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.

MAZEREEUW PROMOTED TO PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

By CEBL • February 20, 2026
League’s first-ever President takes on expanded leadership role as Canada’s professional basketball league enters its next phase of growth The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) today announced that Ty Mazereeuw has been promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer, leading the league into its next phase of growth. Mazereeuw’s appointment as CEO was approved by the league’s Board of Directors. He was named the league’s first-ever President on May 1, 2025. Over the past year, the CEBL has continued to build momentum through innovative commercial and digital initiatives, and has welcomed new private ownership groups. “The league’s growth and momentum are a testament to the dedication and talent of our owners, players, partners, and staff across the country,” said Mazereeuw. “I’m excited to build on this foundation as we continue to strengthen the league’s place in the sports landscape and deliver fast-paced, high-level basketball for fans.” Mazereeuw's more than 20 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry has focused on innovation and revenue growth, including previous senior roles with the Canadian Football League (CFL), IMG, and Molson Sports and Entertainment. Mazereeuw assumes the league’s top executive role following the departure of the league’s co-founder and former Commissioner, Mike Morreale, in October 2025. As CEO, Mazereeuw will oversee all league functions and work closely with the league’s basketball operations leadership team on day-to-day basketball matters. The Brampton Honey Badgers will begin their season with two home games on Friday, May 15 and Sunday, May 17 versus the Ottawa BlackJacks and Calgary Surge, respectively. Click here to get your Honey Badgers tickets today, starting at only $20 per game. ### 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, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide. In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media. Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca

BRAMPTON’S OWN DANILO DJURICIC SIGNS WITH THE HONEY BADGERS

By Elias Eldridge • February 17, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that they have signed Brampton’s own Danilo Djuricic for the 2026 season. Djuricic has played the past four seasons with the Scarborough Shooting Stars, including winning a championship with the organization in 2023. He also played two seasons with Basket Brno in Czechia, making his professional debut immediately after graduating from Harvard in Economics. “Coming home to play the sport I love is a dream come true,” said Djuricic. “I am grateful to the Shooting Stars organization for four unforgettable seasons, but looking forward to this next step in my career. Putting on a Brampton jersey and playing in front of my family and friends is going to be an amazing feeling.” Since 2021, Djuricic has played 119 games as a professional, averaging 4.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 13.4 minutes. Last season with the Shooting Stars, he scored in double-figures on three occasions including a 17-point outburst versus the Ottawa BlackJacks on May 27. Djuricic played three seasons for the Harvard Crimson, with his senior season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a junior, he played in all 29 games, with two as a starter and recorded a season-high 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting versus Yale. As a freshman, he put up back-to-back 10+ point outings en route to an Ivy League Rookie of the Week award. He attended high school at St. Michael’s College School in Toronto, where he had a highly acclaimed career. He helped lead the school to two OFSAA AAAA championships (2015 & 2017), he was the team captain during his junior and senior campaigns, a three-time BioSteel All-Canadian, and named to the Toronto High School Basketball Top-50 Players of All-Time list in 2016. “Danilo is forever etched in history for helping lead our country to its first and only gold medal in Egypt, but more importantly, he is an incredible human being,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “On the court, he embodies what it means to sacrifice for a common goal. His unselfishness, experience, and leadership will be invaluable to our team and we’re excited to welcome him to the Honey Badger family.” In June of 2023 in the midst of the Shooting Stars championship season, Djuricic was diagnosed with testicular cancer at just 24 years old. After being operated on in July of 2023, Djuricic opted to sit out a season of professional basketball and focus on recovery, ultimately returning back to action in May, 2024. Click here to read more about Danilo’s inspiring story. Djuricic is also the founder of The 40 Year Plan, an organization designed to help student-athletes and professionals think beyond short-term success and build a foundation for lifelong achievement. More about The 40 Year Plan here . “Danilo is going to be an impact player for us on the court and in the locker room,” said Honey Badgers Assistant General Manager John Ross. “We are thrilled to add a player of his caliber and character to the franchise. He is an inspiration who will be both a valuable contributor for the Honey Badgers and the Brampton community.” The Brampton Honey Badgers will begin their season with two home games on Friday, May 15 and Sunday, May 17 versus the Ottawa BlackJacks and Calgary Surge, respectively. Click here to get your Honey Badgers tickets today, starting at only $20 per game. ### 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, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide. In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media. Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca

