2023 CEBL U SPORTS Draft Reveal Set for April 19

CEBL Staff • April 11, 2023

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that the 2023 CEBL U SPORTS Draft results will be revealed Wednesday, April 19 on CEBL.ca as well as through the league’s social media channels (@cebleague).


Representatives of all 10 clubs will convene through a virtual platform for the two-round draft prior to their selections being made public April 19. The order of selection will have the latest expansion team, Winnipeg Sea Bears, pick first followed by the reverse order of finish in the 2022 regular season standings. 


As was the case in 2022, draft-eligible U SPORTS players may have completed their university eligibility in 2021-22, or they may be returning to their university team this fall and be classified within the CEBL’s U SPORTS Developmental player program. They must qualify as Canadian, and they must have completed at least one full year of eligibility at their U SPORTS institution.


Order for Round 1:

  1. Winnipeg Sea Bears
  2. Montreal Alliance
  3. Calgary Surge (formerly Guelph Nighthawks)
  4. Edmonton Stingers
  5. Saskatchewan Rattlers
  6. Vancouver Bandits
  7. Ottawa BlackJacks
  8. Niagara River Lions
  9. Scarborough Shooting Stars
  10. Brampton Honey Badgers (formerly Hamilton Honey Badgers)


Order for Round 2:

  1. Brampton Honey Badgers
  2. Scarborough Shooting Stars
  3. Niagara River Lions
  4. Ottawa BlackJacks
  5. Vancouver Bandits
  6. Saskatchewan Rattlers
  7. Edmonton Stingers
  8. Calgary Surge
  9. Montreal Alliance
  10. Scarborough Shooting Stars


The 2022 CEBL U SPORTS Draft Class saw elite U SPORTS talent play and train alongside top CEBL professionals with experience playing in premier pro leagues from around the world, including the NBA, NBA G League, and top international FIBA leagues. Notably, first overall pick David Muenkat (Scarborough Shooting Stars) went on to become the U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All-Canadian in 2022-23 while leading STFX to the U SPORTS National championship finals. Aiden Warnholtz (Ottawa BlackJacks) and 2021 CEBL U SPORTS Draft pick Grant Shepherd (Niagara River Lions) won the 2022-23 U SPORTS men’s basketball Final 8 Championship with Carleton University for a second year in a row. Warnholtz was also named First Team All-Canadian and given U SPORTS National Championship Game MVP honours. 


2022 CEBL U SPORTS Player of the Year, Thomas Kennedy won the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy and won the OUA Player of the Year award in 2022-23 after averaging 20.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game with the University of Windsor. Kennedy was also named to the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers this past November. He was named to the 2022 CEBL All-Canadian Team after leading his Fraser Valley Bandits in rebounding (8.3) and field goal accuracy (.636).


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 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps last October. The 2023 CEBL season tips off May 24 with the Brampton Honey Badgers visiting the Ottawa BlackJacks in a game that will be nationally televised on TSN. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Quotes:


“Our U SPORTS Draft produces tremendous talent that showcases the depth of Canadian basketball and our university programs across the country,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “The 2023 Draft will see another twenty homegrown superstars get the chance to play alongside top elite professionals this summer as the CEBL enters its fifth and most exciting season yet.”


“We are very excited for the fifth annual CEBL-U SPORTS Draft,” said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, Chief Sports Officer, U SPORTS. “The CEBL partnership provides a unique experience for U SPORTS student-athletes to pursue professional careers on home soil while shaping the future of basketball in Canada. We look forward to watching phenomenal basketball across the nation this summer."

