MIKE TAYLOR JOINS HONEY BADGERS COACHING STAFF FOR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AMERICAS

CEBL Staff • October 18, 2022

2022 CEBL Champion represents Canada in international champions’ event

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday the coaching and management staff of the 2022 CEBL Champion Honey Badgers that will represent Canada in the upcoming FIBA Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA). The BCLA brings together 12 teams representing seven countries from South and Central America along with Canada’s national champion, competing over the course of four months to win a berth in the 2023 FIBA International Cup, one of professional basketball’s most prestigious international competitions. The BCLA begins pool play in December. FIBA will announce scheduling details shortly.


With Honey Badgers Head Coach Ryan Schmidt unavailable due to his coaching obligations with the London Lions of the British Basketball League this winter, Sheldon Cassimy, who served as his lead assistant during the 2022 championship run, will serve as head coach alongside Associate Head Coach Mike Taylor, who brings extensive international head coaching experience to the staff. They will be joined by assistant coaches Mike Fraser and Mike De Giorgio. Jermaine Anderson will continue to serve as the team’s General Manager.


Taylor was the head coach of the Fraser Valley Bandits this past CEBL season leading them to fourth in the regular season standings. As part of his extensive coaching resume, he led the Polish National Team to a top eight finish in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China and three Eurobasket competition qualifications (2015, 2017, 2022) while further improving their FIBA World Ranking from 42nd in 2014 to 13th in 2021. He has also served as head coach for three German professional teams; including Niners Chemnitz (formerly known as BV Chemnitz) in 2001-02, Ratiopharm Ulm from 2003-2011 and the Hamburg Towers from 2018-2020. Ratiopharm Ulm and Hamburg Teams were promoted from the second division league to division 1 Bundesliga (BBL) under his leadership. Taylor also coached the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League in 2012-13 leading them to their first-ever playoff appearance that season. He also coached the G League All-Star game in Houston, Texas that season.


"I am very excited about the upcoming BCLA windows and am thankful to be a part of the Honey Badgers staff. I appreciate Sheldon Cassimy, Jermaine Anderson and everyone who helped get me involved. I am keen to support the players and staff with positive energy. During my time in Poland, we were strong throughout FIBA's in-season windows and I hope to share my knowledge with our staff and team. The CEBL is a great league and I am thrilled to be part of the fold after a great summer with the Bandits. I am looking forward to these new experiences and helping the Honey Badgers and CEBL with the challenges, matchups and opportunities posed by the BCLA." - Mike Taylor, Associate Head Coach, Honey Badgers

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