TYRREL
TATE

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

Is the Ottawa BlackJacks franchise leader in games played (48) and three-point field goals (80) and sits third all-time in points (455) … His 44 made three-point baskets last season established a new single-season mark for the franchise … Sits eighth all-time in career CEBL games played (75) and 18th in points (764)


2024-25: Has spent his first professional season outside of North America beginning with Sigal Prishtina of the Balkan International Basketball League who had won the league championship the previous season … Averaged 10..0 points per-game with the team before signing with Steaua CSM EximBank Bucuresti in Romania … Has appeared in nine games and started in his debut with the club on March 10 vs. CSU Atlassib Sibiu (82-75 loss) scoring 11 points and grabbing four rebounds


2023-24: Split the season between Rayos de Hermosillo (CIBACOPA) and Ottawa averaging 14.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per-game … Scored in double figures in 11 of his 15 games with Rayos de Hermosillo including a personal CIBACOPA single-game high of 30 on 4/23/24 vs. Pioneros de Los Mochis (87-85 win) … Ranked fourth on Ottawa in points per-game (12.7) …  Scored 33 points to establish the highest single-game effort of any BlackJacks player on the season in a 104-89 loss vs. Montreal on June 11


2022-23: Returned to Ottawa and ranked second on the teams in games played (20) … Sat fifth on the team in points (126) … Scored a season high 24 points while going six-of-seven from three-point range in the BlackJacks’ 101-87 win at Niagara on 6/24/23 … Played a season high 30:48 while scoring 11 points with four assists on 7/5/23 at Saskatchewan (89-88 win)


2021-22: Spent his entire seventh professional season in Canada suiting up for the KW Titans (CAN NBL) and BlackJacks … Led KW in minutes per-game (37.8) and sat third in points per-game (17.8) … Eclipsed 30 points on two occasions against the Sudbury Five scoring 31 on 5/1/22 (110-104 loss) and 5/21/22 (111-98 win) … Helped his team advance to the league finals where they eventually fell three games to none to the London Lightning … Joined the BlackJacks and played in seven games and averaged 8.9 points and 1.3 rebounds per-game


2019-20: Made four appearances for the Capital City Go-Go (G League) before signing with Rayos de Hermosillo where he started in four games … Scored at least 15 points in each of his four appearances with the club highlighted by a 25-point effort on 3/18/20 at Mantarrayas de La Paz (106-102 win) … Made his Guelph Nighthawks (CEBL) debut on 7/25/20 at Ottawa (89-71 win) eventually playing in seven games with the team … Averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per-game with the Nighthawks


2018-19: Started his fifth professional season with the Sudbury Five (CAN NBL) and appeared in four games with the team before being released and signed by the Windsor Express (CAN NBL) … Ranked fifth on the Express in points per-game (14.6) and minutes per-game (30.6) … Scored 18 points in his debut with Windsor on 12/19/18 vs. Halifax (127-116 loss) … Made his CEBL debut for the Fraser Valley Bandits on 5/18/19 at Guelph (95-94 loss) and scored 22 points with seven assists … Concluded the CEBL season as the fourth leading scorer on the Bandits (13.0 points per-game)


2017-18: Returned to the NBA G League and spent the season predominantly with the Cleveland Charge … Averaged 2.6 points per-game and 1.7 rebounds per-game across 21 games … Made five starts during the season … Scored a season-high 11 points with two three-pointers on 2/10/18 at Windy City (108-105 loss) … Concluded the year playing in one game for the Texas Legends on 3/21/18 at Northern Arizona (139-137 win)


2016-17: Began his second season with the Moncton Magic (CAN NBL) by scoring in double figures in each of his first six games of the campaign from 12/26/16 to 1/8/17 … Went 107 of 134 from the charity stripe to rank second on the club with a .799 free throw percentage … Averaged 9.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per-game


2015-16: Spent his entirety of his second professional season with Moncton and appeared in 41 of the team’s 42 games … Tied for third on the club in free throws made per-game (2.8) and sixth in assists per-game (1.9) … Began a streak of four consecutive double-digit scoring games by providing a season-high 25 points on 12/27/15 vs. Island (130-117 loss) … Scored at least 10 points in nine of his first 13 games 


