Sea Bears Sign Canadian Shot-Blocker Ingo
The Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that they have signed six-foot-nine forward Stephane Ingo for the 2023 season. The Mississauga, Ontario product will make his professional debut with the Sea Bears after posting averages of 5.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks through 89 career NCAA games with Marist College and the University of Maine.
After spending a postgraduate 2017-18 season at Gould Academy in Bethel, ME, Ingo committed to the University of Maine where he spent four seasons and established himself as one of the premier shot-blockers in the nation. The two-year team captain led the Black Bears in blocked shots for three straight campaigns before transferring to Marist for the 2022-23 season, where he averaged 3.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 32 games.
“Stephane brings energy to our frontcourt and shot blocking to our defense,” said Mike Taylor, Sea Bears head coach and general manager. “We believe he complements our other big men well with his mobility and athleticism. We look forward to welcoming him to Winnipeg as a rookie.”
Ingo, 23, put up career-best averages of 10.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in a nine-game 2020-21 season that was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. He will join a frontcourt group that already includes Winnipeggers Chad Posthumus and Simon Hildebrandt.
“I’m thankful and excited to be making my pro debut in Winnipeg and in a league with as much talent as the CEBL,” said Ingo. “I’m looking forward to making a championship run and bringing excitement to the fans within the Sea Bears family.”
Ingo is the sixth player to sign with the Sea Bears in free agency, joining CEBL veterans like Teddy Allen and Shane Osayande alongside fellow professional rookies Simon Hildebrandt and Tyler Sagl.
The Sea Bears open training camp Friday, May 19 at the Sport For Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. Their inaugural season tips off May 27 at Canada Life Centre in a matchup against the visiting Vancouver Bandits. For tickets, visit seabears.ca/tickets.
About the CEBL
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. 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. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow @CEBLeague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.