NCAA-Experienced Guard Makes CEBL Debut with Saskatchewan Rattlers

Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Rattlers announced Thursday that they have signed Canadian guard Jalen Warren to their roster for the upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Warren makes his CEBL debut after a season of career-highs while playing for Silute (NKL-National Basketball League) in Lithuania. Warren reunites with 2017-18 teammate Mike Nuga when the 2023 Saskatchewan Rattlers roster meets at training camp this month.

“Jalen is a high energy, high talent guard that is going really excite fans with his athleticism.” said Rattler General Manager Barry Rawlyk “He is a highly competitive individual who will not back down or take any plays off. His competitive spirit will be infectious on our roster.”

Warren made his professional debut in the 2022-23 NKL-National Basketball League with BC Silute in Šilutė, Lithuania. In his rookie season, he played 43 games of the 44-game season averaging 16.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 30.9 minutes per game. He ranked first on the team in total points (706) while shooting 54%, first on the team in total three-point shots made (59) while shooting 34%, and first on the team in total assists (136). The guard set new career-highs with 29 points on April 2nd, and secured five steals in two separate games this season. 

Prior to his professional career, Warren attended Bishop Reding High School in his hometown of Milton, Ontario. Warren was named North Pole Hoops Showcase MVP in 2015. For his senior year in 2016-17, he joined the London Basketball Academy and helped lead them to the NPA National Championship. Warren committed to Eastern Florida Junior College for the 2017-18 season where he played alongside second year guard Mike Nuga. Warren played two seasons with Eastern Florida averaging 9.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 20.4 minutes in 69 games. In his freshman year, he helped lead the team to a 30-5 record and a national third place finish with Warren scoring a team-high 19 points in the final game of the season. In his second year with the team, he was named to the 2019 All Mid-Florida Conference First Team.

Warren entered NCAA D1 as a junior with Florida Gulf Coast for the 2019-20. He spent two seasons with the Eagles averaging 11.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 27.4 minutes over 49 games with 39 appearances in the starting line-up. He ranked first on his team in total assists (120) in his first year with the team, and third in total points (209) while shooting 47% from the field. In his final NCAA D1 season, Warren transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago for the 2021-22 season. As a senior with the UIC Flames, he averaged 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 24.3 minutes over 28 games. In his final NCAA season, he finished second on his team in total assists (97), and first on his team in total free throws made (62) while shooting 85% from the charity stripe. 

“I’m honored to announce that I’ll be joining the Rattlers this season!” said Warren “This is another accomplishment that I’ve trained and worked hard for. I’m looking forward to everything the CEBL has in store for me. Can’t wait to be a part of the Rattlers family!”

Canadian Elite Basketball League free agency will continue leading up to the announcement of the full training camp roster. The Rattlers season opener is scheduled for May 31st 2023 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, SK.

Individual game tickets range from $30 in the bronze section to $90 for seating in the courtside row 2 (All courtside row 1 offers are sold out), three-games bundles start at $28/seat per game in the bronze section, half season five-packs start at $35/seat per game in the silver section, and season tickets include 10 regular season games and one playoff game starting at $33/seat per game. All ticket can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website, or via Ticketmaster. For more seating options, luxury suites, and group rates; fans can contact an account executive

All games including playoffs will be live streamed on CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). TSN will showcase live coverage of select CEBL games on TSN and TSN+.

About the Saskatchewan Rattlers
The Saskatchewan Rattlers are Saskatchewan’s professional basketball team, one of the six original team’s in the CEBL – the Rattlers won the 2019 inaugural season championship. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – the Rattlers offer an entertainment-focused environment surrounded by some of the world’s top professional athletes. The Rattlers are a community-first organization and take pride in their ability to bring communities together while making sport more accessible to the province. 

About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
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 roster being Canadian Players bringing experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National 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 have attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, & YouTube.

For more information on the Saskatchewan Rattlers professional basketball team - visit therattlers.ca.