LJ THORPE

POSITION: Guard 

HEIGHT: 6-5 (195.6 cm) 

WEIGHT: 220 lbs (99.8 kg)

BIRTHDATE: May 13, 1999 (West Palm Beach, FL)

HIGH SCHOOL: Royal Palm Beach Community High School (West Palm Beach, FL)

UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE: University of North Carolina Asheville (2022)

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed May 8, 2024

YEARS PRO: 2


BIO

PROFESSIONAL CAREER 


Entered season averaging 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 27.3 minutes in 75 games playing professionally in Finland and Lithuania.


2024 CEBL Season (As of July 30): Averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 29.4 minutes in 18 games with the Brampton Honey Badgers … Achieved 20+ in scoring in four contests … Recorded 16 assists, tying the CEBL record for assists in a single game, becoming third in franchise history with 100 assists in a single season, and giving him his 500th professional-career assist vs. Ottawa on July 29 … Had 22 points for the second straight game along with seven assists vs. Vancouver on July 25 … Scored 22 points vs. Scarborough on July 20 … Registered his first double-double of the season grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds with 12 points vs. Ottawa on July 10 … Recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and nine assists in a win against Calgary on July 3 … Dropped 18 points including eight free throws to go along with eight assists and two steals vs. Saskatchewan on June 12 … Had 22 points while adding six rebounds and four assists vs. Scarborough on June 9 … Returned from a two-game absence June 5 vs. Winnipeg, recording six points, seven assists, and three steals … Scored nine points along with five assists and three rebounds in a win over Ottawa on May 26 … Recorded 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting including the target score winner in a home opener victory over Niagara on May 24.


2023-24: Averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 27.3 minutes in 41 games with BC Siauliai in Lithuania … Team leader in scoring, achieving double-figures in a team-best 20 contests … Drained a career-best five triples en route to a 15-point performance against Bristol in the European North Basketball League Quarter Finals on March 7 … Went 7-for-8 from the free throw line contributing to 26 total points against Lietkabelis on February 11 … Scored 19 points to go along with six assists and one steal in the season opener September 17 against Wolves.


2022-23: Averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 27.4 minutes in 34 games with Pyrinto Tampere in Finland … Led the team in assists … Grabbed a season-best four steals on three separate occasions (December 13 vs. Seagulls, January 6 vs. Korihait, and April 8 vs. Kauhajoki) … Scored a career-high 26 points with four rebounds and two steals vs. Kouvot on January 3 … Recording a double-double in a win over Honka on March 22, dishing out a season-best 12 assists to go with 14 points.



UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE CAREER 


Averaged 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 25.2 minutes in 102 games in a five-year collegiate career at the University of North Carolina Asheville.


2021-22: Averaged 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 23.4 minutes as a senior with the University of North Carolina Asheville … Received All-Big South Honorable Mention and All-Big South Preseason First Team honors … Went 14-for-35 (.400) shooting from distance on the campaign … Scored 20+ points in six contests, including a pair of 28-point performances February 26 and January 29 vs. Presbyterian … Had 14 points and nine assists against Charleston Southern on February 16.


2020-21: Averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 25.1 minutes in 20 games with the Bulldogs … - Named All-Big South Honorable Mention … Ranked third on the team in scoring, with double-figures in 13 games … Second on the Bulldogs in rebounding, assists, and field goals made (81) … Secured 14 steals on the season … Scored a team-high 21 points to go with four rebounds and two assists in a win against Gardner-Webb on January 19.


2019-20: Averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 28.5 minutes in 31 games with the University of North Carolina Asheville … Named a Big South Honorable Mention selection … Finished second on the team and 11th in the Big South in scoring … Had at least five rebounds in all but two league games, leading the team in rebounding on 20 occasions … Ranked eighth in the Big South in steals with 1.4 per game … Became the second player in program history (Kenny George) with a triple-double, with 17 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists at Hampton on February 10, also becoming the first Bulldog with double-digit assists in a game since 2010 …Second on the team with 26 double-digit scoring efforts, including 17 games in a row from January 11 through March 3 … Had four 20-point outings, including 22 points against Tennessee on November 5, earning Big South Player of the Week recognition.


