OTTAWA BLACKJACKS SIGN GUARD SHAQUILLE KEITH

Keith, who captured the inaugural 2019 CEBL championship as a member of the Saskatchewan Rattlers, averaged 12.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 25.3 minutes in nine regular season games, playing six contests for the Rattlers after starting his CEBL career with the Hamilton Honey Badgers. A clutch performer in the postseason, Keith averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in two games. As a member of the Rattlers, he had a major impact on the court, setting franchise records for most two-point field goals (6), most offensive rebounds (5), and most steals (3) during a playoff game. Keith scored a season-high 27 points in his Saskatchewan debut July 25 versus Fraser Valley.

A six-foot-six guard from Toronto, Keith has career averages of 12.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 25.5 minutes, while shooting .505 from the floor in 182 games as a pro.

Keith attended Cape Breton University in 2012-2013 where he averaged 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 23.1 minutes in his only year with the Capers. His team finished the regular season with a 19-1 record and ranked second in the nation. Keith was named to the conference (AUS) All-Rookie Team.

In May, the Ottawa BlackJacks announced its official training camp roster for the inaugural 2020 season. There are currently 12 players signed to the BlackJacks roster, including nine standard player contracts and three development player contracts as a result of the 2020 CEBL / U SPORTS Draft. Four of the players, who are signed by Ottawa under contract, cannot be named publicly until the status of their current FIBA season is determined and their international FIBA clearances are obtained.

“We are happy to have Shaq as part of our team. He brings experience and he has shown that he is a winner at this level. More than anything, he is a competitor and he plays with a chip on his shoulder which will mesh well with the culture of our team.”

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to play for a brand-new franchise with a wide range of high-level talent. The organization and coaching staff give me the outmost confidence that my abilities on the court and my competitive nature will fit right into the Ottawa BlackJacks culture.”

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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. For more information and for tickets, visit www.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. The CEBL is the First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball. 

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Marika Guérin

Manager, Communications and Events

Ottawa BlackJacks Professional Basketball Club