2014-15: Was selected with third pick of the seventh-round in the 2014 NBA Development League Draft by the Idaho Stampede and made his professional debut for the club on 11/15/14 vs. Erie (114-95 loss) grabbing seven rebounds with two assists … Scored a season-high 12 points two games later on 11/22/14 at South Bay (118-110 win) going five-of-six from the floor in the contest … Established his D League single-game high in rebounds (eight) on 1/23/15 vs. Bakersfield (109-97 loss)

COLLEGE CAREER

2013-14: Was a preseason All-CIAA selection entering his senior season for the Fayetteville State Broncos (CIAA) … Averaged 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per-game. His scoring mark was more than nine points per-game greater than any other player on the team … Opened his season with consecutive 19-point efforts on 11/8/13 vs. Concord (83-78 loss) and 11/9/13 vs. Notre Dame (OH) (93-86 win) … Scored a season-high 30 points, the third game of his collegiate career of at least 30 points, vs. UNC Pembroke on 11/21/13 (97-91 loss)


2012-13: Named to the CIAA First-Team … Began his junior season with back-to-back 20-point efforts on 11/9/12 vs. Barber-Scotia (83-63 win) and 11/13/12 at Barton (84-79 loss) … Scored in double-figures in 13 straight games from 1/7/13 to 2/20/13 which began when he recorded his first collegiate game of at least 30 points at Elizabeth City State (66-63 win) … Recorded 10 rebounds in the same contest to mark one of his four double-doubles on the year … Provided a personal collegiate single-game high with 35 points vs. Bowie State on 1/14/13 (82-79 loss) … Surpassed the 1,000-point mark in his Fayetteville State career in the first-round of the CIAA Tournament vs. Virginia State (75-65 loss) on 2/26/13 in Charlotte, N.C.


2011-12: Averaged 11.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per-game while making 13 starts in his sophomore campaign … Opened the season with a 15-point performance vs. Barber-Scotia (100-79 win) on 11/11/11 … The contest marked one of 16 instances in which he provided at least 10 points in a game on the season … Registered a season-high in both points (19) and rebounds (nine) on 2/6/12 vs. Johnson C. Smith (71-57 win)


2010-11: Appeared in 29 games and made two starts in his freshman year … Averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per-game … Registered 12 points in his first collegiate game vs. Barber-Scotia (83-70 win) on 11/12/10 … Scored in double figures 11 times … Recorded a season-high 21 points vs. Virginia State (84-74 win) on 1/26/11 … Had an eight-rebound game on two separate occasions - a 79-71 win at St. Paul’s on 1/15/11 and a 58-56 loss at Livingstone on 2/21/11

PERSONAL

Majored in Business Administration at Fayetteville State … Was named District 5 Co-Player of the Year during his senior season at Millbrook High School while current Minnesota Timberwolves forward T.J. Warren was named District 6 Player of the Year in the same season

