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Honey Badgers Name Broxsie as new Head Coach

April 24, 2023

Cleveland Cavaliers assistant brings NBA, NBA G League experience to Brampton

The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday that Antoine Broxsie has been named the third head coach in team history. He replaces 2022 CEBL Coach of the Year Ryan Schmidt, who is unable to return for a fourth season with the Honey Badgers due to his obligations to the London Lions of the British Basketball League.


Currently Player Development coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are playing the New York Knicks in the NBA playoffs, Broxsie brings a lengthy resume to Brampton that includes a 15-year playing career in pro leagues around the world, and assistant coaching stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets of the NBA, and with the Memphis Hustle and Rio Grande Vipers of the NBA G League. He also spent two years working alongside current Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association.


“Player Development and helping our players reach their next level has always been priority number one for the Honey Badgers organization, and Antoine Broxsie brings an abundance of expertise and experience in that capacity from the NBA, NBA G League and internationally,” said Honey Badgers team president John Lashway. “Antoine’s extensive experience as a professional player at this level of basketball will benefit our players and entire organization as we seek to repeat as champions of the CEBL. We have had a remarkable 50 players in four seasons sign contracts to play internationally following a summer with us, and I’m optimistic Antoine will continue to keep this franchise the best in the CEBL at progressing players up the ladder.”


A native of Tampa, Florida, Broxsie graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2002 following two seasons at Minnesota. His professional playing career took him to eight countries, including Saudi Arabia, China, Cyprus, Japan, Venezuela, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Iran. He won several league championships and numerous individual honours that included multiple Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. He holds citizenship in the United States and Dominican Republic, is fluent in Spanish and English, as well as conversational in Chinese and Japanese.


Broxsie coached in China, Thailand and Japan before returning to the United States as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies NBA Summer League team in 2018. He spent the 2018-19 season as assistant coach with the Memphis Hustle and working in player development with the Memphis Grizzlies. He moved onto the Houston Rockets and their G League affiliate Rio Grande in the same capacities the following year. Broxsie joined the staff of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff when Bickerstaff was appointed to his current position leading the Cleveland Cavaliers.


The 6-foot-11 43-year-old has trained and developed numerous NBA players. The job in Brampton will be his first as a professional head coach. “I am looking forward to serving as head coach of the Brampton Honey Badgers and contributing to their longstanding culture of being the place where premier players want to come to get better and compete for a championship,” said Broxsie. “I would like to thank John Lashway and Jermaine Anderson for entrusting me with this opportunity. It’s exciting to be leading a team that will be working to defend its championship in a highly competitive high level pro league. Our team will compete hard and our fans in Brampton will enjoy watching some of the best pro basketball outside of the NBA.”


Preceding Broxsie as head coach with the Honey Badgers was Chantal Vallée, who served as both head coach and general manager during the inaugural season of 2019 and guided the team into the championship game, and Schmidt, who led the team to the championship semifinals in 2020 and to the title last season. Schmidt is presently head coach of one of the emerging teams in European professional basketball.


The Honey Badgers, who won the 2022 CEBL Championship as the Hamilton Honey Badgers before the impending closure of their arena for a two-year renovation project led them to permanently relocate to Brampton last December, open training camp for the league’s fifth season May 15. The club has already announced the return of key members from last year’s title team that include Jeremiah Tilmon Jr., Koby McEwen, Zane Waterman, Prince Oduro, and Kyle Johnson.


Brampton opens the regular season May 24 at Ottawa before hosting their home-opener at the CAA Centre on May 26 versus Scarborough, the team they knocked off in the 2022 league championship game.


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.

