Ottawa Blackjacks Announce 2021 U Sports Draft Picks
April 14, 2021 - Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
Ottawa BlackJacks News Release
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday their three picks during the 2021 U SPORTS Draft, including Ali Sow of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (fourth overall), Guillaume Pepin of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (11thoverall) and Graddy Kanku of the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (18thoverall).
Sow, a six-foot-one guard from Ottawa, averaged 22.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 66 regular season games for Wilfrid Laurier. Hehas been one of the country's top offensive perimeter threats as the second leading OUA scorer in 2018-19 behind current BlackJacks guard Kadre Gray, and third leading scorer the following year. During the 2018-19 campaign, he averaged 26.6 points in 24 games and led the Golden Hawks to the OUA Wilson Cup semifinals. He was named a Second Team All-Canadian and OUA First Team All-Star and earned the Athlete of the Year award at Wilfrid Laurier. As a freshman, he was named on the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, in addition to winning the OUA Rookie of the Year award. A second-round pick by Guelph at the 2020 U SPORTS Draft, Sow represented Canada at the 2019 World University Games in Naples, Italy, where he averaged 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in four games.
Pepin, a six-foot-six forward from Montreal, averaged 15.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 29.1 minutes in 36 games with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. During his second season with the team, he helped the Gee-Gees reach the 2020 U SPORTS Final 8. As a freshman, he averaged 15.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 30.8 minutes in 23 games. He was named on the CIS All-Rookie Team, an OUA Second-Team All-Star, and earned the OUA Rookie of the Year Award.
Kanku, a six-foot-five guard born in Montreal, represents the first player drafted in the CEBL from Ontario Tech University. As a freshman in the program's inaugural season in 2019-2020, he averaged 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 32.4 minutes in 19 games. He led Ontario Tech in scoring (388) and finished sixth in the OUA in scoring average, netting 20 or more points 10 times. Kanku became the first Ridgeback basketball player to be recognized by the OUA, being named to the all-rookie team. He also earned the Ontario Tech's Male Freshman of the Year award.
All three BlackJacks draft picks are designated U SPORTS developmental players, which allows them to return to their respective university team next season. As part of a special partnership between the CEBL and U SPORTS, each 10-man active CEBL roster must include either a U SPORTS development player (returning to school), or a recently graduated player (from the 2020-21 season). In order to maintain the amateur status of returning U SPORTS development players, payment will be provided in the form of an academic bursary to the player's university.
"Although Ali, Guillaume and Graddy are three very different players, they all proved that they can score and lead their team. These guys are hard-working student-athletes with promising careers. The partnership between the CEBL and U SPORTS is great, because it allows these players to be a part of a professional organization and learn from veterans who played in the CEBL, NBA, NBA G-league and FIBA professional leagues overseas. It will be extremely beneficial for their growth as athletes and they truly deserve this opportunity."
- Jevohn Shepherd, General Manager, Ottawa BlackJacks
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