2018-19: Averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 23.9 minutes in 16 games as a redshirt freshman with the University of North Carolina Asheville …  Had six double-digit scoring performances including a season-best 24 points vs. Charleston Southern on February 9 … Corralled seven rebounds at Charleston Southern on February 27 and at Winthrop on January 21.


2017-18: Appeared in one game with the University of North Carolina Asheville before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.



PERSONAL


L.J. is nickname for "Leonard Junior” … Majored in Health and Wellness at the University of North Carolina Asheville.


By Kolby Marsh July 9, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers made a long-awaited return to the CAA Centre this past week for their first home game in just over two weeks. After coming out empty-handed on a road trip where they went 0-3 and were outscored by a total of 37 points, this team was desperate for a morale boost as they stood just one game above .500 and on the verge of dropping down to fourth place in the tight-knit Eastern Conference. With the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season reaching July, the roster turnover has flipped each team’s rotation sporadically over the last week, and the Honey Badgers were no exception. Two of Brampton’s top stars, Sean East II and Cameron Tyson , headed out to take part in the NBA Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, respectively. With a huge void to fill, the Honey Badgers front office got to work and brought in some fresh talent to replace them. The announcements came two days apart that Brampton had signed Justyn Hamilton and Trentyn Flowers for the rest of the CEBL season. Both stars bring experience from the NBA G League, creating a new total of seven players on the Honey Badgers roster that have previously played in the G League. Hamilton, 27, came to Brampton after splitting this past season with the Grand Rapids Gold (Denver Nuggets affiliate) and Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee Bucks). A 6’11” big man that crashes the glass exceptionally well, Hamilton serves as an essential piece the Honey Badgers need after the Scarborough Shooting Stars grabbed 73 team rebounds against them on June 27th, a new CEBL record. With his addition, the Honey Badgers got a major boost in versatility on both ends of the floor and looked to make use of Hamilton’s skill right away. Flowers, who has eight games of NBA experience under his belt with the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls, to go along with established success in each team’s G League squad, became known as the Honey Badgers’ newest star with East II away from the team. Thursday’s matchup against Ottawa marked the first professional game for Flowers since back in December due to an injury, and he was ready to get back in the action and make an immediate statement in the CEBL. “He can do everything,” said Head Coach Alex Cerda . “His skillset compliments everyone else, and his energy overall is contagious.” It was an eventful start to Flowers’ Honey Badgers debut, to say the least. After an early morning flight from Seattle and arriving at the arena straight from the airport two hours before tipoff, the journey caught up to him a little bit and put his availability on Thursday night in jeopardy. But, once he got out on the floor and into a rhythm, both him and Cerda didn’t look back. “Before the game, I was battling a little sickness,” Flowers explained. “At one point, I was questioning whether I was going to play or not, but I really just sensed the pride this Honey Badger team has and I wanted to go out there and give it my all for my teammates.” “I think when his juices got flowing, he was like ‘I’m here, I want to play,’” Cerda remarked. “That’s who he is, he’s a pro, he’ll find his way back in the NBA soon or high-level overseas.” Flowers ended up with a game-high 22 points on the night off the bench, as the Honey Badgers went out and got a huge victory against the BlackJacks, 81-76, snapping the five-game losing skid and bringing light to the team and the Brampton fans, as the win padded their spot in second place in the East. Hamilton wasn’t far behind at all, putting up a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while also sinking the game-winning three-pointer in the corner and being voted by the home fans as the player of the game. “He does a lot of really good things for us,” said Cerda. “Any time you have a big who can roll, who can pop, and has the option to do both, it opens up and unlocks pieces of the offense we didn’t have before.” The high vibes carried over to Sunday’s rematch with the Shooting Stars in front of a large crowd at the CAA Centre, where the Honey Badgers went toe-to-toe with Scarborough all game. But at the downfall of Target Score Time, the Shooting Stars went on a 13-5 run to steal a 99-95 win over Brampton, knocking the Honey Badgers back into the loss category. Frank Mitchell took advantage and grabbed four offensive rebounds in clutch time and tipped in the game-winner over a gassed Honey Badgers squad that saw four out of the five starters play over 30 minutes of action. “I felt like we got a little fatigued down the stretch,” Cerda explained. “We just let them get to their spots and get second-chance opportunities. That was ultimately the deciding factor.” However, one person that saw a surge as the game went on was Tyrese Hunter , pouring in 19 second-half points and taking over while the rest of the team were unable to find open looks. Since taking over the point guard role with East II away from the team, Hunter has scored in double-figures in the last three consecutive contests. “He’s done an amazing job keeping our team organized and poised,” Cerda complimented, who has been coaching Hunter since February with the South Bay Lakers in the G League. “The trust that he has in our group and me to come here to work to get better, I appreciate him and everything he’s done for the team so far.” With players coming in and out rapidly, there have been some areas when it comes to the on-court play and coming together as a team that still have to be tuned up. But with a positive attitude and focused mindset, the Honey Badgers have shown signs of getting back to their winning ways and look to keep it going with another important road trip coming this weekend that could shake up the Eastern Conference standings. “Coming in here, I don’t like to lose,” Flowers remarked. “For us, [we need to] just stay together as a team and do the right things. The biggest thing is playing and staying together