The Hamilton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have re-signed Burlington native Caleb Agada for the 2022 season, marking Agada’s third stint with the team. The 27-year-old is currently starring for Melbourne United in the Australian National Basketball League where he ranks second in scoring (12.9 points per game), second in rebounding (6.1 per game), and second in assists (2.52 per game) in 21 games with the league’s winningest team.

 Agada suited up for the Honey Badgers for games during the 2019 season and 2020 CEBL Summer Series. He totaled 20 points and 15 rounds in two contests during the inaugural season before departing to fulfill his duties with the Nigerian National Team that went on to play in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification windows. He totaled 32 points and eight rebounds in two games during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series.

"We're looking forward to having Caleb in uniform once again this season. Caleb's game has grown exponentially over the last two years, and he has gained a wealth of international experience playing for his national team,” said Jermaine Anderson, General Manager of the Honey Badgers. “We love the fact that he's extremely aggressive on both ends of the floor, which will provide a sense of toughness and grit for our team. More importantly, Caleb is fully committed to helping us achieve our goals, and he’s extremely passionate about serving the Hamilton-Halton community. His character embodies everything that we stand for as an organization."

Agada competed with the Nigerian National Team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, scoring 17 points to help lead Nigeria to a 90-87 upset victory over a United States squad that included Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal and other NBA stars in a scrimmage leading up to the Olympic Games. His 17 points matched the total of Durant as second-highest on the night.

Agada’s Olympic performance earned him a contract with the Denver Nuggets for the 2021 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He debuted with 21 points versus the Miami Heat and averaged 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.2 steals and 19.6 minutes, scoring in double digits in four of his five appearances. Agada became just the second-ever U SPORTS product to play in the NBA Summer League.

A graduate of Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, Agada starred at the University of Ottawa from 2012-2017. He won back-to-back national U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year honours in 2015-16 and 2016-17. He was also a three-time Ontario University Athletics (OUA) First Team All-Star. As a fifth-year senior, Agada averaged 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game and earned Second Team All-Canadian honours.

The Honey Badgers are coming off a 9-5 record, placing third in the 2021 CEBL season standings. They tip off the fourth Canadian Elite Basketball League season Wednesday, May 25 when the expansion Montreal Alliance visit FirstOntario Centre. It will be the first of 100 regular season CEBL games played in 69 days for Canada’s official national professional basketball league. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.ca or 905-522-BALL.

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Media Contact: 

Maria Suriani 

Director, Operations and Community Engagement 

msuriani@honeybadger.ca