Ottawa BlackJacks Sign American Guard Michael Flowers

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that American Guard Michael Flowers has signed with the club for the 2023 season.

A six-foot-one guard from Southfield, Michigan, Flowers averaged 16.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 33 games played with the VfL Kirchheim Knights of the German Pro A during his first professional season in 2022-23. He made a total of 84 three-pointers, hitting six triples in a single game three times. Flowers dished out a season-high nine assists in a 28-point effort on April 15 against the VFL Astrostars Bochum and scored a season-high 38 points, making 19 of his 21 free throws on November 6 against Uni Baskets Paderborn.

Collegiately, Flowers finished his illustrious career with a remarkable 2,234 points scored in 152 games played. He played for Western Michigan, South Alabama, and finally Washington State University (WSU) and made 333 career three-pointers while shooting .368 from deep.

As a senior, in his one and only year at WSU, Flowers averaged a team-best 14.2 points in 37 games played. He earned second team all-conference honors and led the Cougars to 22 wins and a run to the NIT semifinals. The sharpshooter etched his name among all-time greats at WSU becoming the only Cougar in program history to record 100 three-pointers in a single season, surpassing Klay Thompson’s record (98) on March 24 in the Cougars’ National Invitation Tournament (NIT) quarterfinal win over Brigham Young University. Flowers finished 11-for-20 from the field and four-for-10 from distance. He poured in 13 consecutive points, including his WSU record 99th triple of the season, in a game-changing sequence midway through the second half, drawing a foul on his historic three-pointer and completing the four-point play.

Flowers spent his first three collegiate seasons with the Western Michigan Broncos. He ended his junior year ranked sixth in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in scoring (17.0) and free-throw percentage (.844) and ninth in assists (3.3). His 68 three-pointers made that season is the eight most in a single-season in school history. As a Sophomore, Flowers averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 31.3 minutes in 32 games played.

TSN and the ​CEBL announced that Canada’s Sports Leader will showcase live coverage of select CEBL games on TSN and TSN+ throughout the 2023 season, tipping off at the Arena at TD Place in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 24, when ​the​ BlackJacks take on the reigning CEBL Champions Brampton Honey Badgers. Season seat memberships, Flex Packs and single game tickets are available at www.theblackjacks.ca/tickets. 

Quotes: 

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to compete with the BlackJacks. I am looking forward to joining the team for a great season in Ottawa.” 

- Michael Flowers, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club 

“Michael Flowers is a natural-born scorer; he broke Klay Thompson’s single season three-point record at Washington State University. Since then, he had a tremendous start to his professional career in Germany.  We are looking forward to seeing him lead the charge with our group.” 

- 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 semifinals 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  

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 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. TSN, Canada's sports leader, is the official broadcast partner of the league. 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. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. 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.