WHEZA PANZO

POSITION:  Forward

HEIGHT:  6-7 (201 cm)

WEIGHT:  204 lbs (93 kg)

BIRTHDATE:  February 4, 2000 (Mississauga, ON)

HIGH SCHOOL:  Potter's House (Jacksonville, FL)

UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE:  Iona University (2024)

HOW ACQUIRED:  Signed as free agent on July 24, 2025

YEARS PRO:  1

BIO

PROFESSIONAL CAREER 


Joining the Honey Badgers averaging 1.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 8.5 minutes in four games with the Ottawa BlackJacks earlier in the 2025 season. 


2025 CEBL Season: Averaged 1.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 8.5 minutes in four games with the Ottawa BlackJacks … Scored his first professional points in a five-point, three-rebound outing May 27 vs. Scarborough.



UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE CAREER 


Averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 24.6 minutes in 154 games with Iona University and Stetson University.


2023-24: Transferred to Iona … Averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 31.8 minutes in 33 games with the Gaels … Led his team in minutes per game and three-pointers made (90) … Shot the fourth most three-pointers in a season in Iona history with 246 attempts … Posted 10+ points on 15 occasions including 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc March 3 vs. Marist … Put up his third 20-point game of the season with 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting from three-point range to go with two rebounds, two steals, and two blocks February 16 vs. Manhattan … Scored a season-high 23 points with seven made threes and four rebounds December 1 vs. Fairfield.

 

2022-23: Averaged 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 30.0 minutes in 31 games in his fourth season with Stetson … Led the Hatters in minutes per game, three-point percentage (.469), and three-pointers made (76) … Grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds in a 45-minute outing February 24 vs. Lipscomb … Scored 19 points, grabbed four rebounds, and had three blocks and two steals February 2 vs. North Alabama … Set a program record with 10 made threes and a career-high 30 points December 10 vs. Webber.

 

2021-22: Averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 16.8 minutes in 31 games with the Hatters … Scored 10+ points in four games including 19 points on 6-for-8 shooting February 23 vs. Kennesaw State … Dropped a season-high 20 points in just 18 minutes off the bench, shooting 7-for-8 from the field January 29 vs. Eastern Kentucky.

 

2020-21: Averaged 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 18.8 minutes in 26 games as a sophomore … Ranked first on his squad in three-point percentage (.431) … Made at least one three-pointer in 16 games including three made in a 13-point performance February 27 vs. North Florida … Made a season-high four three-pointers for 12 total points in 14 minutes February 1 vs. Carver Bible.

 

2019-20: Averaged 4.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 24.5 minutes in 33 games as a freshman with Stetson University … Scored 10+ points five times including 11 with two rebounds, three assists, and one steal March 3 vs. North Alabama … Grabbed six or more rebounds on nine occasions with a season-high nine to go with six points and three assists November 23 vs. Monmouth.



NATIONAL TEAM CAREER

Represented Canada at the 2018 U18 FIBA Americas and earned a silver medal averaging 4.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 13.8 minutes in four games.



PERSONAL

Son of Wene and Pancha Panzo … Has a brother named Jeani and a sister named Djamila … Played a significant role in Hamilton Heights FCA National Championship run in 2018 … Represented Ontario in the 2017 Canada Games.

