The Hamilton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday the signing of draft pick Ryan Ejim.

A six-foot-seven forward from Brampton, Ejim (pronounced “EDGE-um”) is having an outstanding rookie season of professional basketball, averaging 18.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 29.5 minutes in 24 games with Gijon Basket of the EBA in Spain. He ranks eighth in league scoring, third in rebounding, third in defensive rebounding and fourth in offensive rebounding. Ejim has recorded a team-best 15 double-doubles and has scored in double figures during all but two games this season. He registered a career-high 34 points on 11-for-13 shooting from the field and nine-for-12 shooting from the free throw line on October 28 versus Betanzos. He grabbed a career-best 23 rebounds, including eight offensive boards on March 3 versus Agustinos Leclerc.

He started his professional career with the Niagara River Lions, playing four games at the end of his collegiate career in 2017. Ejim captured back-to-back national championships (U Sports) as a key member of the Carleton Ravens, which included a team-high 19 points in the national championship win March 12 versus Ryerson. He averaged 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 16.6 minutes, while shooting .526 from the field in 101 collegiate games over five seasons with three different schools (Carleton, York, Humber).

Ejim was selected in the Open Round by the Honey Badgers in the inaugural CEBL Draft last month. For a complete look at the Honey Badgers current roster, visit www.honeybadgers.ca.

The CEBL, the official professional league partner of Canada Basketball, opens its inaugural season May 9 with franchises in Fraser Valley (Abbotsford), Edmonton, Guelph, Hamilton, Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), and Niagara (St. Catharines). CEBL teams will play a 20-game regular season from May 9 to August 15, culminating with a league championship playoff at a site to be announced.

Hamilton’s historic first game is scheduled for Sunday, May 12 when Edmonton visits the Honey Badgers at FirstOntario Centre.

Honey Badgers season tickets are available by contacting tickets@honeybadgers.ca while individual tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca.

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