The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that Canadian forwardJackson Rowe has re-signed with the Club for the 2023 season.
A six-foot-seven native of Toronto, Rowe led the BlackJacks and ranked fourth in the CEBL in blocks per game (1.1) in 2022. He demonstrated his all-around skillset by ranking third on the team in points per game (9.4), and second in rebounds per game (6.2). He scored a season-high 19 points, shooting seven-for-nine from the field on July 6 against Saskatchewan.
Following the CEBL regular season in Ottawa, Rowe signed with Medi Bayreuth of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), the highest division of basketball in Germany and one of the top professional leagues in Europe. He has averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds (second on the team), 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals (second on the team) and 26.8 minutes in 22 games so far this winter. Rowe recorded his best statistical performance of the season on January 15 with 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
The California State University Fullerton alumnus made his debut with the Canadian national team at the FIBA World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers in February, where he averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in two games.
Rowe spent his first professional seasons with Roanne of the Betclic Elite in France and moved to Sweden for the 2021-22 season, where he averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in 28 games with Norrkoping. He recorded five double-doubles and scored 20 or more points 11 times.
A Kinesiology major, Rowe played four years with California State University Fullerton in the NCAA Division I, earning various athletic awards. As a fourth-year veteran with the team in 2019-20, he was named a second-team All-Big West honoree, leading the team both in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in 20 games. He tallied five double-doubles this season and 21 throughout his college career, ranking him fourth in Fullerton history. By season’s end, he took over the second spot on the all-time Fullerton’s basketball program rebounding and blocking lists, sitting at 811 rebounds and 113 blocks. He also became the 26th Titan to score 1,000 career points by the end of his Junior season.
Rowe represents the third player to be added on the 2023 BlackJacks roster, after the re-signing of fellow national team guard Kadre Gray and the acquisition of Montreal forward James Jean-Marie.
The 2023 BlackJacks season seat memberships, flex packs and group tickets are available now at theblackjacks.ca/tickets. Season seat memberships start as low as $25 per game. 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
"I am proud to be back with my BlackJacks family this season. I am looking forward to playing in front of the best fans in the CEBL! I believe we have an opportunity to dominate the league and continue to build on last year’s performance.”
- Jackson Rowe, Forward, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
“Jackson has had a tremendous year, capping it off with his debut on our senior men’s national team. Jackson is unique because he is strong enough to play the post, while skilled enough to play on the perimeter. His skillset gives us immense versatility.”
- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, 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 third season, the BlackJacks have reached the championship semifinal three times. 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, Ottawa plays 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
The CEBL features 10 teams in six provinces, making it the largest pro sports league in Canada. The CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. 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 runs May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.