Full Bio

June 27, 2024
The Scarborough Shooting Stars (6-4) head east to visit the Ottawa BlackJacks (2-7) for their second of three regular season matchups on Thursday night. Live coverage from The Arena at TD Place begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , TSN+, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. After meeting two weeks prior, things have gone in opposite directions for both squads. Scarborough picked up a 15-point win against Ottawa on June 13, and since then, have gone 2-1 and remain half-a-game behind Niagara for top spot in the East. Meanwhile, the BlackJacks have gone 1-2 and sit at the bottom of the conference. The Shooting Stars have been a model of consistency so far, going an identical 3-2 through the first two quarters of the year. They do, however, enter Thursday with a bit of momentum to start their three-game road trip, having won back-to-back games that coincided with the return of their top-scorer from last season. Cat Barber made his season debut for the defending champs on Friday, helping Scarborough pick up a 13-point win over Brampton. He and the Shooting Stars followed that up with a 92-84 win over the Montreal Alliance on Sunday, and through two games Barber is averaging 16 points and 5.5 assists. His efficiency rates haven’t been the sharpest, shooting 42.9 per cent from the field and 33.3 per cent from distance but the guard’s castmates have more than handled things while he’s brushed off the rust. Against the Honey Badgers, Donovan Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 28 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. And in their most-recent game against the Alliance, it was Tevian Jones who did most of the damage, finishing with a 29-point, 12-rebound double-double to go with four steals. Thanks to said standout performances, the pair of wings now lead the Shooting Stars in average scoring per game. And when you include microwave scorers Jackson Rowe and Kadre Gray and take into account head coach Devan Blair’s movement-heavy offence, it’s no wonder Scarborough averages the most points (93.5) and assists (23.4) per game in the league. Meanwhile, Ottawa is hoping to turn a page as they return to TD Place for a three-game stand in front of a home crowd. It’s been tough sledding for the BlackJacks as their previous three games were against the top three records in the CEBL. And after it felt like they were trending in the right direction with a four-point win to the River Lions and then an even tighter 92-91 defeat against the Stingers, all momentum halted against Vancouver. The BlackJacks suffered a 37-point loss to the Bandits in a game they never led in the second-largest defeat any CEBL team has suffered this season. And to add insult to injury (or rather, injury to insult), Brandon Sampson, the team’s second-leading scorer (15 points per game) went down late in the fourth quarter and was later placed on Ottawa’s injured list. The news of Sampson’s presumed long-term absence came after the BlackJacks were already dealing with injuries to leading-scorer Isiah Moore and JaKeenan Gant. Things may seem bleak, but there’s still plenty to be optimistic about for Ottawa given the reinforcements on the way. For starters, Deng Adel is set to make his season debut against the Shooting Stars. The 2023 All-CEBL Second teamer will immediately improve a thin frontcourt and add defensive versatility the squad has lacked while giving up the second most points per game (95.7). Last year Adel averaged 17.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a steal in 17 games with the BlackJacks. Meanwhile, Ottawa also adds a player Scarborough is very familiar with. The team signed forward Kyree Walker on Tuesday, likely slotting in for the now-injured Sampson. The champion last year with the Shooting Stars was a two-way player, impacting both ends of the floor. In 18 games with Scarborough in 2023, Walker averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He made two appearances with the Shooting Stars this season before moving to the Ontario rival. With nine of their final 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents, if things can break right for the BlackJacks they can easily shake up the standings. With Brampton and both at 3-8, it would take chaining together only a couple wins to jump as high as third in the East. Previous matchup In Scarborough’s 105-92 win against Ottawa earlier this season, it was their focus on ball-movement and perimeter play that made the difference. The Shooting Stars racked up 31 assists (+12) as they knocked down a season-high 20 threes (+13) on a hyper-efficient 44 per cent clip. Six different players hit at least two threes, with Jones leading the way as he went 5-for-7 from downtown en route to 23 points.
By Kyle Ramnarine June 16, 2024
