News
Top 5 U SPORTS Basketball Stars to Look out for
March 22, 2020
CEBL Team
In anticipation of the 2020 CEBL-U SPORTS Draft Reveal
only a few days away (on March 26), we’ve previewed the top 5 players who stood out in Canadian university basketball this season.
Through the partnership between CEBL and U SPORTS top-notch university players are given the opportunity to play professional basketball, along with seasoned pros and under the leadership of renowned coaches, without it affecting their university eligibility.
During last year’s inaugural entry draft, CEBL teams picked 12 U SPORTS players from across the country. Throughout the season, these players had a total game time of 340.15, and an average of 49.77, minutes.
This year, 21 U SPORTS players are being drafted across 7 teams, so let’s get cracking, shall we?
Kadre Gray, Laurentian University ( Laurentian Voyageurs
), (Guard)
What you need to know:
The 6'1" fourth-year guard, and Toronto-native, is one of the brightest future stars of Canadian university basketball. This season, for the fourth year in a row, he led the OUA
in scoring with 23.8 points per game. Gray was also the U SPORTS’
leading scorer, for the third time in four years.He is only the fourth player in OUA history to have more than 2,000 points, which makes him second overall on the all-time leaderboard with 2,072 points. Currently, Gray’s only 20 points off Kevin Dulude, the hoops legend from the Royal Military College of Canada Paladins. He is also the second best in the OUA in assists and rebounds averaging 6.5 per game.
In an interview
with The Sudbury Star
, Gray said that he thinks of himself as a playermaker. And he’s being recognized for it. He became the first Voyageur to be named to the U SPORTS All-Canadian First All-Star Team
, and only the 18th player in over 50 years of U SPORTS history to be named a first-team all-Canadian three times. Plus, Gray has been named OUA men’s basketball MVP for three years in a row.
Did you know?
Majors in health promotion. He recalls being heavily influenced
to play hoops by his brother, Conrad. Selected to the recent FISU Games team
in Italy 2019, Gray also got chosen as a flag bearer for the opening ceremonies at the Summer Universiade.
Brody Clarke, University of Alberta ( Golden Bears
), (Forward)
What you need to know:
Another Toronto-native is Brody Clarke, a 6'9" fifth-year forward with the University of Alberta’s Golden Bears
and named CEBL’s 2019 U SPORTS Player of the Year. Selected to play for the Edmonton Stingers
last season, he led the U SPORTS athletes in several categories: 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game; with a total of 78:48 minutes played in the season.
After having to sit out most of last season due to a broken foot, Clarke (captain of his University program) returned to the Bears this season, with one more year of eligibility and to do his MBA. Clarke finished the regular season, averaging 18.9 points. An integral part of the team for the past four years, Clarke helped bring them to a Canada West basketball championship in 2017. A versatile player with a work ethic second to none, he can be difficult to cover as he can shoot from the outside or be a threat in the post. According to Clarke, what’s made the biggest difference to his game is drilling footwork with his dad
and learning how to use the jab step to his advantage. Named a U SPORTS All-Canadian three times
in his career, and a Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2017, Clarke continues to be one of the top U SPORTS prospects coming up in a few days.
Keevan Veinot, Dalhousie University ( Dalhousie Tigers
), (Combo guard)
What you need to know:
6'4" third-year guard Keevan Veinot, from Port Williams, N.S, is the first Dalhousie player ever to earn an Atlantic conference MVP award. For the first time in his career, Veinot was also named an AUS first team all-star. He led the U SPORTS No. 2-ranked Dalhousie Tigers to finishing first in the AUS standings
, with a 19-1 regular season record. Veinot led the conference in assists (5.5 per game) and steals (2.3 per game). He topped the Dalhousie leaderboard in scoring (15.6 points per game) and rebounds (5.2 per game). Bringing a high basketball IQ, he's a highly skilled student-athlete, on and off the court.
Did you know?
Major: Commerce. Basketball is truly a family affair for the Veinot’s. Both parents were college basketball stars: Kevin Veinot, an all-Canadian power forward who played at Acadia University, while Jennifer Veinot, a two-time provincial high school champion at Cobequid Education Centre in Truro, became an AUAA MVP at the University of New Brunswick. And it doesn’t stop there. Keevan’s twin sister Jayda is also a great basketball player.
Isiah Osborne, Carleton University ( Carleton Ravens
), (Guard)
What you need to know:
The size and skill of the 6’5” Windsor-native, whose full name is Isiah Ronald Osborne, made him one of the toughest match-ups in the country. In 2018, Osborne transferred from the University of Texas at El Paso Miners
to Carleton University. Head coach Dave Smart (currently, the general manager
of the Ottawa BlackJacks) led the Carleton Ravens at the time. In the 2015/16 season, Osborne played with his hometown Lancers
, and in the 2017/18 season for the University of Texas at El Paso Miners (UTEP Miners), where he averaged 9.4 points, and 3.7 rebounds, per game. Unfortunately, he had to sit out the 2016/17 season due to eligibility issues. He was named the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) Rookie of the Year,
and OUA men's basketball rookie of the year
, in 2016.
Did you know?
Program: Health Sciences. Member of the Toronto 3D Global Sports Team
that toured China in May 2016, and played games versus All-Star teams representing NBA D-League/NCAA of the United States, the first league of Lithuania and the China National B Team.
Brett Layton, University of Calgary (Calgary Dinos), (Forward)
What you need to know:
Named U SPORTS most outstanding player 2020
, the 6’8’ fourth-year forward is the first Dino to receive the honour since Richard Bohne in 1996. Layton joined University of Calgary men’s basketball program as late as last season, having spent previous seasons playing at Mount Royal University
in southern Calgary. But he’s already shown leadership on the court with his strength and sheer size, especially defensively. He was among the top ranked university players in the nation for shot blocks. Dinos’ coach Dan Vanhooren
describes him as, “humble, works hard and has a great sense of humour.” That might have started when Layton was a rookie, being named both to the Canada West All-Rookie team and the MRU Rookie Male Athlete of the Year.
Did you know?
Major: Law. Layton takes the task of juggling to new levels. He has a young family (and two small children) and pursues his law studies and basketball career with the same sharp-eyed focus.