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The holiday season is about spending time and celebrating with friends and loved ones while also supporting important causes and initiatives in the community. The Honey Badgers front office staff visited the Regeneration Marketplace and the Regeneration Marketplace on Tuesday afternoon to sort food donations, portion meals, stock shelves and assist guests with food selection. “As leaders in our Brampton community, it is extremely important for us to collaborate with local organizations that continue to make a positive impact in the lives of others on a daily basis,” said Josie Pingitore, vice president of the Brampton Honey Badgers. “Our organization is committed to continue to make strides in our community growth, not only during the holiday season but throughout the calendar year.” Regeneration Marketplace is a local food bank in the heart of downtown Brampton, operating to provide quality, helpful food and household items for those in need in the community. Open 365 days a year, they proudly serve 39,000+ meals annually with more than 1,100 households receiving the necessary food and goods on a weekly basis. “Right now we are just inundated with donations, and the work the Honey Badgers did to help us sort saved us so much time,” said Katie Cleland, director of development at Regeneration Outreach Community. “This will help us get the food on the shelves much quicker so that we can serve more people this week.” The Honey Badgers staff were also joined by Amisha Moorjani, owner of The Food Quotient, and Rod Power, City of Brampton Councillor of Wards 7 and 8. This is one of many initiatives that the Honey Badgers and Councillor Power have collaborated on this holiday season, including turkey drives and Christmas dinners for underprivileged youth. To learn more about how you can contribute to the Regeneration Office & Meal Program or Regeneration Marketplace, please contact [email protected] or visit www.regenbrampton.com .
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LANGLEY, BC - The Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team is proud to announce the launch of the Bandits Community Foundation - the team’s dedicated charitable and philanthropic arm. This foundation is committed to empowering youth and driving positive change across British Columbia through innovative basketball and education programs. The Bandits Community Foundation will prioritize creating pathways for youth and adults to excel both on and off the court. Its initiatives include supporting local nonprofits, increasing access to basketball in underserved communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to engage in the sport—all while fostering community connections and personal growth. “We believe in the power of community and the ability of sports to inspire, unite, and create lasting change,” said Dylan Kular, Executive Director of the Bandits Community Foundation. “The launch of the Bandits Community Foundation is a commitment to giving back and empowering the next generation. Together, we are building a brighter future, one bucket at a time.” To guide this effort, the Bandits Community Foundation will be guided by an esteemed Board of Directors: Shawn Dheensaw, Basketball BC Executive Director Teresa Gabriele, Canada Basketball national team alumni Charles Hethey, O’Neil Law LLP Lawyer and Partner Dylan Kular, Vancouver Bandits Basketball Team President Peter Natrall, ISPARC Regional Coordinator Kim Smith-Gaucher, 3x3 Canada Basketball Women’s Head Coach Lucky Toor, TGL Group CPA’s LLP Co-Founder and Partner Full biographies of the Foundation’s board members can be found here . In addition to basketball-centred programs, the Foundation will support local charities, schools, and community organizations through scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and event collaborations. Its overarching vision is to ensure sport and education are accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic circumstances. The Vancouver Bandits have long championed community engagement through initiatives such as: Court Projects: Building and refurbishing outdoor basketball courts across BC Bandits School Tour: Delivering cost-free basketball workshops and practice instruction to high school teams Community Champion Initiative: Providing youth and families in need with the special experience of a Vancouver Bandits game Indigenous Basketball Collective: A partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council to foster opportunities for Indigenous players and coaches The Bandits Community Foundation invites individuals and businesses to join its mission, amplifying its impact through donations and partnerships. Every contribution helps provide vital tools, experiences, and support for youth to thrive. For more information about the Bandits Community Foundation, its programs, or ways to get involved, visit www.banditsfoundation.ca . Follow the Foundation’s journey on social media: Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter @BanditsFoundation.
