CEBL Ottawa BlackJacks

BlackJacks Re-Sign Berhanemeskel for 2021

Published on March 18, 2021 under Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
Ottawa BlackJacks News Release


OTTAWA, ON - The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), announced Thursday that Ottawa-born guard, Johnny Berhanemeskel, has re-signed with the club for the 2021 CEBL season.

A six-foot-one guard, Berhanemeskel has averaged 13.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 25.5 minutes in 210 games, playing professionally in France, Greece, Spain, Germany, Estonia and the CEBL. Berhanemeskel is currently playing with Nanterre 92 in the Pro A top-tier league in France, where he is averaging 7.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 23 games.

He represented Team Canada at the recent 2022 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifier in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Berhanemeskel came off the bench hitting three clutch fourth-quarter triples in the last five minutes to help Canada sweep the two-game series against the U.S. Virgin Islands.

During the 2020 CEBL Summer Series, Berhanemeskel averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebound, 2.5 assists and 27.0 minutes, starting in all eight games for the BlackJacks. He finished the season ranked second on the team in scoring and second in assists. A threat from beyond-the-arc, Berhanemeskel led the team and ranked fifth in the league in three-pointers made (18) and sixth in three-point percentage (.420). He scored a season-high 19 points, including the game-winning shot (free throw), during Elam Ending on July 30 in a 78-76 victory against Fraser Valley.

Berhanemeskel played 105 games with the University of Ottawa, where he averaged 19.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 30.6 minutes. As a senior, he recorded his best statistical season of his career, averaging 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 30.1 minutes. He became a First Team All-Canadian and was named 2015 OUA Player of the Year. He also earned the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy, an award presented to the Outstanding Male Basketball Player in the CIS (U SPORTS). Berhanemeskel remains Ottawa's all-time points leader and ranks first in career three-pointers.

Last month, the Ottawa BlackJacks, in collaboration with the CEBL, announced its 2021 regular season 14-game schedule, opening up with a game on the road versus Hamilton on Saturday, June 5, at 7pm. After starting the campaign on a three-game road trip, Ottawa will play its first home game in franchise history on Thursday, June 24, at 7 p.m. versus the Niagara River Lions.

CBC is the premier media partner of the CEBL and will broadcast nationally televised games on seven consecutive Saturdays beginning June 5. The BlackJacks will appear three times on national television and all regular season games will also be live streamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app and on a new OTT streaming platform the CEBL will unveil this spring.

The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021, following the success of this past year's CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ontario, which saw millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tune in to watch 26 games played over 15 days in a single-site league competition. The CEBL became the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play after the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, in mid-March, shut down sports across the country.

Quotes:

"Johnny was an important part of our off season plan. He had an impressive first year in the CEBL, continues to improve in France, and in between, contributed to Team Canada's success at the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifier. Johnny means a lot to the Ottawa community and we are excited to bring him back home."

- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

"I'm looking forward to returning to Ottawa. Being able to represent my hometown professionally last year was special. Knowing that we are playing in our market this season and not in a bubble means I can stay close to family and hopefully play in front of fans when health restrictions change. The CEBL is gaining notoriety as a strong FIBA league, attracting some of the best Canadian talent. The competition last season was great and looking at some of the names being added to rosters for 2021, it's going to be a fantastic year."

- Johnny Berhanemeskel, Guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

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