Tyrrell Tate had 19 points to lead the Ottawa BlackJacks (2-5) to their first home victory of the season on Saturday defeating the Niagara River Lions (4-3), 90-86. Tate knocked down two threes as part of his 19 points, snagged two rebounds, dished out four assists and had two steals. With the game on the line in Target Score Time, Tate put his head down, drove straight to the paint, and hit a running floater to seal the win. “Just wanted to win, we needed it,” Tate said on hitting the game-winning floater. “We've been, we've been struggling, but we know how good we can be. We know our potential. We’re just trying to find a rhythm and get some consistency going. So, it just feels good to get to win at home in front of our fans that deserve it.” Brandon Sampson also had an impact for the BlackJacks, scoring 16 points, grabbing six rebounds and snatching two steals. In the loss, Niagara’s Aaryn Rai had 24 points on 50 per cent shooting and pulled down 16 rebounds. “I mean, I think individually I had some opportunities to score, it just, you know, made some bad decisions turning it over,” Rai said about his thoughts on the game. “But I think, you know, we missed some shots that we usually make. And I think that, if we make those, maybe it's a different game, but kind of dropped the intensity of our defence.” Both teams started the game trading buckets. However, it was the BlackJacks that were able to capitalize on Niagara's mistakes and pull away to end off the first leading 23-15. Despite being down by double digits at times, the River Lions just wouldn’t go away. Rai erupted in the second quarter, scoring 13 points to help chip away at Ottawa's lead. The BlackJacks ended the half with a 46-45 lead and then maintained that one-point lead with a 64-63 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Sampson spoke after the game on how he stays focused during close games like this one. “I think anybody as a player, these are the moments that you live for as a player,” Sampson said. “You know, just close games and things like that, trying to stay locked in. So, no better opportunity in a game like that. Good team out there, gave us a good game, and situations like that are exciting. So, it's always a game. You never know how things go.” After a close fourth quarter and with Target Score set at 90, Niagara evaporated Ottawa’s lead down two, trailing just 88-86 before Tate’s heroics to end the game for the BlackJacks. Niagara’s head coach Victor Raso knows what the team must take away from this game going into the next. “We have been very good in transition, and we made some really poor decisions in transition,” Raso said. “We turned the ball over 21 times. That's not going to win a road game. We missed a lot of shots around the rim too. You know can't really be missing layups and turn the ball over and expect to win on the road.” What’s next for both teams? The River Lions look to regroup and get back into the win column when they take on the Scarborough Shooting Stars this Wednesday. As for the BlackJacks, they look to continue this winning momentum when they face off against the Edmonton Stingers this Thursday.
By Zulfi Sheikh June 14, 2024
The Scarborough Shooting Stars extended their league-best win streak to four games on Thursday night as they took down the Ottawa BlackJacks by a score of 105-91. Entering the night, Scarborough led the league in three-point makes per game (13.6) and were second in percentage (39.3), and they improved on both of those numbers. The Shooting Stars hit a season-high 20 threes (+13) on a 44 per cent clip as they walked away with their second home win of the season. Eight different players made a three pointer for Scarborough, while six other Shooting Stars hit at least two. Tevian Jones led the way for the defending champs, scoring a game-high 23 points while going 5-for-7 from downtown. He was joined by Kadre Gray, who finished with 21 points and seven assists against his former team, and Donovan Williams who dropped 17 points in his CEBL debut. And if playing against the BlackJacks for the first time after three seasons with them wasn’t special enough, Gray commemorated the occasion by making a bit of history. With his sixth dime, the Toronto native became the first player in CEBL history to record 300 assists all-time. “I wasn’t really thinking about it but I woke up this morning and said ‘Ottawa on the schedule, let’s lock in,’” Gray said after the game on playing his former team and reaching the milestone. “It was still another game, but there was a nostalgic feeling playing my former home … nothing but love.” On the other side, Tyrell Tate led Ottawa in scoring for a second consecutive game as he dropped 21 points off the bench. Meanwhile, Lloyd Pandi chipped in with an efficient 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with eight rebounds. “Our issues are on the defensive end,” BlackJacks head coach James Derouin said after his team gave up more than 100 points for a second consecutive game. “We came in with the worst defence in the league coming into the game and the leaky boat sank even further … giving up 20 threes to the number one offence.” It didn’t take long to see why the Shooting Stars, by the numbers, are the league’s most proficient offence. Against Ottawa in the first half, Scarborough got downhill (15 fastbreak points), moved the ball (14 assists) and found open shooters (nine threes). It’s that kind of balanced attack that makes scoring a league-leading 93.8 points per game possible. By the end of two quarters the defending champs had rattled off two separate double-digit scoring runs, the second of which was an 11-0 run that put them up 10 points. And although they couldn’t maintain the double-digit edge, the Shooting Stars still went into the break leading 49-41. Jones led all scorers at halftime with 15 points going a near-perfect 6-of-7 from the field while knocking down three triples. “The easiest way to look at it is the fact we had 31 assists tonight,” Scarborough head coach Devan Blair said post-game when asked how his team has been the