A six-foot-two guard from Brampton, Ontario, Joel Brown averaged 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 26.1 minutes across 153 games played as a member of two different NCAA teams, including Iona College and the University of California, Berkeley...
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The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday the signing of Canadian guards Joel Brown and Kevin Otoo for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season. A six-foot-two guard from Brampton, Ontario, Joel Brown averaged 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 26.1 minutes across 153 games played as a member of two different NCAA teams, including Iona College and the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration in May 2023, he transferred to Iona as a graduate player following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. With Iona, he scored a season-high 21 points on March 3 against Marist. He made three three-pointers in that game and recorded four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Brown finished his career with the California Golden Bears in durable fashion, playing in 122 of a possible 125 games. As a fourth-year player with the team, Brown anchored California’s backcourt by logging a team-leading 32.6 minutes in all 32 games played. He tallied a season-high 6.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game and dished out five or more assists in eight games, maintaining a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season. Prior to university, Brown attended Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, winning a national championship with his Brewster Prep squad in March 2018. He also played on the Canadian U18 national team at the 2018 FIBA Americas Championship and averaged 7.0 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds to help Canada reach the gold-medal game against the United States. A six-foot guard from Toronto, Ontario, Kevin Otoo split his collegiate career between the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2022-24) and the Humber College Hawks (2018-22). As a member of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees under BlackJacks and Gee-Gees Head Coach James Derouin this past season, Otoo averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.4 steals, and 31.5 minutes in 22 regular-season games. He recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds on February 16 against Queen’s and scored a season-high of 29 points, shooting .706 (12-17) from the field and .556 (5-9) from behind the arc on January 19 against Algoma. The previous year, he led the Gee-Gees with 15 blocks in the regular season and was named the 2023 OUA Championship MVP, scoring 17 points with three steals in the Wilson Cup championship on March 4 against Carleton. He started in all three OUA playoff and U SPORTS national championship games. He was named the Nike Top Performer for Ottawa in the U SPORTS bronze medal win over Victoria, scoring a game-high 20 points and contributing three steals and three rebounds in the 78-58 win. Otoo enjoyed a lucrative collegiate basketball career at Humber College in Toronto, posting regular-season career averages of 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game with the Hawks, while shooting .458 from the field. In 2021-22, he was a central figure in Humber’s run to winning the 2022 National Championship, including earning MVP honors in the conference championship as well as championship All-Star appearances both for the conference and national tournaments. He tallied 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists on March 27 against St. Clair to win the national title. 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 really excited to start my professional career with the BlackJacks family. I am looking forward to this new opportunity! I can’t wait to get started with my teammates and the coaching staff.” - Joel Brown, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks "I’m excited to be a part of the Ottawa BlackJacks. Having played in Ottawa for the past two years at the University of Ottawa, the opportunity to tip off my professional basketball journey in the same city is surreal for me. I am looking forward to meeting and being around the other pros, the wonderful coaching staff, and, lastly, playing in this amazing city." - Kevin Otoo, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks “Joel and Kevin are two young players with a lot of will, fierce competitiveness, and a bright future ahead. It’ll be their first pro experience, and it'll be great for them to work with and learn from seasoned professionals with years of experience playing in some of the best leagues around the world. We’re looking forward to getting to work at training camp.” - James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the signing of American Guard Brandon Sampson for the upcoming 2024 CEBL season. A six-foot-five guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sampson averaged 13.2 points across five seasons in the NBA G League. Recently, he completed a brief two-game stint with Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, maintaining an average of 11.0 points in 26.0 minutes of play. Since beginning his professional career in 2018, Sampson has spent most of his playing career within the NBA G League, but has played in the NBA on 14 occasions, all during the 2018-19 season with the Chicago Bulls. After signing a two-way contract with Chicago in December of 2018, he made his NBA debut on January 30, 2019, putting up five points in a 105-89 win over the Miami Heat. He averaged 5.1 and 15.3 minutes in 14 games in the NBA and had two starts. Notably, he recorded 12 points on April 10 against the Sixers. Sampson is no stranger to the CEBL, having played for the Newfoundland Growlers in 2022. During his time with the team, he averaged 20.5 points and 32.3 minutes over 15 games, earning recognition on the All-CEBL Second Team. His achievements in the league include leading in free throw percentage (85.4%), ranking second in scoring (20.5), ninth in average steals (1.4), and sixth in average minutes (33.0). He recorded his best performance of the season on June 5 against the BlackJacks, scoring a career-high 42 points, with a shooting accuracy of four-for-five from three-point range and 12-for-13 from the charity stripe. Splitting the 2018-19 G League season between the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Windy City Bulls, Sampson had his best statistical campaign as a pro, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game across 37 games played with the two clubs. as a member of the Vipers, he scored a season-high 31 points, hitting five three-pointers on December 5 against the Clippers. Before beginning his professional career, Sampson played three seasons in the NCAA with his hometown team, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, where he was a part of the 2015 recruiting class alongside Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons. Prior to committing to LSU, Sampson attended Madison Prep in Baton Rouge where he led his team to the state championship in his senior year. For his efforts, he earned “Mr. Basketball” honours for Louisiana in 2015, an annual award given to the top high school male basketball player in the state. 