collectively.” “For us, it’s about taking it one day at a time,” explained Cerda. “We don’t put any extra narrative or feel to it, we just take everything one step at a time. That’s our process at the end of the day.” After taking this week to prepare at home, the Honey Badgers are heading out East for a weekend battle with the Montreal Alliance on Friday, July 10, and a duel against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Sunday, July 12. Fans can tune in and not miss the action live for free on CBC Gem, the CBC Sports YouTube page, and CEBL+. ### 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) The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL’s ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball’s cultural footprint across Canada. The CEBL is where elite performance meets homegrown talent. In 2025, 17 players with NBA experience hit the court, while nearly 70% of the league’s roster was Canadian, the highest concentration of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. Running from May through August, the CEBL’s season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement. Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca
By Kolby Marsh July 8, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that they have signed NBA G League-experienced forward Yor Anei. After spending two seasons in the G League across six teams, Anei is taking his professional career to Canada for the first time with the Honey Badgers, who are currently in the midst of a very important stretch of games against their Eastern Conference rivals. He is coming off of his best professional season to date in Kosovo with the Vellaznimi Gjakome, where he put up 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 21.8 minutes in 25 games. “Yor is a solid player and person” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “He’s a long and versatile two-way player who will add more rotational depth to our roster. We look forward to welcoming him to the Honey Badgers family.” Anei, 26, spent his five years at the collegiate level with DePaul University, Southern Methodist University, and Oklahoma State University, where he averaged 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks over 126 games. During his time with Oklahoma State, he tied the Cowboys’ school-record for blocks in a game twice, with eight swats. His defensive skill gives an immediate boost to the Honey Badgers, who rank fifth in the CEBL with blocks at 52. “We're excited to welcome Yor to the team,” said Honey Badgers Head Coach Alex Cerda. “He is an elite shot-blocker and gives us a lot of defensive versatility. His ability to quickly adapt to a team’s structure and find his role on the fly is something that we highly value, with all the moving parts of a CEBL season.” The Brampton Honey Badgers head on the road once again for a pair of pivotal battles, squaring off against the Montreal Alliance on Friday, July 10, and then head to the nation’s capital to take on the Ottawa BlackJacks on Sunday, July 12. You can tune in live for free online at CBC Gem, the CBC Sports YouTube page, and CEBL+. ### 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) The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL’s ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball’s cultural footprint across Canada. The CEBL is where elite performance meets homegrown talent. In 2025, 17 players with NBA experience hit the court, while nearly 70% of the league’s roster was Canadian, the highest concentration of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. Running from May through August, the CEBL’s season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement. Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Coordinator Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca
By Kolby Marsh July 2, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that they have signed former NBA Draft Selection Trentyn Flowers. After spending the last two years back-and-forth between the NBA and the G League, Flowers is taking his talents to Canada, adding a major boost to the Honey Badgers ahead of the second half of the CEBL season. He is most recently coming off a successful season in the Chicago Bulls organization this past season, where he got into two games with the Bulls in December and played 14 games with the Windy City Bulls, their G League affiliate, where he averaged 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 27.9 minutes. “Trentyn is a valuable addition to our team,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “He’s an exciting young player who brings versatility and valuable international experience to our roster. We’re looking forward to having him on our team and welcoming him to the Honey Badgers family.” Flowers has been playing professional basketball since 18 years old, as the Matthews, North Carolina native decided to play all the way in Australia instead of going to college. He has eight games of NBA experience under his belt between the Bulls and the Los Angeles Clippers, and had his best year of his career in the 2024-25 season, where he averaged 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and just under two assists per game with the San Diego Clippers, LA’s G League affiliate. "Trentyn is an exceptional young talent with tremendous upside," exclaimed Honey Badgers Head Coach Alex Cerda. "At just 21 years old, he's already gained valuable experience competing against professionals in Australia, the NBA G League, and the NBA. What stood out to us was his size, athleticism, versatility, and his desire to continue developing. We believe our environment is a great place for him to grow, and we're excited to welcome him to Brampton and help him take another step in his career. The Brampton Honey Badgers will return home after a long road trip to face the Ottawa BlackJacks on Thursday, July 2, followed quickly by a quick rematch with the Scarborough Shooting Stars on July 5 at the CAA Centre. Get your tickets here , starting at only $20 each ### 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) The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL’s ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball’s cultural footprint across Canada. The CEBL is where elite performance meets homegrown talent. In 2025, 17 players with NBA experience hit the court, while nearly 70% of the league’s roster was Canadian, the highest concentration of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. Running from May through August, the CEBL’s season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement. Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca



