With everyone looking to “jump the gun’ and get back to playing sports on what we are hoping is the normal manner in which we have always played games, some are making impressive signings.
One such team are the Ottawa BlackJacks who play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) who recently named Patrick Ewing Jr. as their lead Assistant Coach.
In our on-going manner in which we cover the Abbotsford Bandits who play out of the Abbotsford Entertainment Centre we wanted to share the press release sent out by the BlackJacks.
So going back to what my Mom used to tell us is “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” letting us know that talent runs in various families and hard work pay’s off.
Below is the recent press release sent to us from Marika Guérin, Manager, Communications and Community, Ottawa BlackJacks Professional Basketball Club whom you can get additional info from her at [email protected]
Ewing Jr. was a second round NBA draft pick of the Sacramento Kings in 2008 out of Georgetown University.
The eldest son of NBA Hall of Famer, Patrick Ewing, he has served in several roles at Georgetown since 2015 working with the Hoyas both on and off the court.
He played eight years professionally in some of the top leagues around the world, including time with the Houston Rockets, the New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA.
Ewing Jr. spent parts of four seasons (2008-12) in the NBA D-League, was selected as a league all-star in 2011 and named All-NBA D-League Third Team in the same season.
The Atlanta native spent three years (2012-15) playing professionally in some of the top European leagues, including Germany-BBL, Spain-Liga Endesa, Greece A-1 and Qatar D-1, where he won the Qatari league title and reached the Arab Club Championships quarterfinals with Al Rayyan Doha.
He was named on the Asia-Basket.com All-Qatar D1 Second Team.
As a member of Aries Trikala BC or the Greece-A1, Ewing Jr. averaged 12.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26 games and received the Eurobasket.com All-Greek A1 League Honorable Mention.
At Georgetown, Ewing, Jr. was the recipient of the BIG EAST Conference’s inaugural Sixth Man of the Year Award as a senior in 2008 and was a major contributor to Georgetown’s success in 2006-07 when the team won the BIG EAST tournament and advanced to the Final Four.
The Hoyas were back-to-back BIG EAST regular season champions for the first time in program history.
The six-foot-eight forward spent his first two years of college playing for Indiana (2003-05) before becoming the first Division I transfer into Georgetown in 36 years.
A proud Jamaican-American, Ewing Jr. represented his father’s homeland with the Jamaican basketball national team in the Centrobasket, FIBA Americas Championship and Caribbean championship from 2011-2014. 
Ewing Jr., 36, and his wife, Katie, live in Washington, D.C. with their four children, Trey, Isaac, Bailey and Austin. The family will move to Ottawa for the CEBL season.
In the nation’s capital, Ewing Jr. will join recently named BlackJacks Head Coach Charles Dubé-Brais on the Ottawa sidelines.
Team General Manager Jevohn Shepherd and Assistant General Manager Andy Rautins will collaborate with the two coaches, alongside Director of Basketball Strategy and Analytic.
James Derouin, to round out the BlackJacks basketball operations staff and continue to recruit top talent to Ottawa, as the CEBL free agency period began Monday.
The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021 following the success of this past year’s CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ontario, which saw millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tune in to watch 26 games played over 15 days in a single-site league competition.
The CEBL became the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play after the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in mid-March shut down sports across the country.
Quotes:
“Pat is a true player’s coach who brings tremendous experience and basketball pedigree to the BlackJacks coaching staff. After playing in the NBA and other top leagues internationally,
Pat was given a wonderful opportunity to hone his craft at his alma mater Georgetown under his former coach John Thompson III. We are happy to welcome basketball royalty to Ottawa.”
– Jevohn Shepherd
General Manager, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
“Having played some of my basketball career alongside Jevohn (Shepherd) and Andy (Rautins), I’m grateful to join their coaching staff. I’ve played with Canadians professionally and coached Canadian basketball players collegiately.
The talent has exploded over recent years. As a result, the quality of the CEBL has been tremendous during its first two seasons. I’m excited to bring my family to Ottawa and begin the next chapter of my coaching career.”
– Patrick Ewing Jr.
Lead Assistant Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
“Pat is a fantastic addition to our coaching staff. He is passionate, defensive-minded, demands commitment and possesses strong family values. As the lead assistant for the BlackJacks, Pat and I are going to make a terrific tandem.”
– Charles Dubé-Brais
Head Coach, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club
About the Ottawa BlackJacks
The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks will showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital.
In its inaugural campaign, the BlackJacks earned a semifinal appearance at the 2020 CEBL Summer Series.
The Ottawa front office brings NBA, NBA G League, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise.
Led by General Manager Jevohn Shepherd, Assistant General Manager Andy Rautins and Head Coach Charles Dubé-Brais,
Ottawa will play its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. For more information visit www.theblackjacks.ca.
About Canadian Elite Basketball League
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its current rosters being Canadians.
Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS.
The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August.
Head to more information on CEBL.ca or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube (@cebleague).
Social Media
Facebook: /OttawaBlackJacks, Twitter: @Ott_Blackjacks, Instagram: ottawablackjacks
