Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Free Agent Pierre-Charles

A 6-foot-8 forward from Ottawa, Ont., Pierre-Charles has averaged 5.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 23.2 minutes in 70 games as a pro. He completed the 2019-20 campaign with Santos de San Luis Potosi of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) in Mexico, where he averaged 5.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals and 22.8 minutes. He grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds on Nov. 9 versus Capitanes Ciudad de México and scored a season-best 12 points on Nov. 3 versus Aguacateros de Michoacàn. During the 2018-19 season, Pierre-Charles played 34 games for Saenz Horeca Araberri of the Liga Española de Baloncesto (LEB Oro) in Spain, where he averaged 6.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 23.5 minutes. He grabbed a career-best 18 rebounds, including highs of 10 defensive and eight offensive boards, on Feb. 15, 2019 versus Real Canoe. He netted five double-figure scoring games and six double-figure rebounding games in his last 10 games, including two double-doubles.

The 26-year-old economics graduate became the first player to sign with the Ottawa BlackJacks since the first expansion franchise joined the league in November.

Pierre-Charles played 112 university games split between the University of Ottawa (2016-18) and Carleton University (2012-15), averaging 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 20.6 minutes. He won three CIS (U SPORTS) National Championships and two Ontario University Athletics (OUA) titles with the Carleton Ravens, and was selected to the OUA All-Star teams during both seasons with the Gee-Gees. In 2017-18, he averaged 13.1 points, a career-best 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 30 minutes in 19 games. He finished the season ranked fourth in the OUA in field goal percentage (0.592) fifth in rebounds per game, second in offensive rebounds per game (2.9) and fifth in blocks per game (1.4). During his first season playing for the Gee-Gees, he averaged 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 26.8 minutes in 19 games. He finished the campaign ranked fifth in the OUA in field-goal percentage (0.541), second in blocks per game (1.5), sixth in rebounds per game and third in offensive rebounds per game (2.9).

Pierre-Charles played for the Canadian national team during the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, where he averaged 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals in six games. He was also invited to play on Team Canada in the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan where he averaged 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in six games.

Fans can now purchase season tickets at theBlackJacks.ca/tickets. Group tickets, along with flex packs are set to go on sale March 3, while single game tickets will go on sale March 31. For more information visit theBlackJacks.ca or call 1-613-690-0519.

The BlackJacks tip off their inaugural season 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.

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.

“Signing a first player is a big step for a new franchise. We are doing it the right way with Jean Emmanuel, a local athlete who grew up in Ottawa and represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games and World University Games. With his experience playing professionally in Spain and Mexico, Jean showed us what he can bring to the table and it fits well in the system we want to build this year with the BlackJacks.”

“Jean Emmanuel has always been part of a winning culture. He gives us a lot of flexibility, especially on the defensive end where he can guard multiple positions. He is a big player with great hands and rebounds the ball very well. Jean brings a much-needed dimension to our team and I am excited to start working with him at our training camp in April. “

“After two years of professional basketball around the world, I am thankful for the opportunity to come back home and play in front of my friends and family. It is an honour to be the first free agent to join the Ottawa BlackJacks. I look forward to working with Dave and Osvaldo and starting training camp with the rest of the team.“

###

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. 

Facebook: @OttawaBlackJacks

Twitter: @Ott_Blackjacks

Instagram: @ottawablackjacks