July 25 GAME PREVIEW: Scarborough @ Brampton

By Christian Bastasin-Diodati • July 24, 2025
After a tough road loss in Ottawa, The Brampton Honey Badgers look to recover at home against the Scarborough Shooting Stars July 25 @ 7:30pm. Brampton currently sits last in the Eastern Conference with a 4-15 record. Despite the arduous season, the playoffs are still within reach for the Honey Badgers. They are only 3.5 games behind Montreal for the final playoff spot and will need to win their last five games, including a match against the Alliance. They also need Montreal to lose their remaining games of the season for them to take that coveted final playoff spot. Scarborough on the other hand, is 8-9 and third place in the Eastern Conference. After a loss to the Niagara River Lions which put them below .500, they look to rebound quickly and finish the season strong with a trip to the playoffs. Prior to their matchup against Ottawa, the Honey Badgers signed Hamilton native and former Ottawa BlackJack Rudi Williams. In 10 games as a guard, Williams averaged 6.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 15.5 minutes. In his first game against the Niagara River Lions on May 18, he scored a professional career-high 15 points and relentlessly attacked the basket, shooting a game-high 12 free throws and making 10 of them. To keep the playoff dream alive, the Honey Badgers will have to recover quickly after a 91-77 loss to the Ottawa BlackJacks who swept the in-season series. At first, Brampton kept pace with the BlackJacks, entering the second quarter down 30-31. However, they struggled to get things going from there, being outscored 23-13 as Ottawa attacked the basket. The Honey Badgers recovered quickly in the third and drove to the rim to put pressure on the BlackJacks, but ran out of steam in the fourth quarter, being outscored 15-13 as both offenses struggled. Brampton was led by the guard duo of Koby McEwen and Quinndary Weatherspoon, who both recorded 17 points. McEwen also helped the team in other facets of the game, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists. David Muenkat continued to contribute on the offensive and defensive ends, logging 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and one block. Ottawa was led by the guard-big tandem of Javonte Smart and Isaih Moore. Smart shot lights out from the field, scoring 28 points on .620 from the field and .440 from three. Moore was a beast in the paint, logging 22 points and a game-high 18 rebounds with two blocks. Off the bench Keevan Veinot recorded 12 points and six rebounds, providing a spark. In his Honey Badgers debut and against his former team, Rudi Williams grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists. He also contributed on the defensive end, recording one steal. After the game, Brampton’s Head Coach Sheldon Cassimy kept it concise on the Honey Badger’s problems on the glass. “They have multiple guys that get on the glass. I feel like we were getting the initial stop and then just giving up those second-chance points,” said Coach Cassimy. Scarborough is coming off a 15-point loss to the Niagara River Lions, losing their in-season series 2-1. Niagara’s win was largely thanks to great games from Khalil Ahmad, Ron Curry and Kimbal Mackenzie. Ahmad was the game’s highest scorer, finishing with 23 points on an effective 5-for-8 from the field and 11-12 at the charity stripe. Curry scored 22 points, shooting 8-for-13 in the game and Mackenzie showed his versatility, recording 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block. Although Niagara got the best of them, Scarborough scored 21 points off 19 turnovers from Niagara and outscored the River Lions 34-30 in the paint as a team. Taking care of the ball and attacking the basket will be key for the Honey Badgers in their rematch. Looking back to their previous matchup, the Honey Badgers won the turnover battle 12-17. Brampton was able to force turnovers as well, recording a season-high 12 steals as a team. Despite recording 30 points in the paint, the Honey Badgers only shot .410 from two-point range. This was in large part due to a high volume of mid-range shots. Brampton has to be aggressive in their rematch with Scarborough if they want to get a win and sneak into the playoffs. Brampton isn’t done making additions to the team for the playoff push, signing former Honey Badger Yaw Obeng-Mensah and former BlackJack Wheza Panzo. Obeng-Mensah was mostly a solid bench player in his lone season with the Brampton Honey Badgers, averaging 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 16.0 minutes. He has shown the ability to take over games, such as when he exploded for 25 points and 13 rebounds in the final game last season against the Ottawa BlackJacks. He also recorded a solid 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field against Montreal. He can be a terror on defense such as when he logged six steals in a nailbiting win against Scarborough. In four games with the Ottawa BlackJacks, Wheza Panzo was mainly a bench player, averaging 1.2 points and 1.0 rebound in 8.2 minutes per game. At Iona and Stetson, he emerged as a solid three-point shooter off the bench; Including two seasons at Stetson where he shot .431 and .469 from three, respectively. As the season reaches its zenith, this match looks to have playoff implications for both teams. A win for Brampton keeps them in the playoff hunt just a bit longer as they look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2022. For Scarborough, a win reinforces their lead in the Eastern Conference as they look to secure their fourth consecutive playoff berth and a chance to win their second championship. Both teams are going to be bringing their A-game, making it a fun game to watch on CEBL+ and TSN+. ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca . About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 10 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca

