Since the inaugural season of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, the Honey Badgers organization has had a longstanding history of graduating players to the next level in their professional basketball  journeys. Over seventy-five percent of players who have suited up in the pinstripes have played professionally around the world the following fall. In the past five years, five players have taken their experiences in the CEBL back to U SPORTS for a final season playing at the collegiate level. 

The Honey Badgers selected University of Toronto guard Callum Baker 11th overall in the second round in the 2023 U SPORTS draft. In 15 games as a rookie, Baker averaged 3.1 points and 13.6 minutes highlighted by a career-high 16-point performance vs. Scarborough in the Eastern Conference Quarter-final on August 4. That same game, the Oakville native became the fifth player in CEBL history to start a playoff game as a current U SPORTS player, joining former Honey Badgers forward Thomas Kennedy.

“I really appreciate Jermaine (Anderson) and the Honey Badgers for giving me the opportunity to play at the professional level,” said Baker. “Getting to play alongside and learn from professionals everyday as a university student was great for my development. I was blessed to have a coaching staff and teammates who trusted me in games which helped grow my confidence.”

Baker has had a hot start out of the gates for the University of Toronto Blues this season through three games, averaging 26.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists as a veteran in the Blues backcourt. He leads the team in three-pointers made, points, and assists. Baker recorded 32 points while dishing out eight assists in an opening weekend 102-100 victory over the McMaster Marauders on November 4. 

“Going into my final season I feel much more confident and prepared, both physically and mentally for a great season with my teammates at U of T” said the six-foot-two guard.

Baker entered training camp as one of five rookies in attendance, and earned a spot on the Honey Badgers opening night roster making his professional debut in the nation’s capital against the Ottawa BlackJacks on May 24. The guard’s growth early on in the CEBL season resulted in an invite to Canada Basketball’s U23 Men’s National Team training camp in July. Upon returning to the Honey Badgers lineup, Baker closed the season averaging 10.0 points in 32.3 minutes of action in the final three games.

“Getting to see how these guys approached everyday helped me a lot,” said the University of Toronto guard. “Seeing them get to the gym early to shoot, stay after practice to shoot, competing non-stop showed me how a leader should carry themselves”. 

Baker averaged 21.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 18 games in his first year at the University of Toronto during the 2022-23 campaign. His breakout season returning home to Canada earned him OUA Second Team All-Star honours in addition to being named a finalist for the University of Toronto Men’s T-Holders Athlete of the Year Award. 

Before arriving on campus in Scarborough, Baker played in 64 games between Flagler College and Fairleigh Dickinson University. 

 Each week, the Honey Badgers highlight the top performances from players playing around the world. Stay up to date across all social media platforms for the latest news and updates about your favourite Honey Badgers.

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 www.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 71 percent of its 2023 rosters being Canadian. TSN, Canada's sports leader, is the official broadcast partner of the league. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

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Media Contact:
Kyle Warrener

Brampton Honey Badgers

kwarrener@honeybadgers.ca

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