GUELPH, ON - Kimbal Mackenzie rejoins the Guelph Nighthawks after a successful performance during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series , and a career season with CBP Huesca in the Spanish LEB Gold League.

Mackenzie opted for his high school career to take place at John Carroll High School in Washington, DC/Baltimore. During Kimbal’s sophomore season at Bucknell, he was voted as one of the most improved players in the Patriot League, and was selected to the Third-Team All Patriot League. Mackenzie persevered through his injury-riddled junior season where he underwent abdominal muscle tear surgery and bounced back averaging 8.3 points and 2.4 assists per game. On the opening night of his senior season at Bucknell, Kimbal scored a career high 28 points against St. Bonaventure University. His exceptional senior season continued as he averaged 17.6 points per game which led the team to finish third in the Patriot League. To conclude his senior season, Mackenzie was selected to the First-Team All-Patriot League, and was awarded the Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year. Overall, Kimbal was ranked 18th all-time in points scored and fourth all-time in three-point field goals made at Buckell.

At the end of his inaugural season in the CEBL, Mackenzie played for the Real Valladolid CB in the Spanish LEB Gold League, where he averaged six points per game in 18 games played. In November 2020, Kimbal signed with CBP Huesca in the same league. Of his 16 games played, Mackenzie started 12, averaged 9.3 points per game, and 1.3 three-point field goals per game.

Notables:

• Ranked 18th all-time in Bucknell points scored. (1,330). Also ranks fourth all-time in three-point field goals made (211), and second in career free throw percentage (.854)
• In his Freshman season at Bucknell, Kimbal averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 rebounds per game
• In his Sophomore season at Bucknell, he averaged 11.9 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Shot an efficient 46.4 field goal percent, and 41.0 percent from three-point. Also scored 23 points in an NCAA tournament game against West Virginia
• In his Junior season, he had a streak of 35 straight free throws made, four shy of Bucknell’s school record. He had 10 points, and six assists in an NCAA tournament game against Michigan State
• In his senior season, Kimbal was selected to the First-Team All-Patriot League, and was awarded the Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the year. Was one of 30 national candidates for the Senior Class award. Had a sensational senior year averaging 17.6 points, 3.3 assists, 42.5 field goal percentage, and 37.6 three-point percentage
• Had a career high 28 points against St. Bonaventure University on the opening night of his 2019 senior season
• 2020 Nighthawks Sportsmanship Award 

The Nighthawks start their CEBL 2021 season on June 28. All games are available on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem App via Android or iOS devices.

The CEBL led the NHL, NBA and later the CPL in  returning to play in Canada  after the coronavirus shut down the sports world in March of 2020. The  CEBL Summer Series   put professional basketball on the television and digital screens of millions of viewers across Canada and around the world, establishing the league as the top Canadian-based global team sports brand. The 2021 season set to start on June 24, will build on that momentum with an expanded viewing audience around the world, and locally through an innovative approach to addressing the uncertainties due to the pandemic around having fans in arenas across the league.

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About Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its 2020 rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA and U SPORTS programs. It uses FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules, and player and referee standards set by its partner, Canada Basketball. The CEBL became the first professional basketball league in the world to use the Elam Ending in FIBA competition, when it incorporated the innovative conclusion into all of its games during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series .

More information about the CEBL may be found at  CEBL.ca , as well as on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube (@cebleague).

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