The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday the signing of Ryan Wright.
A six-foot-nine forward from Toronto, Wright has pl ayed in 14 different countries over his 11-year career, including two games for the Niagara River Lions in the inaugural season of the CEBL. He has averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 26.5 minutes in 419 total games as a professional.
The University of Oklahoma alumnus spent the 2020-21 campaign with Levski Lukoil in Bulgaria, where he averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. On April 17, he scored a season-high 23 points, shooting nine-for-10 from the field against Cherno More and posted a double-double with 11 points and a season-high 12 rebounds January 18 against Chernomorets.
In 2017-18, Wright averaged 15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds in 25 games in Turquie, Bahrain and Singapore. As a member of Al-Ahli in Bahrain, he grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds, to go along with 14 points and three assists January 16 against Al-Riffa.
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. He scored a season-high 14 points to go along with five rebounds and one block February 27 against Baylor. He recorded his only college double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds February 6 against Texas.
Ottawa 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:
“Ryan is the consummate pro and we are excited to have him a part of the BlackJacks organization. Ryan has played in a number of countries at the highest levels. He has tremendous rebounding ability, but most importantly, he brings more leadership to this group.”
- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
"I am very excited to join the Ottawa BlackJacks in the upcoming CEBL season. My professional career has taken me to many different countries around the world. Having the opportunity to play professionally on Canadian soil in our nation's capital is an amazing feeling. The CEBL is a very competitive league with high level Canadian talent, that will continue to grow. I'm excited to be a part of that, and to help the Ottawa BlackJacks compete for the CEBL title!"
- Ryan Wright, 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 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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