The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6 '9 American forward Antonio Junior “AJ” Davis. The Buford, Georgia native will return to Niagara ahead of their matchup against the Montreal Alliance on Sunday July 12. A two-time CEBL champion with the River Lions, Davis has appeared in 64 games over four seasons in Niagara, averaging 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He returns after helping the Sudbury Five capture the Basketball Super League ( BSL ) championship, averaging 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Davis started his college career at the University of Tennessee before transferring to the University of Central Florida (UCF) his sophomore year. In three seasons with the Knights, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Davis became an accomplished NCAA athlete, scoring 1030 points over his time in college, finishing 8th all-time in rebounds at UCF (633), and 7th in free throws (319). He earned Second Team All-Conference honours from NBC Sports and was named to The American Weekly Honour Roll five times during his senior year. Growing up, Davis was no stranger to the game of basketball; his father, Antonio Davis, was drafted 45th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 1990 NBA draft. He played 13 seasons in the NBA with Indiana , Toronto , Chicago, and New York Knicks before later serving as President of the National Basketball Players Association ( NBPA ) and as an analyst for ESPN . AJ’s twin sister, Kaela Davis, plays for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA . Davis began his professional career with KB Prishtina of the Kosovo Basketball Superleague in 2018 before embarking on a career that has taken him across Europe, Australia and the Americas. Along the way, he has competed in Australia's NBL , the NBA G League , NBA Summer League with the Philadelphia 76ers , and professional leagues in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Sweden, Greece and Germany, winning championships with Mauricio Baez Club and most recently the Sudbury Five. In 2022, Davis brought his veteran presence and versatility to the River Lions, joining for his first season in the CEBL. A member of the Niagara River Lions' 2024 and 2025 CEBL championship-winning teams, Davis returns to a program where he helped establish one of the CEBL's premier winning cultures. "I’m excited to be back! Looking forward to seeing all the fans and community at the Meridian Centre.” Said Davis, “Niagara has been a second home to me for years and we’ve created a brotherhood that will last a lifetime.” ### About the Niagara River Lions: The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court.

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the team has re-signed Deng Adel for the 2026 Season. The 6’7 forward from Khartoum, South Sudan, has spent four previous seasons with the BlackJacks and has been with the franchise since the 2022 season. Adel is the franchise record holder for points with 964, rebounds with 356, assists with 319 and steals with 53. Adel has left his mark on the BlackJacks for the last four seasons, and has come prepared to do the same in his fifth. In the 2025 season with the BlackJacks, Adel played in 21 games and averaged 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists. In the 2024 season with the BlackJacks, Adel played in just nine games, coming in halfway through the season and posted an average of 12 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. In the 2023 season with the BlackJacks, Adel played 17 games and averaged 17.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists. In his first season with the BlackJacks and first season playing in the international basketball scene, Adel played in all 20 games and put up an average of 16 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists. Adel is no stranger to the world of international basketball. He has played across Europe and Australia, playing in the Australian NBL, the Bulgarian NBL, the Danish Basketligaen and the French LNB. In his first professional season in the international basketball scene, he played for Illawarra, of the Australian NBL for the 2020-21. There, he averaged 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and two assists per game. Then for the 2022-23 season, he played with the BC Balkan of the Bulgarian NBL. There, he averaged 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Then he headed to France to play Boulazac Basket Dordogne in the French LNB for the 2023-24 season. There, he played in 40 total games and averaged 7.7 points, three rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Most recently, in the 2024-25 season Adel played in the Australian NBL, with the Brisbane Bullets. There, he played in 10 games and averaged 4.7 points and 1.5 rebounds. Before moving to international play, Deng played in the NBA and NBA G League for three seasons. He began his career in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905, their G League affiliate team in the 2028-19 season. Adel played 25 games with the 905, and started in 24 of them. He averaged 13 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He was then waived by the Raptors and signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played 19 games with the Cavs in the 2018-19 NBA season, and started in three. He averaged 1.7 points, and one rebounds per game. He then spent time with the Cavaliers G League affiliate team, the Cleveland Charge. He averaged 12 points, six rebounds and two assists across 12 games. In the 2019-20 season, Adel signed with the Long Island Nets, the G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets. There, he averaged 11 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals. For the 2021-22 season, Adel played with the Maine Celtics, the G League affiliate of the Boston Celtics. He averaged 7.7 points, four rebounds and 2.2 assists there. Before playing professionally, Adel played three seasons with Louisville in the NCAA, from 2015-18. Across three years there, he averaged 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and two assists. In the 2017-18 season, and his final year playing in the NCAA system, he was a ACC All-Honourable Mention. Born on February 1, 1997, the 29 year old played his high school years atVictory Rock Prep, in Sarasota, FL. ###

