SASK RATTLERS ANNOUNCE SUMMER SERIES ROSTER
ST. CATHARINES, ONT – The Saskatchewan Rattlers are entering the CEBL Summer Series with a new look and a familiar mindset. The defending CEBL Champions will have plenty of new faces to compliment a trio of holdovers from the 2019 Championship season.
Head Coach Chad Jacobson is taking over for Greg Jockims as the Rattlers new bench boss. Rattlers fans can expect a fast-paced, quick-firing squad who defend as a team. Lead assistant coach Nelson Terroba will bring defensive talents to the team from the Dallas Mavericks NBA G League affiliate, the Texas Legends. Also joining the Rattlers bench will be video assistant Mario Celebre from Ryerson University.
The Summer Series Training Camp started on July 17th in St. Catherines, ON. Players have had to come into camp ready to learn and create chemistry over the last week.
“I’ve been really impressed with this group of men as individuals with their high-level of character and how they’re coming together nicely as a group,” said Rattlers head coach Chad Jacobson. “These guys have a lot of respect for each other and want to play the game the right way together. I’ve been impressed with their compete level and with their energy; these guys have brought it every single day. We talk a lot about how we need to be a team that’s going to compete and that’s not going to get outworked and these guys have lived up to that and then some every day of camp.”
Returning to the Rattlers for the Summer Series are fan favourites Negus Webster-Chan, Jelane Pryce and Shane Osayande. The trio saw plenty of floor time during the Rattlers championship season and return to the team as integral pieces. Webster-Chan played in 15 games during the 2019 season and averaged a career-high 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Webster-Chan celebrated his second professional championship with the Rattlers after winning the 2016-17 NBA G League Championship with Raptors 905 – the G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors. Pryce returns to the Rattlers for his second season after leading the team in blocks during the 2019 season. Along with being a presence on the court, Pryce was also the Rattlers 2019 community ambassador due to his exemplary work in a multitude of community outreach programs. Osayande is also set to make his return. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 10.9 PPG, 48 FG% and 6.0 REB over the course of 11 games in the 2019 season for the Rattlers. The Toronto, Ont.-native is known for his explosive vertical and dynamic athleticism. The three players will be leaned on to provide leadership and galvanize a hungry Rattlers team.
The returning Rattlers will be bolstered by several new faces including Canadian forwards Kenny Ejim, Denzel Taylor and Kai Williams. Ejim comes to the Rattlers after playing in Spain’s LEB Silver where he averaged 14.6 points and 5.4 rebounds. The 6-foot-6 Brampton, ON-native brings great versatility at both ends of the floor. Taylor joins the Rattlers coming off a record year in the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) where he averaged career-highs in points, minutes and rebounds with 7.5 points, 29.1 minutes and 7.7 rebounds in 23 games for the Moncton Magic. The defensive dynamo won the 2018-19 NBLC Championship and was also named to the NBLC All-Defensive team. Taylor has also represented Canada on the international stage during the 2013 U19 World Cup.
Regina, SK product, Kai Williams will bring a local flair and veteran leadership to the Rattlers. Williams has played professionally since 2010 and has a career average of 9.2 points, 4.4. rebounds and 1.2 assists in 256 professional games.
The Rattlers backcourt will heavily feature Canadian guard Kemy Osse. Osse, a standout member of Team Quebec at the 2009 Canada Games. Osse played 4 years at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he made history when the 12th ranked Trojans upset the 5th ranked University of Purdue Boilermakers in the first round of the 2016 March Madness tournament. Over a 3-year professional career, Osse has averaged 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Fellow Quebec player, Robinson Opong will also feature on the Rattlers 2020 roster. Opong – an Uganda national team member – represented Uganda at AfroBasket 2017, leading his team in minutes, points and steals. The 6-foot-3 guard has been playing professionally for the last 5 years, playing in Canada (National Basketball League of Canada), Spain (LEB Gold & LEB Silver) and Africa (African Basketball League & Basketball Africa League). Over the course of his professional career, Opong has averaged 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 20.2 minutes per game.
In March, the Rattlers drafted impressive talent in the 2020 U SPORTS draft, including 2019-20 University of Manitoba Male Athlete of the Year, Rashawn Browne. In four seasons of collegiate basketball, split between New Mexico State University, California University of Pennsylvania and the University of Manitoba, Browne averaged 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game over the course of 122 games.
The Rattlers went through the process of adding even more new additions, as previously signed players chose not to participate in the Summer Series due to injury or personal reasons.
Kris Joseph was signed to the Rattlers on loan from the Niagara River Lions. Joseph was drafted with the 51st overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft to the Boston Celtics. The former Syracuse Orange was the Big East Sixth Man of the Year in 2010 as well as a First-team and Third-team All-Big East member in 2012 and 2011 respectively. Joseph has played professionally for the Boston Celtics and Brooklynn Nets of the NBA as well as the Maine Red Claws and Springfield Armor of the NBA D-League (now NBA G League). The Montreal, QC-native has played overseas since 2013 with the majority of his time spent in France. Joseph has a career average of 9.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 181 professional games.
The American duo of Kevin Bracy-Davis and Carl Brown III were added heading into the Summer Series to add explosive scoring and defensive skill to the Rattlers Roster. Bracy-Davis a 6-foot-7 forward has averaged 10.4 points and 3.6 rebounds over the course of his professional career. Prior to joining the Rattlers, Bracy-Davis spent the 2019-20 season with the Artland Dragons of the German Pro-A League. Bracy-Davis attended Davis and Elkins College (NCAA Division II) for four years. During his time with the Senators he averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists over the course of 105 games. After the 2015-16 season and the 2016-17 season, Bracy-Davis was named to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) All-First Team. In addition, Bracy-Davis’ impressive senior year elevated him to being awarded the GMAC Player of the Year in 2016-17. Brown, a Louisville, KY.-native will mark his professional debut with the Rattlers. The 6-foot-4 guard finished his junior year with the Cal State, Northridge Matadors averaging 5.6 points per game on 51.7 percent shooting against other Big West Conference opponents. Prior to joining Cal State, Northridge, Brown played for Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) where he guided MSJC to a 48-17 record as well as back-to-back Pacific Coast Athletic Conference North Division titles. After his sophomore season, Brown was a First Team All-PCAC after averaging 12.6 points and 4.6 rebounds.
“We are getting what we expected from our veteran players”, said Rattlers General Manager, Barry Rawlyk. “They are filling the leadership roles as we expected them to. We are also getting some very pleasant surprises in terms of production on the court as well as leadership from some of our new guys including our rookies and first year pros. We are very pleased with how the team is looking. The versatility of our lineup is a strength of ours and we are going to rely on that as we move forward into the Summer Series.”
The Rattlers will resume play this summer when the CEBL Summer Series begins on July 25. The Rattlers face the Niagara River Lions in their first game on July 26 at 1:30 PM ET. For more information on the Rattlers, visit therattlers.ca.
(CEBL PR)
