The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that Canadian forward Ryan Wright has re-signed with the Club for the 2022 CEBL season.

A six-foot-nine forward from Toronto, Wright has played in 17 different countries over his 12-year career, including a total of 16 games in the CEBL with the Ottawa BlackJacks in 2021 and the Niagara River Lions in 2019.

With the BlackJacks, Wright averaged 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14 games. He led the CEBL in field goal percentage (.717), hitting 33 of his 46 shots from the field. He recorded season highs of 12 points and six rebounds July 26 against the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

After spending his summer in the nation’s capital, Wright played 17 games with two different teams, including Trepca in Kosovo and Universitet-Yugra Surgut in Russia. As a member of Trepca, he recorded a double-double with season highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds on January 16 against Prizrni-16. He is currently completing the 2021-22 campaign with Interclube in Angola.

During his first professional season in 2010-11, the Toronto native averaged 16.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 32.3 minutes in 24 games for Orman Genc in Turkey, where he recorded 10 double-doubles, scored 25 or more points three times and grabbed 14 or more rebounds five times.

Collegiately, Wright played two seasons for UCLA before transferring to the University of Oklahoma. In 2009-10, as a senior with the Sooners, he averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 30 games.

Wright is the ninth player announced to have signed with Ottawa for the 2022 season. Earlier this week, the BlackJacks announced their 2022 CEBL U SPORTS Draft picks, including Nervens Demosthene of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (fifth overall) and Guillaume Pépin of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (16th overall).

The BlackJacks 20-game regular season will open up with a game at home versus Fraser Valley on May 25, 2022 at 7:30pm. In addition to 10 regular season home games, the BlackJacks will be hosting the 2022 CEBL Championship Weekend from August 12-14, 2022. Season and half season seat memberships, Flex Packs, group tickets and single game tickets are available at theblackjacks.ca/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 bring Ryan back for a second season. His ability to rebound and to finish at the rim make him a threat in the paint. His leadership will be a key element to the team's success this year.”

- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager and Vice-President, Basketball Operations

Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

“I am excited to return to the Ottawa BlackJacks and play once again in our nation’s capital! I can't wait to reconnect with the organization, fans and city of Ottawa. I look forward to building on our playoff appearance from last season and working towards our goal of bringing a CEBL championship to the city of Ottawa.”

- Ryan Wright, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

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 and Vice-President, Basketball Operations 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.