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.

SANDMAN HOTEL GROUP TO CONTINUE AS OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE BRAMPTON HONEY BADGERS

By Elias Eldridge • April 10, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that Sandman Hotel Group has agreed to continue their partnership ahead of the 2026 season. “We are very excited to continue our partnership with the Brampton Honey Badgers,” said Sandman Regional Manager of Sales Roseanne Dalisay. “With this partnership going back to their days in Hamilton, it is exciting to see all the positive change this team has gone through. Sandman Hotel Group believes in supporting and investing in local organizations, and we are proud to be alongside this organization as they head into a new era this season.” Along with assisting in housing Honey Badgers players and staff during training camp, Sandman will also be making a donation to underprivileged youth in local communities to allow them to enjoy live professional basketball. We’re incredibly grateful for Sandman Hotel Group’s continued support of the Honey Badgers as we enter our fifth consecutive season together,” said Honey Badgers CEO Al Whitley. “They’ve become a vital part of our organization - not only through their investment in our team, but through their commitment to our Ball 4 All program, which gives underprivileged youth the opportunity to experience professional basketball. That impact means a great deal to us.” 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 $15 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, 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. About Sandman Hotel Group Opening its first property in Smithers in 1967, Sandman Hotel Group was established with the vision of creating a place where everyone could come together to experience an exceptional standard of hospitality. Media Contact: Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist Brampton Honey Badgers eeldridge@honeybadgers.ca

CANADIAN GUARD JOSHUA OMOJAFO SIGNS WITH BRAMPTON HONEY BADGERS

By Elias Eldridge • April 9, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have signed Hamilton-native and University of South Florida alum Joshua Omojafo. Omojafo is entering the CEBL for his first professional campaign after a highly successful four-year collegiate career at the University of South Florida, Robert Morris University, and Gannon University. Omojafo has been a winner through his whole career. As a starter with three different teams over the last three seasons, Omojafo has played a large part in bringing each one a conference championship. Most recently with the South Florida Bulls, he averaged 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds en route to an American Conference championship and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 (fifth time in program history), where they nearly upset Louisville in the first round. “Josh is a proven winner at the collegiate level,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “His toughness, along with his willingness to defend and rebound, will be a valuable asset to our team. More importantly, Josh is eager to learn and develop as a professional, and we’re looking forward to supporting him throughout that process. We’re excited to welcome him to the Honey Badger family.” Omojafo is a versatile scorer, but where he stands out the most is drawing fouls. In his senior season, he ranked fifth in the American Conference in free throws made (151), second as a junior in the Horizon League Conference (127) with Robert Morris, and first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as a sophomore (244). “Josh brings a level of toughness, versatility, and competitive spirit that aligns with exactly who we want to be,” said Honey Badgers Head Coach Alex Cerda. “He impacts the game on both ends - defending multiple positions, playing with physicality, and consistently making winning plays. We’re excited about the edge, professionalism, and presence Josh Omojafo adds to our group and how he elevates the standard of our program every day.” Before transferring to Robert Morris University in 2024, Omojafo spent his first two seasons of college basketball in Division II with Gannon University. He quickly made his impact felt, ranking second in the conference in scoring as a sophomore while leading the Golden Knights to a PSAC championship. Individually as a sophomore, Omojafo also landed on the All-PSAC West Division First Team and NABC Division II All-America Team. Omojafo joins the Honey Badgers roster as the eighth addition ahead of the 2026 season, joining five other Canadians, 2025 CEBL MVP Finalist Sean East II, and 2025 CEBL Defensive Player of the Year Jameer Nelson Jr. 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 $15 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, 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

HONEY BADGERS WELCOME AUS MVP AND OUA RISING STAR ON CEBL SIGNING DAY

By Elias Eldridge • April 8, 2026
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that DJ Jackson of St. Francis Xavier University and Bronson Chambers of the University of Windsor have signed as developmental players as part of CEBL Signing Day. This is the first year of CEBL Signing Day which has replaced the CEBL Draft. The primary distinction is rather than a typical draft, eligible U SPORT & CCAA players enter a pool where each CEBL team will sign two players to developmental contracts, with potential for more as the season approaches. This allows the opportunity for Canadian talent to get a chance at the professional level while maintaining their college eligibility. DJ Jackson has boasted a high-level of success through his young career. This season with the Honey Badgers will be his second campaign in the CEBL, after being drafted sixth overall in the 2025 CEBL Draft by the Calgary Surge. The 6’3” guard appeared in 11 games with the Surge and recorded a season-high 15 points in a 26-minute outing versus Niagara in the final game of the regular season. Jackson is coming off a second-straight Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Player of the Year season with St. Francis Xavier, the first to go back-to-back since 2016 (Javon Masters, UNB). He led U SPORTS in scoring for consecutive seasons and set a St. Francis Xavier single-season scoring record in 2024-25 with 440 points. After recording 20+ points in 15 games in 2025-26, he secured the highest points per game average in program history with 23.5 over his two seasons with the X-Men. “We are excited to welcome DJ and Bronson to the Honey Badger family,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “DJ has CEBL experience and brings toughness as a young player, and Bronson is a Brampton native who’s eager to learn and can potentially play both guard positions. We’re looking forward to developing both players on and off the court, and we feel that they will contribute to the success of our team.” Bronson Chambers is coming off his junior season with the University of Windsor where he led the Lancers in assists per game (2.4) and three-point percentage (.338), while also finishing third in points (12.0). He helped his team to a 12-10 record and a playoff appearance where they fell just short in the first round versus Guelph. The Brampton-native spent his sophomore season with Lake Region State College in Junior College (JUCO) in the United States where he ranked second on the team in scoring with 14.3 points per game. “We are thrilled to welcome DJ and Bronson to the Honey Badgers this summer,” said Honey Badgers Assistant General Manager John Ross. “While this will be a great opportunity for them to develop their skills, we believe they both bring key attributes that will help us towards our goal of winning a championship.” Jackson and Chambers will fill roster spots six and seven for the Honey Badgers, joining 2025 CEBL MVP Finalist and Defensive Player of the Year Sean East and Jameer Nelson Jr., respectively, CEBL All-Canadian Keon Ambrose-Hylton, and CEBL veterans Prince Oduro and Danilo Djuricic. 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 $15 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, 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