Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Canadian Guard Javon Masters

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday the signing of Canadian Guard Javon Masters for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season.

A six-foot guard from Kitchener, Ontario, Masters averaged 11.3 points and 2.9 assists in 169 professional games across various leagues in France, Germany, Romania, Spain, and in the CEBL.

Currently concluding his sixth professional season with Pau-Lacq-Orthez in France, Masters is averaging 16.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in eight games this season. Notable performances include a season-high 30 points against Etoile Angers basket on March 1, as well as a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists against Hermine Nantes Atlantique on January 19.

Recognized as the most prolific scorer in Canadian university history, Masters tipped off his professional journey with the Rio Ourense Termal in Spain, before joining the Honey Badgers in the 2019 CEBL Free Agency. Following a brief sting of five games, he pursued opportunities in Romania for the next three years.

As a member of the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds from 2013-2018, Masters averaged 25.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 33.5 minutes across 96 games. During his senior season, he played an instrumental role in securing the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Championship for the Reds, culminating in a berth at the U SPORTS Final 8. His performance earned him a spot on the First Team All-Canadian and the Frank Baldwin Memorial Trophy for AUS Most Valuable Player. On January 26, 2018, midway through his final season, Masters made history by becoming the all-time leading scorer in Canadian university men's basketball, surpassing the 2,283-point mark in UNB’s 104-96 victory over Saint Mary’s, where he also notched a game-high 39 points. To date, Masters retains this record, having accumulated a total of 2,407 points.

The Ottawa BlackJacks 2024 home opener will take place at the Arena at TD Place on May 29. Fans can now purchase BlackJacks season seat memberships, Flex Packs and Voucher Packs at theblackjacks.ca/tickets. 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’m super excited to be joining the BlackJacks family. The opportunity to play back home this summer and play for this organization is amazing and a moment I couldn’t pass up. I am looking forward to meeting my teammates, the coaching staff, and the passionate fans in the Ottawa area!”

- Javon Masters, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

“Fresh off successful seasons in Europe, Javon is back in Canada, still holding the Canadian University men’s scoring record. He will bring a winning mentality and competitiveness to our team. He's a prime example of a U SPORTS standout turned pro, coming back home to compete in front of his friends and family, thanks to the CEBL. We look forward to working with Javon this summer.”

- 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.