Tonight's Canadian Elite Basketball League game between the Vancouver Bandits and Edmonton Stingers at Edmonton Expo Centre will not be livestreamed on CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca, or YouTube due to technical issues caused by inclement weather affecting the arena. The game will be played as scheduled. Fans can follow live scores at CEBL.ca, with periodic updates on our @CEBLeague social channels. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. LIVESCORE UPDATES: https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2798791

The Montreal Alliance of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today the signing of forward Jack Hemphill. The 6-foot-9 forward joins the Alliance after spending the 2025-26 season in Europe with Akademik Bulteks 99 Plovdiv in Bulgaria and KK Metalac Valjevo in Serbia. Hemphill opened the season in Bulgaria, averaging 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while leading his team in three-point percentage at 46.0 percent. He then finished the year in Serbia, where he averaged a career-high 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 44.2 percent from three-point range. Prior to that, Hemphill appeared in a career-high 41 games with LWD Aris Leeuwarden in the BNXT League, averaging 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game while helping the club reach the Dutch Bracket semifinals. His season was highlighted by a career-best 19-point, nine-rebound performance against Okapi Aalstar, and he finished third on the team in made three-pointers. Before turning professional, Hemphill spent five NCAA Division I seasons at Boston University and St. Francis (NY). During his collegiate career, he appeared in 114 games, helping Boston University capture a Patriot League championship and earn an NCAA Tournament berth before concluding his collegiate career at St. Francis. Hemphill now joins the Alliance as the organization continues its 2026 CEBL campaign. The Alliance has also released guard Jalin Anderson. The organization thanks him for his contributions and wishes him continued success in his professional career. -REPMTL- About the Montreal Alliance The Montreal Alliance is a professional basketball team competing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada's premier summer basketball league. The organization is committed to delivering high-level basketball and an engaging experience for fans in Montreal and across Quebec.

The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that they have signed NBA G League-experienced forward Yor Anei. After spending two seasons in the G League across six teams, Anei is taking his professional career to Canada for the first time with the Honey Badgers, who are currently in the midst of a very important stretch of games against their Eastern Conference rivals. He is coming off of his best professional season to date in Kosovo with the Vellaznimi Gjakome, where he put up 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 21.8 minutes in 25 games. “Yor is a solid player and person” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “He’s a long and versatile two-way player who will add more rotational depth to our roster. We look forward to welcoming him to the Honey Badgers family.” Anei, 26, spent his five years at the collegiate level with DePaul University, Southern Methodist University, and Oklahoma State University, where he averaged 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks over 126 games. During his time with Oklahoma State, he tied the Cowboys’ school-record for blocks in a game twice, with eight swats. His defensive skill gives an immediate boost to the Honey Badgers, who rank fifth in the CEBL with blocks at 52. “We're excited to welcome Yor to the team,” said Honey Badgers Head Coach Alex Cerda. “He is an elite shot-blocker and gives us a lot of defensive versatility. His ability to quickly adapt to a team’s structure and find his role on the fly is something that we highly value, with all the moving parts of a CEBL season.” The Brampton Honey Badgers head on the road once again for a pair of pivotal battles, squaring off against the Montreal Alliance on Friday, July 10, and then head to the nation’s capital to take on the Ottawa BlackJacks on Sunday, July 12. You can tune in live for free online at CBC Gem, the CBC Sports YouTube page, and CEBL+. ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca

No longer can teams use “it’s early” as an excuse. As this CEBL season rolls into July and nears the home stretch, the playoff picture is beginning to emerge, title contenders have fully announced themselves and the race to a new-look post-season is heating up. On an individual level, the frontrunners for season-ending awards are also starting to form. Here’s a look at a few MVP candidates: Teddy Allen, Winnipeg Sea Bears Allen returned to the CEBL after a year off, with a vengeance. The Sea Bears star leads the league in scoring by a wide margin, with his 29.3 points per game, four clear of second place. He’s top five in free-throw percentage and has even added a new element on the defensive side, blowing away his previous career high with 36 steals (second in the league) and counting. The favourite to win the award at this point, the 2023 MVP has also been the focal point of a winning Sea Bears squad that still awaits the return of a fellow former MVP Xavier Moon. Winnipeg leads the West at 10-5, including wins in six of its last seven games. Could a first, long-awaited championship be in store for Allen next? His MVP-type performance through 15 games certainly indicates that’s very much in play. Myles Powell, Scarborough Shooting Stars Who’s the guy sitting second behind Allen in scoring? That would be Powell, whose CEBL rookie season has seen him guide the Shooting Stars to an eye-popping 14-2 start and a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference. Powell, an American guard, has taken quickly to Target Score Endings, leading the league with seven winners, while only one other player across the CEBL has even four. His heroics helped launch Scarborough, which started its season with a string of comeback wins and has hardly looked back since. The 28-year-old Seton Hall product is one of two players averaging at least four three-pointers per game on 35.2 per cent shooting, and he leads his team in assists per game at 4.4, also. MVP-calibre stuff, no doubt, and voters may be inclined to give the tie to the player whose team has a better record if it comes down to Allen and Powell. Sean East II, Brampton Honey Badgers This would be among the most poetic wins if East II, last year’s MVP runner-up, turned it around and finished first this season. It was looking even likelier when his Honey Badgers raced to a 7-1 start to their season. However, East II’s chances took a hit with Brampton on a major slide since then to fall back to 8-7 thanks to six losses in seven games. Still, East II’s name is littered across stat leaderboards, sitting fifth in points per game (22.8), second in assists (7.4), third in steals (2.3) and fifth in free-throw percentage (90.6) — though some of that good work is undone by his 4.2 turnover per game, more than one more than second-place Allen. (That House is third shows that turnovers are simply a byproduct of being the best player on your team, but still). East II has not played since June 27. Tyrese Samuel, Bandits The reigning Canadian of the year has returned in even better form this season, as Samuel has provided a frontcourt sidekick for House in the Bandits’ exploits. The Montreal native is second in rebounds per game (9.4) and the leading Canadian scorer at 18.8 points, which sits third on Vancouver. Like House, Samuel will also be imperative in the Bandits’ transition from Julius to Rans Brempong, especially as he is now in his second season with the organization. Perhaps the mid-season switch and the adversity that comes with it will finally help Vancouver win its long-awaited maiden title after years of regular-season success. Weekly schedule (Nine games) Game #77 – Tuesday, July 7 – VAN at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST / 6:30 p.m. PT / 9:30 p.m. ET – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #78 – Wednesday, July 8 – MTL at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #79 – Thursday, July 9 – EDM at WPG – 7 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #80 – Thursday, July 9 – VAN at CGY – 6:30 p.m. MT / 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET – Scotiabank Saddledome (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #81 – Friday, July 10 – SSS at NRL – 7 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #82 – Friday, July 10 – BHB at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #83 – Saturday, July 11 – VAN at EDM – 7 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #84 – Sunday, July 12 – MTL at NRL – 3 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #85 – Sunday, July 12 – CGY at WPG – 2:30 p.m. CDT / 1:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC, CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #86 – Sunday, July 12 – BHB at OTT – 4 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .

The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’2 American guard Kyle Vinales for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Vinales is expected to make his River Lions debut Friday against the Scarborough Shooting Stars. Vinales joins the River Lions after a 2025-26 campaign which saw him feature for the Sichuan Blue Whales of the CBA and NKA Universitas Pecs of the Hungarian NBIA . Across both stops, the veteran guard posted an impressive stat line of 24.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, showcasing the dynamic scoring and playmaking ability that has defined his professional career. "Kyle is a high-level, experienced pro who has played all over the world," said River Lions Head Coach and General Manager Kimbal Mackenzie. "He will bring us playmaking, scoring, and leadership from the guard spot. We're excited to have him!" "I’m excited for this opportunity and grateful to be joining the River Lions,” said Vinales. “I can’t wait to get to work, compete every night, and do everything I can to help this team win another championship. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Niagara soon." The Farmington Hills, Michigan native started his collegiate career with the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils . Vinales made an immediate impact, capturing the NEC Rookie of the Year award in his freshman season while recording 17.9 points and 3.6 assists per game. He elevated his game during his sophomore campaign, earning NABC All-District First Team and All-NEC First Team honors with a college career-high 21.6 points per game to go along with 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals. Over three seasons with the Blue Devils, Vinales established himself as one of the NEC's premier scoring guards, starting 64 of 79 games and averaging 19.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Following his collegiate career, Vinales built an accomplished international career spanning Puerto Rico, Europe, and Asia. Early in his professional career, Vinales emerged as one of Puerto Rico's top offensive guards, highlighted by a standout 2017-18 campaign with Caciques de Humacao where he averaged 20.1 points and 3.6 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from three-point range. Vinales then transitioned to major European markets, blossoming into a true focal point overseas. His international resume includes prolific scoring stints across Europe's top divisions, including leading BC Kalev-Cramo in the VTB United League with 17.7 points and 4.6 assists per game, a dominant run with Legia Warszawa in the Polish League averaging 18.3 points and 6.0 assists per game, and robust performances in France's Jeep Elite with Nancy Basket . The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court.