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The Canadian Elite Basketball League mourns the loss of one of our most beloved players, Chad Posthumus. Chad was a founding player in our league, helping lead Saskatchewan to the inaugural CEBL championship in 2019. He was a fan favourite in ensuing years playing with Ottawa and Winnipeg and representing Edmonton and Brampton in international tournaments. Chad had a love for people and for the game of basketball that lit up even the largest arenas. His spirit and passion touched the hearts of fans and inspired teammates and all of us blessed to have shared Chad’s all-too-brief life with him. Chad represented the best in aspiring Canadian basketball players during his professional career in Japan, Argentina, and here at home. Off the court he was an Academic All-American in college and was a dedicated advocate for those living with Diabetes. The impact Chad made on our world is as undeniable as the force that he was on the court. Our deepest sympathies go out to Chad’s family, his legion of friends, fans, and teammates, and to the Winnipeg Sea Bears organization. - CEBL -
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Drew Green’s basketball roots run deep. Green, the CEO of Indochino, played high-school hoops against the likes of Rowan Barrett, starred on the York University squad and went on to ply his trade professionally in Australia and Singapore. Now, his two sons are forging their own careers in the sport — and Green is right there with them. On Thursday, the CEBL announced that the accomplished executive was coming aboard as its first-ever Chair of the Board of Governors and co-owner. “We are a basketball family, right? We've been in the gym, my sons and I, thousands and thousands of hours. We have an NBA half court literally in our front yard that we built during COVID. And so this is going to be a lot of fun,” he said. It’s a partnership that fits as snugly as a well-tailored suit. The Scarborough, Ont., native said that watching his sons find their love for basketball in recent years reignited his own affinity for the sport. “The two areas of passion in my life are basketball and business. And they interplay really well with this role,” Green said. Throughout the many business ventures, Green said his first job was as a father to Liam and Aidan and as a husband to his wife, Andrea Dayco. While his sons are triple-citizens of Canada, the U.S. and the Philippines, Green has made it a point to raise them with Canadian values — and to push them toward the national basketball culture. “I've seen the evolution of basketball in this country firsthand. When I played in high school, I think we had one, maybe two people that ever played in the NBA. The ability to play in the U.S. and go to and play (NCAA) Division One basketball didn't really exist. “Rowan was one of that first cohorts that played, and that was amazing, but it was so rare.” Now, there are nearly 200 Canadians playing in college basketball’s top division. Among those players is Liam, who recently accepted a five-year scholarship at Florida Atlantic University. Aidan plays for the renowned prep school Montverde Academy, which produced the likes of current Raptors RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes. Liam heads to FAU with some CEBL background, having practised with Vancouver Bandits head coach Kyle Julius. Green said the CEBL has quickly become a foundational piece of the Canadian basketball landscape through its partnership with U Sports, its reach to all corners of the country and its affordability. “I think there's just an amazing group of people involved in the league that are really passionate about growing the sport, growing the business (and) providing a really, really incredible experience to customers. “You've got some of the best athletes in Canada and the world playing in the games. … The product continues to get better and better every year,” he said. Besides his impressive basketball resumé, Green has enjoyed a long, successful career in business. He took over as CEO of Indochino, the men’s formal-wear company, 10 years ago and proceeded to launch its retail business, raise over $100 million in strategic capital commitments and guide the brand through the pandemic. Prior to Indochino, Green founded Canada’s first multi-merchant marketplace (now owned by Emerge Commerce) and was an executive at DoubleClick (acquired by Google) and Shop.com. At the CEBL, Green will help introduce the league to potential partners and investors while assisting the league and team owners on business matters. CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale called the partnership with Green “an incredible win.” “Drew’s business success speaks for itself and his passion for the game mimics all involved in making the CEBL a homegrown and global success. His personal financial investment into the league demonstrates his strong belief of our bright future and recognizes the foundation that has been built during our formative years,” Morreale said. “Personally, I look forward to getting right to work with Drew on the next stage of the CEBL and the growth of our game.” Green said the CEBL is on a “great trajectory,” but projected plenty of growth potential too. “Whether that's sponsors or investors or other types of strategic partners that really align with growing the game of basketball and growing the business of basketball in Canada, I think there's lots and lots of opportunities,” he said. “When you try to do something on your own in life, it often takes you a lot longer than it should at the core of it. 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