top scoring offence in the league. “We have a group of selfless guys … they don’t care who gets the shots as long as it’s the correct play.” Scarborough wasted little time to regain their double-digit lead coming out of the break. It took the Shooting Stars less than two minutes into the third to go on yet another run, this time 7-0 as they extended their lead to as high as 17 points. Credit to Ottawa, however, as they finally responded with a 9-0 run of their own that cut the lead back down to single digits. The BlackJacks did what they could defensively to get within striking distance, forcing six turnovers for seven points in the frame, but couldn’t overcome the Shooting Stars overwhelming advantage from beyond the arc. Scarborough hit five threes in the third as they built their lead back up to 76-63 going into the final frame. And although the BlackJacks made a valiant push by cutting the lead down to single digits once more, their defence couldn’t stop leaking throughout the fourth and Target Score Time. The Shooting Stars hit six more triples in the fourth quarter, the final one fittingly ending the contest as Jones drilled a look from the right corner. “Nothing’s forced,” Gray said after the game when asked what’s clicked during their four-game win streak. “Everything is coming naturally, everyone is gelling, and that stuff shows on the court … we’re having fun.” Up Next Things don’t get much easier for the BlackJacks as they go from one top East team to another, hosting the Niagara River Lions on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars return to action on Sunday, visiting the Montréal Alliance for their first matchup of the season.
June 11, 2024
Fresh off their first win of the season in a thriller in Montreal, the Ottawa BlackJacks (1-3) will be looking to finish off this home-and-home series with the Alliance (1-4) with another win as both sides look to get themselves firmly in the hunt in the Eastern Conference. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET from TD Place, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, RDS.ca, the RDS app, Courtside 1891 (outside of North America) and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. The game will also be televised on TSN, RDS and NLSE in the United States. Additionally, the game will feature the first all-female Canadian officiating crew to work a professional men's basketball game as part of the BlackJacks’ Women in Sports night. Ottawa managed to pick up its first win of the season last Wednesday on a wild sequence in Target Score Time that saw Montreal throw the ball away underneath their own basket into the waiting arms of BlackJacks forward Isaih Moore, who was parked right underneath the Montreal hoop and laid the ball in to win it, 87-86. Playing in just his first CEBL season, the 23-year-old Moore has quickly turned into a star for the BlackJacks, leading the team in scoring (21 points per game), rebounding (10 rebounds per game) and field goal percentage (56.8 per cent from the field), while also taking the most shots (14.7 field goal attempts per game) on the team. The 21 points and 10 rebounds per contest Moore is averaging is also good for third-best in the league, each. The 6-foot-10 Moore last played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League after he went undrafted by the NBA coming out of Fresno State. So far, the physicality that’s seen in the CEBL and the fast tempo that Ottawa wants to play at has been a perfect match for the rugged, athletic style of play that Moore has shown over his three-game CEBL career. In last week’s game, the BlackJacks were able to find success in the pick-and-roll, with Moore’s dives to the basket looking virtually unstoppable, particularly when paired up with Ottawa guard Brandon Sampson, who had 21 points last time out, because of the fear of what he can do as both a shooter and a driver attacking the basket. “Brandon’s a good player, so I definitely like running the pick-and-roll with him,” Moore said of his teammate after the win last week. Finding a way to control Moore and Sampson figures to be a major focal point for the Alliance heading into Tuesday’s rematch, but more than anything they’ll need to clean up their turnovers. Montreal was the better team last week but ended up shooting itself in the foot by committing 20 turnovers. Nine of those giveaways, alone, ended up being coughed up by Chris Smith, who has emerged as a star for the Alliance in his debut CEBL season. The 6-foot-9 Smith is averaging 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 58.5 per cent shooting. His versatile game that allows him to score at all three levels has made him a tough cover for everyone he’s faced over the five games he’s played in the CEBL thus far. As talented as he is, though, turnovers have been a problem for Smith. He’s averaging 4.6 turnovers per game and has had three games already with at least five turnovers. He and his Alliance teammates will need to get that cleaned up. If they do, they’ll have a great chance to come away with a win in Ottawa. A victory Tuesday for either side will give that team two on the season. That doesn’t sound like much, but with the way the Eastern Conference has been going to begin the 2024 campaign, that’s a significant win total to get yourself into the thick of things for better playoff seeding and to potentially win the conference. Every game matters, and it feels like these games are