The Niagara River Lions have re-signed guard Jaylen Babb-Harrison for the upcoming season of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
The native of Ajax, Ont. helped lead the team to a second-place regular season finish last year, averaging 13.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
The River Lions open their upcoming season May 25 against the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Their first home is June 3 versus the Montreal Alliance.
Below is the full press release from the team announcing the signing of Babb-Harrison.
NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA RIVER LIONS
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ST. CATHARINES – The Niagara River Lions announced today that they have re-signed 6’4 guard, Jaylen Babb-Harrison for the 2022 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, making this his second year with the club.
Babb-Harrison averaged 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game during the 2021 River Lions campaign. The Ajax, Ont. native helped the team to a second-place regular season finish, earning a bye to Championship Weekend with his Elam Ending winning shot over the Hamilton Honey Badgers.
Babb-Harrison was one of seven River Lions players to sign an option letter which meant that he would be protected by the team from the start of free agency until March 2. He becomes the second returning River Lion to sign for the upcoming season after Daniel Waldin-Mullings.
Head Coach and Co-General Manager, Victor Raso is thrilled to have Jaylen return to the team and has high expectations for him this summer. “Jaylen's game took a big leap forward last season, and we think he's still scratching the surface of how good he can become,” said Raso. “It was a top priority of ours to re-sign Jaylen to continue his growth as a player, but also to ensure continuity with our core Canadian players.”
Babb-Harrison has spent most of his professional career playing in Canada, first for London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada, followed by the Hamilton Honey Badgers in 2020, and now the River Lions. During the 2019-20 season, he spent time overseas playing for Vllaznia part of the Balkan International Basketball League in Albania.
Prior to Babb-Harrison’s professional career, he played NCAA Division I basketball for Eastern Kentucky University from 2012-2017. During his time as a Colonel, Babb-Harrison helped his team make it to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Tournament semifinals twice, as well as the title of OVC East Division Regular Season Co-Champion in 2015. During his junior year he led the OVC in three-point percentage (45.3 per cent) becoming the first Colonel since 2008-09 to lead in that category.
“The Niagara River Lions are a great team and top tier organization in the CEBL,” said Babb-Harrison. “I’m motivated and excited to complete for a championship that we were one game shy away from last season. This upcoming season will be special!"
The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets for the recently announced 2022 schedule are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/seasontickets for more information.
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