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've heard great things about Ottawa's fans and team culture. I had the opportunity to play at TD Place back in 2022, but now I am excited to experience it as a BlackJacks player. I loved my experience in the CEBL and I'm looking forward to moving to Ottawa for the summer and meeting the rest of the team!” - Brandon Sampson, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks "Brandon brings a wealth of experience from competing against top-tier talent in the NBA, as well as his extensive tenure in the NBA G League. He proved his leadership capabilities in the CEBL, landing in the top 10 across various categories during the 2022 season and delivering high-scoring performances against us. With his scoring ability, we're excited to welcome him to Ottawa.” - James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday the completion of its basketball operations staff for the 2024 CEBL season. Joining General Manager and Head Coach James Derouin and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jevohn Shepherd are: Assistant Coaches David DeAveiro, Damian Buckley, Michael L’Africain, and Jamil Abiad; Performance Director Sean Stoqua; Coordinator of Player Personnel and Strategy Hennessy Roppovalente; Equipment Manager Alexander Louis; Athletic Therapist Finley Miller; Medical Director Adrian Huynh; and Team Doctor Jessica Curran. Returning with the BlackJacks for a second season, David DeAveiro has been the head coach of the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) men's basketball team since 2020 and has also enjoyed an extensive coaching history with Canada Basketball, including the men's senior, development and junior teams. He came to TMU after serving as head coach of the McGill University men's basketball team for 10 seasons. Prior to joining McGill, DeAveiro coached the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s basketball team for nine seasons. Damian Buckley , who is also continuing his tenure with the BlackJacks for a second season, serves as an assistant coach for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s basketball team under BlackJacks and Gee-Gees Head Coach James Derouin, where he won back-to-back National Bronze medals in 2022-23 and 2023-24 while securing the OUA Gold in 2022-23. Buckley has served as Head Coach for the Montreal Toundra in 2023 and 2024, carving out a path as a promising young coach at the pro level. Michael L'Africain's coaching journey saw him as assistant coach with the BlackJacks in 2021 and 2023, and with the Newfoundland Growlers in 2022. Transitioning from his illustrious playing career, L'Africain assumed the role of lead assistant coach of the University of Ottawa men’s basketball team in 2018, following a landmark five-year tenure as a player for the Gee-Gees from 2011 to 2016. L'Africain played two professional seasons in Europe before returning to Canada to focus on coaching. Returning with the Ottawa BlackJacks for a third season, Jamil Abiad spent the past two winters in Reykjavík, Iceland, where he coached the U18 and U21 Valur men’s basketball teams, reaching the league’s semifinals twice. Abiad also served as the lead assistant coach for Valur men’s professional team, winning the regular season title and the Super Cup. Following a two-year professional basketball career in Lebanon and five collegiate seasons with the Bishop University Gaitors, Abiad dedicated his time to growing the game of basketball in the nation’s capital. Sean Stoqua graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Acadia University, where he was an active member of the Axemen football and basketball teams from 2011 to 2015. Following this, he pursued his master’s degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Ottawa from 2017 to 2019, during which time he also represented the Gee-Gees basketball team. As a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and registered Physiotherapist, Stoqua has spent the past five years honing his craft, specializing in training, and rehabilitating a diverse spectrum of athletes. His clientele ranges from NBA, G League, and Euroleague players to professional footballers, soccer players, dancers, and BMX bikers. Hennessy Roppovalente serves as an assistant and analytics coordinator for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s basketball team under Head Coach James Derouin. Roppovalente joined the BlackJacks during the 2023 season, serving as the team’s Equipment Manager and Performance Analytics and Scouting Advisor. An Ottawa native, Roppovalente is currently completing his undergraduate degree in Finance and Business Analytics at the University of Ottawa. Alexander Louis will be taking on the role of Equipment Manager for the Ottawa BlackJacks in the upcoming 2024 season. Concurrently, he is pursuing studies in Marketing and Finance at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa. Louis' journey into basketball operations began in 2023 when he assumed the position of Basketball Operations Coordinator for the Gee-Gees men's basketball team, working alongside Head Coach James Derouin. Finley Miller currently lends her expertise to the men's football team at Carleton University. During her academic years, she gained valuable experience working with a diverse range of sports teams, including the Ottawa REDBLACKS, University of Toronto's men's football team, and York University's women's volleyball team. Equipped with an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences, coupled with a certification in Athletic Therapy, Miller brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to her practice. Adrian Huynh is an athletic therapist at Carleton University with extensive experience across various sports organizations. He previously served as Athletic Therapist with the BlackJacks from 2021 to 2023 and worked with Canada Soccer, Atlético Ottawa, Montréal Impact, and Ottawa Fury FC. Huynh completed his undergraduate degree in Integrated Science at Carleton University in 2013 and his Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences in Athletic Therapy at Sheridan College, winning the Dr. Tim Fried Leadership Award in 2017. That same year, he obtained a Diploma in Pedorthics from Western University. A Chief Doctor for Team Canada for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, Dr. Jessica Curran has been a team physician with the Canadian women’s national basketball program since 2011 and the Canadian men’s national volleyball team since 2022. She is currently the team physician for the Carleton Ravens men’s football team and has worked with various other varsity teams, including men’s and women’s soccer and basketball teams. Serving major multi-sport Games, Dr. Curran was a member of the medical team for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, 2015 and 2019 Pan American Games, 2015 Winter Universiade, and 2013 Summer Universiade. 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: "At the core of our mission is building a robust basketball operations team dedicated to our players' well-being and performance. We aim for them to excel on the court, stay healthy and depart our team better than they came, with a reliable support system in place. I'm proud of the crew we've assembled, not only for their expertise but also for their deep-rooted connection to Ottawa, and I'm certain it will pave the way for success, both on and off the court.” - James Derouin, General Manager and Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
