The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) unveiled a new draft format for their 2024 season that will allow Canadian Collegiate basketball players to be drafted into their league.
Starting on April 11, the ten teams in the CEBL will be drafting 30 players over three rounds to help fill out their rosters for the spring-summer league.
This will be the first time that eligible CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball players will be available to be drafted along with U-SPORT players, who have been allowed in the league since 2019.
“Well the first couple of drafts, only U-SPORT players were drafted, so there was always a feeling of being left out… So what this does is officially, I’d say welcome us into the draft, into the program and gives our players equal opportunity to be seen and heard,” says SAIT Athletic Director Wade Kolmel.
The CEBL has also announced that players who join the league through the new draft format will be receiving a development contract that will provide them with the opportunity to continue to play with their post-secondary schools without breaking any eligibility rules and the players will also not count against the team’s salary cap.
All developmental players will then be released into a free-agent pool at the conclusion of the 2024 CEBL season and eligible players can then be selected for 2025 CEBL draft or sign another developmental contract with their previous years team.
“The rising level of basketball talent in Canada is undeniable, and our partnerships with U-SPORTS and CCAA will continue to provide opportunities for student-athletes nationwide,” says CEBL Commissioner Mike Morreale.
As the talent pool for Canadian basketball players continues to grow, SAIT hopes some of their players have caught the eye of the many coaches in the league in hopes of joining a squad for this summer, but the school also hopes this news will attract players to come play for their program in the future.
Tip-off for the 2024 CEBL season will begin at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. as the Calgary Surge will host the Edmonton Stingers in a provincial rivalry match-up.
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