LATEST NEWS

Vancouver Bandits, FortisBC, I SPARC Host Youth Basketball Camp in Williams Lake

By Bandits Staff • September 10, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, hosted a youth basketball camp on Wednesday, September 9 in Williams Lake, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and FortisBC. The Bandits welcomed over 40 local athletes and their families to the camp, with the main goal of building confidence, inspiring young athletes, and bringing youth sports development and mentorship to athletes across the province. Held at Lake City Secondary, the camp marked the first community visit by BC’s professional basketball team to the Cariboo region, bringing more basketball to more people across our province. “Community is a core pillar of the Bandits organization, and we are proud to host camps and opportunities that help shape and inspire the next generation of players and leaders,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Thank you to our partners at I∙SPARC and FortisBC for their support in bringing this camp to fruition, and to the Williams Lake basketball community for welcoming our team this week.” "We're proud to support opportunities that help young people build confidence, strengthen their skills and create lasting connections," said Janet Devaney, senior manager, community & Indigenous initiatives at FortisBC. "Through initiatives like this basketball camp, Indigenous youth can connect with peers and mentors, develop new skills and experience the positive impact that sport can have on confidence, leadership and a sense of belonging.” The free-of-charge camp was part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.

Bandits Guard Jarkel Joiner Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Charlotte Hornets

By Bandits Staff • September 4, 2026
Vancouver Bandits guard Jarkel Joiner has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets. The news was announced by the Hornets on social media . During his time with the Bandits in the 2026 season, Joiner made 21 appearances, including 13 starts, and finished with 16.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals per games. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.

Former Bandits Guard Kyle Mangas Signs Exhibit 10 Contract with Charlotte Hornets

By Bandits Staff • September 3, 2026
Former Vancouver Bandits guard Kyle Mangas has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets. The news was announced by the Hornets on social media. Mangas is expected to practice and compete with the Hornets during the 2026-27 Training Camp and preseason from October 3rd to 12th. During his time with the Bandits in the 2025 season, Mangas finished top five on the team in points (15.3), rebounds (4.6), assists (3.3) and steals (1.3). Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.

Bandits Unveil Newly Refurbished Basketball Court in South Vancouver

By Bandits Staff • September 1, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits have partnered with the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation and Little Legends Foundation to unveil a newly renovated outdoor basketball court at Grays Park in South Vancouver. Part of the Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative, the team officially unveiled the refurbished court on Saturday (August 30). The grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a free youth basketball clinic led by local coaches. Attendees also enjoyed a complimentary BBQ lunch, free haircuts and massages, and free backpacks and school supplies distributed for local youth. “The Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative was designed to build and enhance public outdoor courts,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “The love for the game grows in spaces like Grays Park. This project would not have been possible without the support of our community partners. We will continue to enhance outdoor public courts, make them more inviting, and create stronger communities through basketball.” “Over the past few years, we have been trying to build one of the nicest courts here in South Vancouver for the community,” said community leader Spensir Sangara. “We recognized that Grays Park was one of the few neighbourhood parks without a quality basketball court for the community. Thank you to our businesses and donors who came together to make our vision a reality. This court is filled with a rich basketball culture and this is a legendary day for our community.” “When the Vancouver Bandits approached the Vancouver Park Board with the idea to upgrade this park, it seemed like the right fit and partner to help renew an important asset in a community where basketball plays such an important role,” said Vancouver Park Board Director of Business Services John Brodie. “Thank you to the Bandits and our partners for their generous contributions, and for being examples of what having a strong, community-oriented mission looks like.” The court refurbishment at Grays Park, located at 4850 St. Catherines Street in Vancouver, includes upgrades to the basketball hoops, playing area resurfacing and seating areas. Grays Park was identified as one of Vancouver’s most active outdoor basketball spaces, and community feedback strongly supported the refurbishment. Established in October 2023, the goal of Court Projects is to enhance outdoor basketball courts across British Columbia, creating productive and safe spaces for individuals to play while enriching local basketball at the community level. To date, this partnered team effort has featured the construction and installation of six brand new outdoor basketball courts and upgrading hundreds of basketball rims in communities across BC.​​

LATEST VIDEO

Full Game Highlights | Bandits at Saskatoon, 05/14/2026

By Bandits Staff • May 15, 2026
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Mamba on May 14, 2026.

A Message from Vancouver Bandits head coach Kyle Julius

By Bandits Staff • August 18, 2025
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.

Full Game Highlights | Bandits vs. Calgary Surge (08/16/2025)

By Bandits Staff • August 16, 2025
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.

Full Game Highlights | Bandits vs. Winnipeg Sea Bears (08/03/2024)

By Bandits Staff • August 4, 2025
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.