Ottawa BlackJacks Sign American Guard Ibrahim Watson
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the signing of American Guard Ibrahim Watson for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season.
A six-foot-four guard from Pickerington, Ohio, Watson averaged 13.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 23.7 minutes across 72 games played in Sweden and in the NBA G League.
Currently concluding his 2023-24 campaign with Boras Basket in Sweden, Watson is averaging 21.2 points, 4.9 rebounds in 32 games played this season, with a noteworthy .423 average from three-point range. He scored 25 or more points 10 times, including three performances of over 30 points.
Watson has two years of NBA G League experience, having competed with the College Park Skyhawks, the G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, from 2021 to 2023. In his debut professional season, he averaged 7.0 points and 2.7 rebounds, with a season-high performance of 22 points, seven rebounds, and one assist against Capital City Go-Go on February 23, where he made four triples.
Additionally, Watson participated in the 2021 NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks, maintaining averages of 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds across five games.
Collegiately, Watson split his career between the University of Dayton (2019-21) and the University of Michigan (2016-18). As a senior with Dayton, Watson was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 (A-10) after finishing 11th in A-10 in scoring (15.8), fourth in minutes (37.1) and fourth in both three-pointers percentage (.416) and three-pointers per game (2.6). He was the only A-10 player listed in the top five in both three-point categories.
The Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 single game tickets are on sale now at https://www.theblackjacks.ca/single-game-tickets. The team's fifth season will kick off at The Arena at TD Place on May 29, promising professional basketball and exciting entertainment in a family-friendly environment. For more information, please visit www.theblackjacks.ca or contact the Ottawa BlackJacks Membership Services team directly at 613-690-0519 or by email at [email protected].
Quotes:
"I'm very grateful and excited for the opportunity to play for the BlackJacks this year and can't wait to get started.”
- Ibrahim (Ibi) Watson, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
“Ibi Watson comes from two great college programs in Michigan and Dayton. He is a young player who is climbing the professional ranks overseas, completing at MVP level this season in Sweden. He is on the rise, and we are thrilled to have him.”
- James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, 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. 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 Head Coach James Derouin, Ottawa plays its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. The anticipation is building for the upcoming 2024 season, slated to tip off at home on May 29 against the Edmonton Stingers. For more information, visit www.theblackjacks.ca.
About Canadian Elite Basketball League
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its 2023 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.