even more important for teams in the East because the opportunity is there for the taking with the top records sitting at only 3-2. Key matchup The Moore-Smith matchup is an important one, without question, but more intriguing might be the matchup between guards Freddy Ibrahim and Jordan Bowden on Montreal and Ottawa’s Sampson and Lloyd Pandi. Even if the Alliance manages to correct some of the turnover woes they faced last week, there’s no reason to think Tuesday’s affair won’t be another close one, and in tight games it’s normally guards that dictate the flow and outcome. All four of these players made big shots during different parts of the game last week, so we could be in for another showdown again. Milestone watch ● Montreal’s Guillaume Payen-Boucard, of Montreal, Que., needs 12 points to reach 500 for his career, regular season only. ● Montreal’s Ahmed Hill needs seven rebounds to reach 250 for his career, regular season and playoffs. ● Ottawa’s Jermel Kennedy, of Malton, Ont., needs eight rebounds to reach 250 for his career, regular season and playoffs. ● Montreal’s Guillaume Payen-Boucard, of Montreal, Que., needs two assists to reach 100 for his career, regular season only. ● Ottawa’s Tyrrel Tate needs seven assists to reach 100 for his career, regular season and playoffs. ● Ottawa’s Lloyd Pandi, of Ottawa, Ont., needs nine assists to reach 100 for his career, regular season only. ● Montreal’s Ahmed Hill needs three steals to reach 50 for his career, regular season only. 2024 season series These two teams met just last week with the BlackJacks winning in a thriller during Target Score Time, giving Ottawa its first win of the season.
By Steven Loung June 1, 2024
Coming off a pair of 40-point outbursts to begin the season, Teddy Allen and the Winnipeg Sea Bears (1-1) are looking to keep momentum rolling at home when they host the Ottawa BlackJacks (0-2) Saturday. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. local/8:30 p.m. ET from Canada Life Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , TSN+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. Allen, last season’s CEBL MVP, is in fine form to begin the season, averaging 40.5 points per game with a 40-point performance to begin the season against the Saskatchewan Rattlers, followed up by 41-ball in Winnipeg’s last game versus the defending champion Scarborough Shooting Stars. Following up on a thrilling home victory that saw them come from behind and win on an Alex Campbell three, the Sea Bears are welcoming in the BlackJacks, who are off to a rough start to the season and could be in for another tough time Saturday heading into what will almost assuredly be a raucous Canada Life Centre. The Sea Bears fans packed the arena with 9,116 last game, the second-largest attendance ever for a regular-season CEBL contest. “Honestly, I’ve been in a lot of arenas in my career and that was one of the loudest I’ve ever heard,” said Winnipeg guard Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson after the Sea Bears’ win over the Shooting Stars. “It felt like your head was going to fall off.” Ottawa’s had a difficult time finding offence over its first two games, averaging 83 points per game, third-worst in the league. This early-season issue was most indicative by the way the BlackJacks dropped their last game, falling 92-84 to the Edmonton Stingers in their home opener Wednesday. Both Ottawa and Edmonton entered Target Score Time knotted up at 81 apiece, but the BlackJacks only managed three points during the finishing period, dooming their chances. A bright spot for Ottawa, however, is newcomer Isaih Moore, who only played his first-ever CEBL game Wednesday. The 6-foot-10 Moore, who played 10 games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League last season, finished Wednesday’s game with 22 points and six rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting. The addition of Moore looks to give the BlackJacks a much-needed offensive lift as Ottawa still remains without 2023 starters Deng Adel and Zena Edosomwan, who are currently completing their professional seasons overseas, and possibly starting guard Yasiin Joseph, who was forced to exit Wednesday’s contest with an elbow injury. The Sea Bears will also be seeing additional reinforcements heading their way, just not in time for Saturday’s game. Winnipeg native Emmanuel Akot will be coming home to play for the Sea Bears this season after the conclusion of his season with Heroes Den Bosch of BNXT League. The 6-foot-8 forward played a couple games with the BlackJacks last season. Key matchup Allen has been terrorizing the CEBL with this ability to score at all three levels, but if there’s one weakness to be found in his game, it’s an inconsistent three-point stroke. Through two games, Allen has taken 27 threes, but has only made nine of them (33.3 per cent). If you compare that to the 14-for-26 (53.8 per cent) he’s shooting on two-point attempts, it’s fairly obvious which areas of the floor he should be looking to attack from more often. It’s unlikely that any one BlackJack will be able to slow Allen down, but if they can send multiple defenders his way and make a concerted effort to stick to a gameplan that forces him to take tougher threes then Ottawa could find some success. Milestone watch · Ottawa’s Jermel Kennedy, of Malton, Ont., needs nine rebounds to reach 250 for his career, regular season and playoffs. · Winnipeg’s Chad Posthumus needs 14 rebounds to reach 400 for his career, regular season only. · Winnipeg’s Teddy Allen needs seven assists to reach 100 for his career, regular season only. · Ottawa’s Lloyd Pandi, of Ottawa, Ont., needs eight assists to reach 100 for his career, regular season and playoffs. · Ottawa’s Tyrrel Tate needs eight assists to reach 100 for his career, regular season and playoffs. · Winnipeg’s Teddy Allen needs five steals to reach 50 for his career, regular season only. · Winnipeg’s Teddy Allen needs nine three-pointers made to reach 100 for his career, regular season and playoffs. 2023 season series The Sea Bears and BlackJacks saw each other just once last season in Ottawa, with the BlackJacks emerging as 99-86 victors, despite a 26-point, 10-rebound effort from Allen.
