The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the signing of Alain Louis as a U SPORTS Developmental Player for the 2021 season.
A six-foot-one guard from Montreal, Louis is averaging 7.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 45 games with the Carleron Ravens. He was drafted in the third round (15 th overall) by the BlackJacks during the club’s inaugural 2020 CEBL U SPORTS Draft.
Louis has played three seasons with the Ravens, where he was a part of two national and three provincial championship teams.
During the 2019-20 campaign, Louis averaged 11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 18.0 minutes in 27 games and helped his team capture their second consecutive U SPORTS national title on the BlackJacks’ home court at the Arena at TD Place, where he dished a season-high seven assists during the national quarter-final March 6 against Calgary. Louis ranked third in the OUA in field-goal percentage (.617) and had his best statistical sequence of the season in February where he scored 20 or more points for three consecutive games, February 15-26.
In 2018-19, Louis played five games with Carleton when the team won the U SPORTS national championship and the OUA title. He registered season highs of 14 points and three rebounds November 24 against McMaster. As a rookie in 2017-18, Louis played 13 games and helped his team reach a perfect 23-0 record and win the OUA title.
Louis played his high school basketball at Thetford Academy in Quebec, a few years after Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher had left his mark in the same basketball program.
With the signing of Louis, Ottawa counts four U SPORTS developmental players to their roster, including: Ali Sow of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks; Guillaume Pépin of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees; and Graddy Kanku of the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. As part of a special partnership between the CEBL and U SPORTS, each 10-man active CEBL roster must include either a U SPORTS development player (returning to school), or a recently graduated player (from the 2020-21 season). In order to maintain the amateur status of returning U SPORTS development players, payment will be provided in the form of an academic bursary to the player’s university.
The BlackJacks will open the 2021 campaign with a three-game homestand that begins on June 24 against the Niagara River Lions , followed by a date with the Guelph Nighthawks on June 28 and concludes with a special Canada Day matinee against the Hamilton Honey Badgers .
The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021 following the success of this past year's CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ontario, which saw millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tune in to watch 26 games played over 15 days in a single-site league competition. The CEBL became the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play after the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in mid-March shut down sports across the country.
Quotes:
“Alain is a very talented player with a lot of potential. He has a winning mindset and is a great competitor. He will have the opportunity to learn from experienced pros which will help him get to the next level. I am looking forward to seeing his growth in the next few weeks.”
- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
"I am thankful for the opportunity to wear the BlackJacks logo and represent a city and a community that has been supporting me since I moved here four years ago. I will be practicing and competing against players who have a lot of success in some of the top professional leagues around the world, it’s definitely going to be an enriching experience.”
- Alain Louis, Guard, 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 will showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital. In its inaugural campaign, the BlackJacks earned a semifinal appearance at the 2020 CEBL Summer Series. The Ottawa front office brings NBA, NBA G League, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. Led by general manager Jevohn Shepherd, assistant general manager Andy Rautins and head coach Charles Dubé-Brais, Ottawa will play its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. 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 80 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players come from the 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 more information on CEBL.ca or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Linkedin, Facebook & YouTube. (@cebleague).
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Contact:
Marika Guérin
Manager, Communications and Community
Ottawa BlackJacks Professional Basketball Club