Carleton Ravens men’s basketball players Lloyd Pandi and Alain Louis were selected in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) draft on Tuesday.
Pandi was selected ninth overall by the Niagara River Lions after playing with Niagara in 2021 and winning CEBL U Sports Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. In 2020, Pandi played with the Ottawa BlackJacks.
He was named U Sports Player of the Year on March 31. Last week, Pandi announced he is leaving Carleton and declaring for the NBA draft.
Louis, who is also leaving Carleton after completing his fourth year of eligibility, was selected second overall by the expansion Montreal Alliance. Louis is a Montreal native and played for the BlackJacks in 2020 and 2021.
“U Sports is extremely proud of all players selected in this year’s CEBL U Sports draft,” said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, chief sport officer for U Sports, in a press release. “These student-athletes have battled through adversity with the uncertainty of the pandemic and their tremendous tenacity both on and off the court is certainly commendable.”
Louis began his career with the Ravens in 2017-18 and started playing regularly in 2019-20, when he averaged 15.9 minutes and 9.8 points. In 2021-22, Louis was an everyday starter and averaged 11.1 points.
Louis was named U Sports Final 8 MVP after the Ravens won their 16th championship in 19 seasons on April 3.
The expansion Scarborough Shooting Stars drafted forward David Muenkat of St. Francis Xavier University with the first overall pick of the draft. The BlackJacks selected uOttawa forward Guillaume Pepin and guard Nervens Demosthene from the University of Saskatchewan.
CEBL draft picks who are returning to U Sports are paid through bursaries for tuition to maintain their university eligibility. Draft picks who are not returning to U Sports, such as Pandi and Louis, sign a standard player contract and get paid directly.
“This draft class is exceptional,” CEBL commissioner and CEO Mike Morreale said in a press release. “U Sports programs continue to develop some of our country’s best players and we can’t wait for these rising stars to play alongside top professional talent from around the world.”
In December 2021 and January 2022, amid a wave of COVID-19 infections in the NBA, five CEBL alumni signed contracts with NBA teams, becoming the first players in league history to do so.
The CEBL will begin its fourth season on May 25. The league expanded to 10 teams this offseason, adding clubs in Montreal, Newfoundland and Scarborough, Ont. to become the largest pro sports league in Canada.
Featured image by Spencer Colby.
