The South Sudanese-Australian becomes the first non-American Import to sign with Ottawa

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday the signing of their first non-American import, South Sudanese-Australian Deng Adel.

A University of Louisville alumnus, Adel has averaged 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 126 games as a pro in the NBA, NBA G-League and NBL Australia.

In 2019, after starting in 24 of his 25 outings with the Raptors 905, Adel signed a two-way NBA contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Four days later, he was called into the game against Denver and scored his first triple. It would be his first of 19 games with the Cavaliers. He played a season-high 36 minutes, totalling five points, two rebounds and a season-high two blocks February 8 against Washington and scored a season-high six points, shooting two-for-two from behind the arc January 27 against Chicago. He also played for the Houston Rockets during the 2019 NBA Summer League, where he averaged 8.8 points in five games.

The 6-foot-7 forward is currently playing his 2021-22 winter campaign with the Maine Celtics in the NBA G-League. He is averaging 5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 17.9 minutes in 18 games. He netted a season-high 15 points, shooting three-for-seven from behind the arc, to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals January 15 against the Cleveland Charge. He spent the previous season back home, playing with Illawarra in the NBL Australia, the top-tier domestic men’s professional basketball league, where he averaged 5.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23 games.

It won’t be Adel’s first time working alongside BlackJacks Head Coach Charles Dubé-Brais. In 2018-2019, Adel signed his first professional contract with the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League, where Dubé-Brais served as an assistant coach. Adel averaged 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 31.6 minutes in 25 games.

Collegiately, Adel started in 71 of 89 games in his three years at Louisville. His junior season, he led the team in scoring with 14.9 points per game. He also averaged 5.2 rebounds that year.

The Khartoum, South Sudan native moved to Australia in 2004, at the age of four, to escape civil war. He originally found a passion for soccer and track & field before being introduced to basketball. In 2013, he moved to the United States to pursue his basketball career at Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Florida.

In January 2022, the CEBL has announced that each team will allocate one spot on its 10-man active roster to a non-American import player. While growing its international reach, the CEBL will see a record minimum of 60 roster availability for domestic athletes due to the addition of three new franchises – Scarborough, Newfoundland and Montreal.

Adel is the second player to sign with the BlackJacks for the 2022 season. Last week, Ottawa announced the re-signing of 6-foot-11 Canadian forward Chad Posthumus.

The BlackJacks 2022 regular season schedule will consist of 20 games, including 10 home games at the Arena at TD Place. The team will open up the campaign with a home game versus Fraser Valley on May 25 and will wrap up the regular season with a date against Montreal at TD Place on August 1. In addition to 10 regular season home games, the BlackJacks will be hosting the 2022 CEBL Championship Weekend from August 12-14, 2022. The team with the best regular season record will join host Ottawa with automatic berths into the four-team Championship Weekend.

Fans can now purchase 2022 BlackJacks season and half-season seat memberships, and Flex Packs at theblackjacks.ca/tickets . Season seat members have exclusive access to 2022 CEBL Championship tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Ottawa BlackJacks Membership Services team directly at 613-690-0519 or by email at [email protected].

Quotes:

“We’re happy to sign Deng Adel as our first non-American import. Deng is an all-around player who can score and facilitate very well. He has great character and embodies the BlackJacks core values. He has played in some of the best leagues in the world, including in the NBA, and will bring his international experience to our team. I’m looking forward to welcoming him here in the nation’s capital.”

- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

“ I’m really excited about this opportunity to come back and play in Canada again. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the CEBL. I’m looking forward to joining the BlackJacks organization and also reconnecting with Coach Charles again, while building a championship culture .”

- Deng Adel, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

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About the Ottawa BlackJacks

The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital. Having recently completed its second season, the BlackJacks earned a semifinal appearance at the 2021 CEBL Championship Weekend in Edmonton. The Ottawa front office brings NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. Led by General Manager Jevohn Shepherd and Head Coach Charles Dubé-Brais, Ottawa plays its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. The BlackJacks and the City of Ottawa have been awarded the rights to host the 2022 CEBL Championship Weekend from August 12-14, 2022 with games taking place in the Arena at TD Place. The CEBL Championship Weekend will be a celebration of basketball, music, and local culture that will feature concerts, street festivals, the CEBL Awards , and several legacy projects to be announced at a later date. For more information visit www.theblackjacks.ca.

About Canadian Elite Basketball League

A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

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