NBA VETERAN ALEX CERDA AGREES TO TERMS AS BRAMPTON’S NEW HEAD COACH

By Elias Eldridge • February 13, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) are thrilled to announce that Alex Cerda and the Honey Badgers agree to terms to make Cerda their new head coach. Cerda will join the club with 10 years of NBA experience, including two seasons as an assistant video coordinator with the Los Angeles Clippers (2018-2020). Cerda will officially join the Honey Badgers after completing his third season with the South Bay Lakers (Los Angeles Lakers G League affiliate) where he is serving as an assistant coach. Alex’s professional journey began in 2016 as the head video coordinator and player development coach with the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League. From there, he climbed his way up the coaching rankings, transitioning over to the NBA and working for the Los Angeles Clippers. In 2021, Cerda reached a new level of coaching as an assistant coach & offensive coordinator for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League before joining the South Bay Lakers in his current role. “I could not be more excited to make my head coaching debut in Brampton and the CEBL,” said Cerda. “I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to spearhead this team as they enter a new era. I am looking forward to working with Al [Whitley], Jermaine [Anderson], and John [Ross] to put together a roster we believe will embody the new culture we are building, and thrive in it as well. I can’t wait to see you all around the Peel Region and at the CAA Centre this season!” Cerda has also operated a player development training program in Dallas. Here, he spent the offseason training the likes of Canada’s own AJ Lawson (Toronto Raptors), along with Jericho Sims (Milwaukee Bucks), Shake Milton (359 NBA games played), Jared Butler (148 NBA games played), and many more. Cerda describes his coaching style as focused, detail-oriented and data-driven. Offensively, he has a very impressive resume, leading the 2022-23 Texas Legends to the G League’s number-one offensive rating (118.9), points per chance (1.066), effective field goal percentage (60.3%), and three-point percentage (41.2%). His offensive philosophy is for the Honey Badgers to create the highest percentage shot possible on every possession by playing an analytically progressive brand of basketball. On defense, Cerda wants to implement a tough, yet high-IQ style of play, pushing players to do their job one possession at a time. As a defensive coach for the 2024-25 South Bay Lakers, Cerda got the Lakers to the number-five defensive rating (105.3), number-four opponent effective field goal percentage (52.1%), and number-eight turnover percentage (18%) during the G League’s Tip-Off Tournament. “This is a very important year for Honey Badgers basketball, and I am confident that Alex is the person for this job,” said Honey Badgers CEO Al Whitley. “His ability to lead, manage and motivate, along with his rare blend of high-level NBA experience make Coach Cerda an incredible asset for our entire organization and I look forward to reuniting with him on this next chapter of his professional career. We are grateful for his commitment and trust in what we are building in Brampton!” On a personal note, Cerda attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. While at UT Austin, Cerda was also the men’s basketball team’s manager where he got an early start in the coaching business by helping out with drills and player development workouts. "Alex is exactly the kind of coach who represents this organization's values and focus on winning championships," said Team Owner Leonard Asper. "I am so proud of the front office we have built and the people that they continue to attract to this organization. Honey Badgers and CEBL fans should be excited about the team that will be representing Honey Badgers basketball both on and off the court as we move into the upcoming season.” The Brampton Honey Badgers will begin their season with two home games on Friday, May 15 and Sunday, May 17 versus the Ottawa BlackJacks and Calgary Surge, respectively. Click here to get your Honey Badgers tickets today, starting at only $20 per game. ### 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, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide. In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media. 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