Stingers Draft Vandervelden and Dimanochie
April 19, 2022 - Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
Edmonton Stingers News Release
EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Stingers of the CEBL have drafted 6'9" forward Patrick Vandervelden out of Mount Royal University 10th overall and 6'8" forward Somto Dimanochie out of York University 11th overall in the 2022 CEBL U Sports Draft. Vandervelden spent his first three U Sport seasons with the Trinity Western University Spartans before transferring to MRU for his remaining two years of eligibility. Dimanochie brings three years of U Sport experience to the Stingers, having been with York since the 2018-2019 season.
Through a U Sports career that has spanned 8 seasons, Vandervelden first suited up for the Trinity Western Spartans for three seasons from 2014-2017. Following a sucessful third season in 2016-17 where he averaged 12.8 points, Vandervelden transferred to the Mount Royal University Cougars for the 2018-19 season, averaging 10.2 points and leading Canada West in total blocks with 47. After a two year hiatus, Vandervelden played his final collegiate year with the Cougars in 2021-22, putting up 8.1 points per game.
"Patrick's length and rim protection impressed me," said head coach and general manager Jermaine Small, who returns for his third straight year in the role. "It was something I saw firsthand this year." Small coached the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns this Canada West season, facing off against Vandervelden and MRU four times in the regular season. Vandervelden scored 32 points and grabbed 27 rebounds across those four matchups while providing excellent interior defense.
Dimanochie brings 3 years of OUA experience to the Stingers. As a rookie during the 2018-19 season, the forward started 13 of his 17 games, putting up 5.7 points and grabbing 3.4 rebounds per game. Dimanochie missed a significant portion of the 2019-20 season due to injury, but nonetheless averaged 5.4 and 5.1 rebounds per game across 14 games. In his third year (2021-2022), Dimanochie proved to be one of the best big-men in the OUA, racking up 13.9 point and 8.8 rebound averages in the shortened 16 game season.
"Somto has a pro body, he's skilled, and he's got better every year" said Small, who will look to utilize both bigs this upcoming season. "Both guys have a high ceiling and will make very good pros when it is all said and done."
Vandervelden and Dimanochie were drafted alongside 18 other U Sports players in the 2022 CEBL U Sports Draft. David Muenkat of St. Francis Xavier university was drafted 1st overall by the Scarborough Shooting Stars, one of the three new teams joining the CEBL this year. The full results can be found on the CEBL's website, www.cebl.ca.
The Stingers season begins on May 27th, with a home game against the Niagara River Lions in a rematch of the 2021 CEBL Championship. The Stingers won that game 101-65 en route to their second straight CEBL title. Fans can still secure single game, flex, and season tickets through the team's head office at (905)-577-3440 and tickets@thestingers.ca, and on the team's website: www.thestingers.ca/tickets
Canadian Elite Basketball League Stories from April 19, 2022
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- Growlers Select Cole Long and Mason Bourcier in U SPORTS Draft - Newfoundland Growlers
- Ottawa Blackjacks Announce 2022 CEBL U Sports Draft Picks - Ottawa BlackJacks
- 2022 CEBL U SPORTS Draft Class Announced - CEBL
- Windsor's Kennedy and UBC's Sandhu Selected by Bandits at Annual CEBL U SPORTS Draft - Vancouver Bandits
- Guelph Nighthawks Announce 2022 USPORTS Draft Selections - Guelph Nighthawks
- Stingers Draft Vandervelden and Dimanochie - Edmonton Stingers
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