By Kyle Ramnarine May 27, 2024
Zane Waterman continued his hot start to the season Sunday scoring 28 points to help the Honey Badgers (2-0) defeat the BlackJacks (0-1) 99-82. The Brampton forward’s offence was dialed in throughout the game as he hit three shots from beyond the arc, dished out five assists and snagged three rebounds in 32 minutes of play. Waterman made history tonight becoming the first Honey Badger player to score 25 points in consecutive games as he finished with 27 in the team’s win over Niagara on Friday night. “Zane had two great games in a row, but again, I'm not surprised. You know, there's been a couple of questions about his improvement. This is going to be his third year now. You know, he's a really good player,” Brampton head coach Sheldon Cassimy said when asked about Waterman's performance. “He can shoot the three really well, can play the pulse really well, and he's really leading our group” While Waterman had himself a game, his teammates also made an impact in Brampton’s win. Guard Javonte Cooke scored 15 points with nine rebounds, and guard Cole Syllas finished with 13 points and three assists. “I think we got the same mindset every game so far, you know we’re the underdogs, we take pride in that and we got a chip on our shoulder going in every game,” Waterman said about the team's mindset before games. Despite the loss, Ottawa guard Brandon Sampson had a great game, scoring 25 points on 50 per cent shooting from the field, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc, and bringing down three rebounds. Ottawa was without two star players that they recently announced will be returning this season in forward Deng Adel and centre Zena Edosomwan. Both are finishing up their seasons overseas and figure to give the club a massive boost when they return. Brampton and Ottawa spent the majority of the first quarter trading buckets as there were 11 lead changes in the frame. The Honey Badgers started to knock down some big-time shots near the end of the quarter to take a 31-22 lead and never look back. The took a 49-41 lead into the half largely due to Waterman’s play and he led all scorers at the half with 13 points on 66 per cent shooting. Brampton wasn’t letting up in the third as they had an answer for everything Ottawa threw at them. Syllas flipped the switch and poured it on for the Honey Badgers scoring seven of his 13 points in the frame. The Honey Badgers led 71-62 heading into the final quarter. “Cole might be the best 3-and-D guy in the league,” Waterman said about teammate Syllas. “For sure, he proved that tonight, it was amazing.” Head coach Sheldon Cassimy lauded his team for its execution and adjustments made throughout the game. “Execution. We're not supposed to be playing too much one-on-one, but sometimes we do have mismatches and that's part of our execution,” Cassimy said. “So really, truly just about getting the best shot and making sure that we're playing very well defensively. We had a possession there where we're able to speed up the other team. And, you know, it's all about one position at a time, getting stops and good scores.” History Made Some notable accomplishments in tonight’s game include: ● Brampton’s Zane Waterman became the first Honey Badger to score 25 points in consecutive games ● Ottawa’s Jermel Kennedy hit 100 career assists ● Ottawa’s Tyrrel Tate hit 500 career points What’s next for both teams? Brampton looks to extend their win streak to three as they take on the Niagara River Lions this Thursday. As for Ottawa, they hope to bounce back as they face the Edmonton Stingers this Wednesday. - CEBL - About the CEBL A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .
May 14, 2024
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday its official training camp roster in preparation for the 2024 CEBL season. Led by General Manager and Head Coach James Derouin, and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Jevohn Shepherd, Ottawa’s current training camp roster consists of 16 players. Earlier today, the BlackJacks also announced the signing of six-foot-six forward Alonzo Walker, who just completed his fourth professional season in Slovakia. Walker has experience in the CEBL, having competed with the Niagara River Lions in 2022 and 2023. Highlights of the 2024 Ottawa BlackJacks roster include: Five players with NBA G League or NBA Summer League experience (Abu Kigab, Brandon Sampson, Ibi Watson, Peter Jok, and Tyrrel Tate). Six players who have suited up for the BlackJacks in the past (Abu Kigab, Dragan Stajic, James Jean-Marie, Lloyd Pandi, Tyrrel Tate, and Yasiin Joseph). Seven players with ties to the nation’s capital (Dragan Stajic, JD Muila, Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré, Kevin Otoo, Lloyd Pandi, Michael Kelvin II, and Yasiin Joseph). Two American players (Brandon Sampson, Ibi Watson). One Sudanese player (Peter Jok). Three players who have signed their first professional contract (Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré, Michael Kelvin II, Kevin Otoo). 