PROFESSIONAL STATISTICS **BEFORE 2024 CEBL SEASON

Totals

Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2022-23 Pyrinto (Finland) 34 930 433 137-268 24-97 87-118 34 139 173 165 62 3 58 74
2023-24 BC Siauliai (Lithuania) 41 1120 551 169-306 37-112 102-139 17 122 139 237 86 4 43 109
Totals 75 2050 984 306-574 61-209 189-257 51 261 312 402 148 7 101 183

Averages

Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2022-23 Pyrinto (Finland) 34 27.4 12.7 0.511 0.247 0.737 1.0 4.1 5.1 4.9 1.8 0.1 1.7 2.2
2023-24 BC Siauliai (Lithuania) 41 27.3 13.4 0.552 0.330 0.734 0.4 3.0 3.4 5.8 2.1 0.1 1.0 2.7
Totals 75 27.3 13.1 0.533 0.292 0.735 0.7 3.5 4.2 5.4 2.0 0.1 1.3 2.4

COLLEGIATE STATISTICS

Totals

Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2021-22 University of North Carolina Asheville 34 795 473 164-317 14-35 103-140 30 97 127 125 85 5 31 104
2020-21 University of North Carolina Asheville 20 501 232 66-124 15-37 55-77 19 63 82 60 42 3 14 54
2019-20 University of North Carolina Asheville 31 885 430 133-266 19-48 107-156 52 147 199 71 91 5 43 77
2018-19 University of North Carolina Asheville 16 383 137 34-76 11-41 36-53 12 44 56 40 37 2 12 42
2017-18 University of North Carolina Asheville 1 6 5 1-1 0-1 3-4 0 1 1 2 0 0 4 2
Totals 102 2570 1277 398-784 59-162 304-430 113 352 465 298 255 15 104 279
Averages
Year Team G MIN PTS 2FGP 3FGP FT RO RD RT AS PF BS ST TO
2021-22 University of North Carolina Asheville 34 23.4 13.9 0.517 0.400 0.736 0.9 2.9 3.7 3.7 2.5 0.1 0.9 3.1
2020-21 University of North Carolina Asheville 20 25.1 11.6 0.532 0.405 0.714 1.0 3.2 4.1 3.0 2.1 0.2 0.7 2.7
2019-20 University of North Carolina Asheville 31 28.5 13.9 0.500 0.396 0.686 1.7 4.7 6.4 2.3 2.9 0.2 1.4 2.5
2018-19 University of North Carolina Asheville 16 23.9 8.6 0.447 0.268 0.679 0.8 2.8 3.5 2.5 2.3 0.1 0.8 2.6
2017-18 University of North Carolina Asheville 1 6.0 5.0 1.000 0.000 0.750 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 2.0
Totals 102 25.2 12.5 0.508 0.364 0.707 1.1 3.5 4.6 2.9 2.5 0.1 1.0 2.7