph’s professional career tipped off with the Ottawa BlackJacks during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines. That year, the BlackJacks did not compete at home, so this will mark Joseph’s debut on home soil at The Arena at TD Place. Collegiately, Joseph won four U SPORTS National Championships and three OUA titles throughout his five-year career from 2015-20 with the Carleton Ravens. As a senior with the team, he averaged 14.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 21.3 minutes in 22 games played and was named an OUA Second Team All-Star. He recorded a career-high 34 points on January 25 against Ryerson. Additionally, he earned honors in 2017-18, being named to the OUA First Team All-Star. He achieved his first career double-double that season, scoring 26 points and tallying 10 assists on February 24 against Laurentian. The Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 single game tickets are on sale now at https://www.theblackjacks.ca/single-game-tickets . The team's fifth season will kick off at The Arena at TD Place on May 29, promising professional basketball and exciting entertainment in a family-friendly environment. For more information, please visit www.theblackjacks.ca or contact the Ottawa BlackJacks Membership Services team directly at 613-690-0519 or by email at [email protected] . Quotes: "I am thrilled to hit the court in my hometown again, representing the Ottawa BlackJacks with passion and pride!” - Yasiin Joseph, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks “It's always special to sign a local player who is eager to represent his hometown. Yasiin is a great talent who has previously been part of the BlackJacks but never had the chance to compete at The Arena at TD Place in front of his friends and family. We're excited to welcome him back home, knowing he'll bring energy and pride to this team." - James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