10 players with CEBL experience. 11 NCAA Division I alumni. The Ottawa BlackJacks have previously announced the signing of American forward Jakeenan Gant, Canadian guard Javon Masters, and Canadian guard Keevan Veinot. These players have been placed on the club’s suspended list and will join the team upon the completion of their current international season. Training Camp is set to on Saturday, May 18, at Collège La Cité. Members of the media who are seeking accreditation for BlackJacks Media Day, training sessions and home games are invited to apply through the BlackJacks portal: https://www.theblackjacks.ca/media-accreditation . The BlackJacks will be responsible for the review process and delivery of the accreditation decisions. Further information will be sent to media once accreditation is approved. Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 Training Camp Roster
May 10, 2024
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the re-signing of Canadian Forward Abu Kigab and Canadian Guard Tyrrel Tate for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season. A six-foot-seven forward from St. Catharines, Ontario, Abu Kigab is set to return to the BlackJacks for his third season in the CEBL. He has also played professionally in Slovakia and in Germany. Currently concluding his 2023-24 campaign with Spišskí Rytieri in Slovakia, Kigab is averaging 19.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 29.1 minutes per game. Last summer with the BlackJacks, Kigab delivered his best statistical performance on July 9 against Vancouver, scoring a season-high 12 points, grabbing two rebounds, and notching two steals. Kigab tipped off his professional career in the CEBL in 2021 with his hometown team, the Niagara River Lions. In 2022, Kigab completed a stint with the Toronto Raptors at the NBA 2K23 Summer League. During his second and final game of the tournament, he recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Kigab suited up for the Canadian national team on various occasions. He played seven games with the senior men’s national team and 19 games with the youth national team. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in six games played during the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup in September 2022 and scored three points at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers in February 2023. Kigab began his collegiate career with the Oregon Ducks where he played for a season and a half before transferring to Boise State in 2019. As a fifth-year player with the Broncos, he started in all 35 games and averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 31.5 minutes per game in 2021-22. Born in Khartoum, Sudan, Kigab moved to St. Catharines at the age of nine and attended Queen Mary Public School and St. Francis Catholic Secondary School in St. Catharines prior to transferring to Prolific Prep Academy in Napa, California. A six-foot-five guard from Calgary, Alberta, Tyrrel Tate averaged 6.3 points in 20 games played with the BlackJacks during his second season with the team last summer. He recorded a season-high 24 points with six made three-pointers on June 24 against Niagara. Tate will be competing in his fifth CEBL season, having played with the Bandits during the inaugural year of the league in 2019 and with the Nighthawks during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines. Following his second season in Ottawa last summer, Tate has brought his talents to Mexico, suiting up for Rayos de Hermosillo in the CIBACOPA, where he averaged 16.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 26.3 minutes in 15 games played. The Fayetteville State University alumni spent the 2017-18 campaign with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. In 2014, the Idaho Stampede (the Utah Jazz NBA G League affiliate) selected Tate as a seventh-round pick in the NBA Development League Draft. He played 25 games with the team in his first professional season and made five starts. Collegiately, Tate played four years for the Fayetteville State Broncos, averaging 15.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 81 games. 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 extremely excited to be back in Ottawa. My only goal for this summer is to bring home the championship to the Capital! This is the year!” - Abu Kigab, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club "I’m happy to run it back with some familiar faces in Ottawa this summer. The Ottawa BlackJacks is a great organization, and I am excited for the opportunity to play in front of the amazing Ottawa fans once again.” - Tyrrel Tate, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club “Abu and Tyrrel are not only two great players but, above all, outstanding teammates. In a brief season like ours, it's crucial to have individuals who not only excel on the court but also bring the team together. These two bring that energy both on the court and in the locker room. We're happy to have them back in Ottawa this summer." - James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club