Jalen Shirley has officially made history.
The fourth-year dynamic scoring guard from the UBC Okanagan Heat has been drafted to the Canadian Elite Basketball League's (CEBL) Edmonton Stingers. This marks the first time a Heat player has been selected in the draft.
"This has been my dream since I was a kid," Shirley told Kelowna Capital News. "I always wanted to play at the next level and be a professional."
The CEBL, now in its seventh season, is the premier basketball league in the country. Shirley was selected by the Stingers in the CEBL U Sports Draft. The draft is an opportunity for top U Sports players to experience professional basketball. Players will be rostered on a CEBL team for the season, which will help elevate them when their university basketball season returns in the fall.
In his fourth year with the Heat, Shirley eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career and has led the team in scoring the past two seasons. The Brampton, Ont. native has been the team's go-to player and has hit numerous clutch shots.
"When I came here in 2021, the basketball aspect in the Okanagan wasn't talked about much," Shirley said. "My goal is to bring awareness to Okanagan basketball because there are some really good players here, and sometimes they leave, but I want to be an inspiration for the kids to want to stay here."
Shirley ranks third in Heat history in points (1,081), third in points-per-game (14), eighth in career rebounds (251), third in field goals (386), second in assists per game (3.5), second in field goal percentage (41.5) and first in assist to turnover ratio (1.5).
Heat head coach Clayton Pottinger said Shirley has worked "extremely hard to earn this opportunity."
"We are building something great here, and Jalen is a product of that," said Pottinger. "The CEBL has been a game-changer for U Sports basketball and will continue to develop and promote players to the next level. I’m beyond happy for Jalen, and what this means for the future of UBC Okanagan Basketball."
One of his teammates throughout the four years is
Elan Kimpton-Cuellar has been Shirley's teammate since 2021. He was extremely excited to see his friend's game recognized nationally.
"Jalen and I came to UBCO at the same time, so I have seen him grow throughout the years," Kimpton-Cuellar said. "He's put in a lot of work, and it has been really well-deserved. I think he will do really well at the next level."
The Edmonton Stingers are two-time CEBL champions and will kick off their 2025 campaign on Saturday, May 11, against the rival Calgary Surge. The season runs until mid-August.
