Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Free Agent Eric Kibi

A six-foot-six forward from Montreal, Que., Kibi has averaged 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 18.9 minutes in 188 games playing professionally around the world. 

Playing for two teams in Argentina this past season, Kibi averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.4 steals and 20.1 minutes in 32 games. As a member of Tiro Federal, he concluded the season with seven consecutive double-doubles. Kibi recorded season highs of 29 points on January 28 versus Obera TC and 19 rebounds on February 12 against Rivadavia. 

During his eight years as a professional, Kibi has played in Argentina, Iraq, Canada, Slovakia, France, Spain, Denmark, Germany and Montenegro.

In the 2014-15 campaign, Kibi averaged 20.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 32.5 minutes in 22 games for the Rendsburg Twisters of the Germany PROB. He was one game away from recording a double-double in each game of the season.

A dual citizen of Canada and Congo, Kibi played on the Senior National Congolese team on two occasions; at the 2019 Afro Basket in Mali where he was named Defensive Player of the Tournament and a First Team All-Star, and at the 2017 Afro Basket in Tunisia. 

The 29-year-old communications graduate with a concentration in Journalism left his home in Ottawa at 15-years-old to attend Sandia High School, a prep school in New Mexico, to pursue school and basketball.

Kibi played 49 university games split between Abilene Christian University (2011-12) and University of Arkansas Little Rock (2010-11) where he averaged 5.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 18.2 minutes. In 2010-2011, his team won the Sun Belt Tournament and qualified for NCAA Division I, March Madness. Kibi completed Junior College (JUCO) at Jacksonville, where he averaged 14.2 points and 9.2 rebounds. During his second year on the team, he was named JUCO First Team All-Conference and received an honorable mention JUCO All-American.

Kibi is the second free agent signing announced by the Ottawa BlackJacks for the 2020 season. On February 24, the team acquired free agent forward Jean-Emmanuel Pierre-Charles. 

The BlackJacks tip off their inaugural season on May 7 when they travel to St. Catharines for a date against the Niagara River Lions. The first home game for Ottawa is scheduled for May 14 at the Arena at TD Place against the Hamilton Honey Badgers.

Fans can now purchase season tickets, Flex Packs and Group tickets at theBlackJacks.ca/tickets. Individual game tickets are set to go on sale March 31. For more information visit theBlackJacks.ca or call 613-690-0519.

All 20 regular season BlackJacks games will be streamed live on CBC Gem and the Island Sports Network. Ottawa will also be part of a nationally televised broadcast as part of the CBC Game of the Week when the BlackJacks travel to Hamilton on May 30.

“Eric has a lot of experience playing in many different leagues. He is a solid veteran who offers toughness and leadership. He is a great rebounder who finishes well around the basket. Eric is able to play both the small forward and power forward spots and this versatility will allow us to take advantage of mismatches.”

“I left Ottawa when I was 15-years-old to pursue my basketball dream and I just finished my eighth professional season abroad. Coming back home and playing in front of my family and friends is indescribable, especially since my parents and my sister sacrificed so much for me these past 15 years. Ottawa means so much to me and it will be an honour for a homegrown kid to represent the city. I want to thank the organization and especially Dave Smart and Coach Os for giving me this opportunity. I grew up watching them winning championships together and they have known me since I was 13 years-old, so they know how much this means to me.“

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For more information, contact:

Marika Guérin

Manager, Communications and Events

Ottawa BlackJacks Professional Basketball Club

The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks will showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital. Basketball Operations will be led by General Manager, Dave Smart, the most successful university coach in Canadian history with a total of 13 national titles at Carleton University. The BlackJacks will be a team deeply rooted in the Ottawa / Gatineau community. Head Coach Osvaldo Jeanty, a former student-athlete who captured five national championships as a player for Dave Smart, will bring together a group of professionals poised for success in its inaugural season. The BlackJacks will play its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place. The CEBL season begins May 7, with the BlackJacks hosting its inaugural home game on May 14 against the Hamilton Honey Badgers. For more information and for tickets, visit theBlackJacks.ca.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) features world-class professional basketball in a fan-friendly entertainment environment across seven cities in Canada. The 2019 inaugural season saw more than 100 Canadian and international players take to the court, culminating with the Saskatchewan Rattlers earning the first CEBL championship trophy. CEBL players come from NBA G-League clubs, top NCAA programs, the Canadian national program, U SPORTS and other Division 1 FIBA leagues. As the First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL and the expansion Ottawa BlackJacks are set to start its season in May 2020. 

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