HONEY BADGERS INK DEALS WITH TWO CANADIAN FORWARDS

By Elias Eldridge • July 24, 2025
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have re-signed forward Yaw Obeng-Mensah and have picked up former Ottawa BlackJack Wheza Panzo for the remainder of the season. With five games remaining in the 2025 regular season, the Honey Badgers are rounding out their roster as some players have headed back overseas, including David Muenkat and Marcus Carr. Yaw Obeng-Mensah spent the entire 2024 season with the Honey Badgers and averaged 5.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 15.8 minutes in 19 games. He finished the season with the best game of his professional career, recording 25 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal versus Ottawa on July 29. Since his last stint with the team, the Niagara University product has spent time with London in the Basketball Super League (BSL) and Independ in Argentina. Now he will get a chance to play right back where his career started. “Yaw’s energy will be a welcome presence to the team for the remainder of the season,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “He’s familiar with our system, and he will play with passion and grit regardless of our position in the standings. Wheza Panzo on the other hand is currently playing through his first professional season of basketball. Coming from Iona University, the Mississauga-native signed with the Ottawa BlackJacks and played with them through their first four games of the season. The sharpshooter will now join the Honey Badgers to close the CEBL season." Panzo is a sharpshooter. He shot .395 from distance throughout his five-year collegiate career and currently holds the single game three-point record at Stetson University where he made 10 threes in a career-high 30-point effort vs. Webber International University on December 10, 2022. “Similar to Yaw, we’re familiar with Wheza and his ability to space the floor” said Anderson. “As players leave for their respective teams and national team duties, Wheza will have the opportunity to prove himself in the last five games of the season.” Overall, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 24.6 minutes in 154 games with Iona (2023-2024) & Stetson (2019-2023). The Honey Badgers 2025 campaign is set to continue this Friday at the CAA Centre for Caribbean Night where Obeng-Mensah and Panzo will make their season debuts with the team. This is followed by the Honey Badgers’ final home game of the season where they will face the Niagara River Lions on July 27 on Fan Appreciation Day. In the spirit of the end of the regular season, please find a Buy One, Get One free offer here for the Honey Badgers last two home games. We look forward to seeing you at the CAA Centre! ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca . About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 10 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca

BlackJacks Ride Strong Second Half to Win Over Honey Badgers

By Alex Lough • July 22, 2025
After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Ottawa BlackJacks locked in on the defensive effort that has become their calling card and rode it to a 91–77 victory over the visiting Brampton Honey Badgers. Javonte Smart led the way with 28 points and six assists, while Isaih Moore had 22 points and a regular-season franchise-record 18 rebounds for the BlackJacks. “The first quarter, we really couldn’t find a flow defensively,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said after the game. “I think Shakur (Daniel) picking up two quick fouls… he gets our defense going. We usually put Shakur on their toughest offensive player, and not having him out there hurt us a little bit. We put him in for the second quarter, and I thought he did a really good job. We always have a chance to win the game when our defense is good.” DeAveiro added: “The guy I really want to acknowledge tonight is Christian (Rohlehr). He's been sitting and waiting for his turn, and he did a really good job for us tonight. Six points and eight rebounds is a really good game for a guy that’s been sitting.” The win brought the BlackJacks back to an even .500 record and moved them closer to clinching a playoff berth, which they can secure with either a win in their next game on Wednesday or a Brampton loss. Things got off to a fast start for both teams in a chirpy first quarter that saw 16 free throws awarded on 11 committed fouls. Ottawa led by as much as eight, but Brampton responded to cut the lead to 31–30 by quarter’s end. The game shifted in the second quarter, when the BlackJacks held the Honey Badgers to just 6-of-21 shooting from the field and only 13 points. “Even just looking at the box score, I feel like we could have shot the ball a bit better, been better on the offensive glass,” Brampton head coach Sheldon Cassimy said. “They have multiple guys that get on the glass. I feel like we were getting the initial stop and then just giving up those second-chance points. Isaih Moore did a great job on the offensive glass and finished off the game with 22 and 18. Not much you can coach about that, other than having heart and closing out possessions. “At times guys get deflated with the back and forth of what’s going on in the game that I don’t want to get in trouble for, but that’s how the game went for me.” Koby McEwan and Quinndary Weatherspoon tied for the team lead with 17 points for the Honey Badgers, while David Muenkat added 14 points and eight rebounds, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range. Brampton kept it close in the second quarter, but a 12–4 Ottawa run late in the frame gave the BlackJacks some breathing room. By the start of the second half, Ottawa came out with renewed energy and ensured the outcome was never in doubt. The loss extended Brampton’s losing streak to seven games. Their last win came on June 29 against the Niagara River Lions. “As soon as we got to the locker room, coach emphasized this was going to be a defensive half in order for us to pull away with the lead, and I think we really locked in on that in the second half,” Moore said. As for his record-setting rebound performance, Moore downplayed the individual accomplishment, instead focusing on the team’s larger goals. Still, he shared the mindset that drives his consistency. “Three things I tell myself religiously: I control my energy, my attitude, and my effort,” Moore said. “Those three things are my controllables. I can’t control missed shots and calls or stuff like that, so I really key in on those three things. I think my energy and my effort really help me get rebounds.” “The win is the most important,” he continued. “Right now, we’re trying to push for the playoffs. With seeding, we’re playing every game like it’s a playoff game for the last two or three weeks of the season.” “We’re in a tough stretch now. I think we have six games in 13 days,” DeAveiro said. “What’s really important here is rest. Our guys need to take care of their bodies and rest. This is the toughest stretch of the season coming up. We have to make sure our guys are fresh. We got something to play for. We’re trying to finish first or second so you get that bye and that home-court advantage. I think we’re all on the same page there, so that’s definitely on our minds.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600663 Up next for both teams The Ottawa BlackJacks head down the road to face the Montreal Alliance on their homecourt July 23. The Brampton Honey Badgers return home for the first time since July 11 to host the Scarborough Shooting Stars on July 25. Next CEBL action The Ottawa BlackJacks and Montreal Alliance meet in their second of four matchups this season on July 23, live on RDS, CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca . About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 10 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca



PROFESSIONAL STATISTICS

Totals

Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2025 Ottawa BlackJacks 4 34 5 1-2 1-7 0-0 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 4 34 5 1-2 1-7 0-0 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0

Averages

Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2025 Ottawa BlackJacks 4 8.5 1.3 0.500 0.143 0.000 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Totals 4 8.5 1.3 0.500 0.143 0.000 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

COLLEGIATE STATISTICS

Totals

Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2023-24 Iona 33 1049 316 18-43 90-246 10-15 17 68 85 47 63 19 37 13
2022-23 Stetson 31 931 267 12-40 76-162 15-19 23 120 143 34 53 18 26 12
2021-22 Stetson 31 520 130 6-15 37-95 7-8 19 61 80 11 22 6 9 9
2020-21 Stetson 26 488 109 10-28 28-65 5-8 23 50 73 19 41 9 14 15
2019-20 Stetson 33 807 160 25-66 26-83 32-42 28 101 129 26 60 17 24 19
Totals 154 3795 982 71-192 257-651 69-92 110 400 510 137 239 69 110 68

Averages

Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2023-24 Iona 33 31.8 9.6 0.419 0.366 0.667 0.5 2.1 2.6 1.4 1.9 0.6 1.1 0.4
2022-23 Stetson 31 30.0 8.6 0.300 0.469 0.789 0.7 3.9 4.6 1.1 1.7 0.6 0.8 0.4
2021-22 Stetson 31 16.8 4.2 0.400 0.389 0.875 0.6 2.0 2.6 0.4 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.3
2020-21 Stetson 26 18.8 4.2 0.357 0.431 0.625 0.9 1.9 2.8 0.7 1.6 0.3 0.5 0.6
2019-20 Stetson 33 24.5 4.8 0.379 0.313 0.762 0.8 3.1 3.9 0.8 1.8 0.5 0.7 0.6
Totals 154 24.6 6.4 0.370 0.395 0.750 0.7 2.6 3.3 0.9 1.6 0.4 0.7 0.4