Joe Raso, recognized as one of the leading coaches and international scouts in Canadian basketball history, was named Director, Basketball Operations by the Canadian Elite Basketball League on Tuesday. He will lead the league's player procurement program both domestically and internationally, oversee the CEBL Draft, direct team and player compliance issues, supervise officiating, and play a lead role in the CEBL's relationships with FIBA, Canada Basketball, other basketball bodies, and with player agents.
'To retain someone of Joe Raso's stature to lead basketball operations is a landmark addition for the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and reflects exceptionally well on what our league has done in only five months of existence and where we're heading,' said Mike Morreale, the league's Chief Executive Officer. 'For more than 35 years Joe has been recognized for his contributions and achievements at every level of basketball around the world. As we continue to create Canada's preeminent national league for basketball, and look forward to beginning play next May, we are thrilled to have Joe serving as director of basketball operations.'
A resident of Hamilton, Ontario, Raso is the all-time winningest coach in McMaster University history, and one of the most successful coaches in CIS/U SPORTS history, compiling 389 wins against only 155 losses (a .715 winning percentage) in 18 seasons, including 17 seasons with 20 or more wins with the Marauders. He currently serves as Head Scout with the Canadian Men's National team, and is an advance scout with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Denver Nuggets. Last season Raso served as head coach and general manager of the Niagara River Lions, leading the team to its first-ever playoff victory before the franchise moved up from the NBL to join the CEBL.
'I am very happy to be on board with the CEBL, and joining a winning and dedicated professional league that is building a legacy for a game that means so much to me,' Raso said. 'The CEBL is going to be an entertaining league that allows Canadian fans nationally the opportunity to enjoy professional basketball that will include Canadian and international talent playing together in great facilities. The development of this league, with its solid corporate administration and commitment to entertainment and the development or basketball, is very important to me.
'Basketball, in my opinion, is the most inclusive sport in Canada in both participation and fan base,' Raso added. 'It is important to me that I'm involved in a league that has both a national vision, and a shared view of development with our national and international governing bodies.'
Raso has been a national and international consultant, clinician, committee member, speaker, and basketball analyst during the past 25 years. A former National team assistant coach for four years, he has coached in World Championships and Olympic qualifiers, and has coached some of Canada's greatest players, including NBA two-time Most Valuable Player and Hall of Fame inductee Steve Nash. Raso's basketball resume includes four OUA titles, 12 CIS National Championship tournament appearances that resulted in four Silver medals, and being named OUA Coach of the Year six times. He produced five 'All Canadian' players and two National Player of the Year winners while leading McMaster.
An alum of both McMaster and Brock universities who started his university coaching career at the University of Guelph in 1983, Raso has been instrumental in developing basketball at the grassroots level. He is a former Technical Directory with the World International Children's Games, and his Hamilton, Ontario teams won international Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at those Games. As a high school teacher for 32 years, he coached St. Mary's high school in Hamilton to an OFSAA championship in 1991, and represented Canada at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany, the top international junior tournament in the world. He has served as director of the Joe Raso High School Basketball Camp since 1999, and as director of Focus on Youth Basketball Camp in Hamilton since 2009.
Raso was founder and developer of 'Basketball vs Bullying', which became the largest anti-bullying seminar in the world and holds the Canadian record for the most attended university basketball game in Canada's history. He was awarded the YMCA National Peace Award in 2006 for that initiative. In 2008 he developed and co-directed 'Hoops Against Hate 'Faces of Racism'', an interactive experience for high school students using basketball to deliver a message of anti-racism.
The inaugural season of the CEBL tips off in May 2019 and runs through August with teams in Hamilton, Niagara, Guelph, Saskatoon, Abbotsford, and Edmonton. Teams will play 20 regular season games, including 10 at home. Deposits on priority season tickets are being accepted now by each team, with season seats going on sale later this fall.
Further information may be obtained at: www.cebl.ca
TICKETMASTER TEAMS WITH NEW CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE FOR NATIONWIDE LAUNCH - 12 hours ago
TORONTO, ON, (October 22, 2018) - Ticketmaster, the global market leader in ticketing, today announced it will serve as the official ticketing partner for the Canadian Elite Basketball League's (CEBL) inaugural season beginning in May 2019. The ticketing leader will serve as one of the foundational partners of this groundbreaking professional basketball league that will have a major presence in communities across Canada, playing a major role in the development of Canadian basketball playe... [read more]
TORONTO, ON, (October 22, 2018) - Ticketmaster, the global market leader in ticketing, today announced it will serve as the official ticketing partner for the Canadian Elite Basketball League's (CEBL) inaugural season beginning in May 2019. The ticketing leader will serve as one of the foundational partners of this groundbreaking professional basketball league that will have a major presence in communities across Canada, playing a major role in the development of Canadian basketball players, coaches, officials, and executives.
The CEBL will feature six teams across Canada, with teams based in Edmonton, AB, Abbotsford, BC, Guelph, ON, Saskatoon, SK, Hamilton, ON, and St. Catharines, ON.
'We're proud to partner with the ticketing and technology experts at Ticketmaster as we set out to revolutionize basketball throughout Canada,' said Mike Morreale, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. 'This is a professional basketball league created by Canadians, for Canadians, and having a leader like Ticketmaster that is so committed to Canadian live events get in on the ground floor speaks volumes to our dedication to our fans to bring them the best live event experiences.'
As the CEBL's official ticketing partner, Ticketmaster will provide fans with a safe and secure location to buy, sell and transfer tickets. Fans can visit www.ticketmaster.ca or the Ticketmaster app for the widest selection of verified tickets.
'Ticketmaster is proud to partner with the game changing Canadian Elite Basketball League, as they debut next summer,' said Patti-Anne Tarlton, Chief Operating Officer of Ticketmaster Canada. 'With this partnership, Ticketmaster will bring CEBL fans the safest and most secure ticket buying experience available. We are excited to help connect fans to these rising basketball stars.'
About Ticketmaster Ticketmaster is the global market leader in live event ticketing, operating in 29 countries and processing the sale of over 500 million tickets per year. Through exclusive partnerships with thousands of venues, artists, sports leagues, and arts and theater tours, Ticketmaster delivers unparalleled access to the most iconic live events to millions of fans worldwide.
Joe Raso, recognized as one of the leading coaches and international scouts in Canadian basketball history, was named Director, Basketball Operations by the Canadian Elite Basketball League on Tuesday. He will lead the league's player procurement program both domestically and internationally, oversee the CEBL Draft, direct team and player compliance issues, supervise officiating, and play a lead role in the CEBL's relationships with FIBA, Canada Basketball, other basketball bodies, and wi... [read more]
Joe Raso, recognized as one of the leading coaches and international scouts in Canadian basketball history, was named Director, Basketball Operations by the Canadian Elite Basketball League on Tuesday. He will lead the league's player procurement program both domestically and internationally, oversee the CEBL Draft, direct team and player compliance issues, supervise officiating, and play a lead role in the CEBL's relationships with FIBA, Canada Basketball, other basketball bodies, and with player agents.
'To retain someone of Joe Raso's stature to lead basketball operations is a landmark addition for the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and reflects exceptionally well on what our league has done in only five months of existence and where we're heading,' said Mike Morreale, the league's Chief Executive Officer. 'For more than 35 years Joe has been recognized for his contributions and achievements at every level of basketball around the world. As we continue to create Canada's preeminent national league for basketball, and look forward to beginning play next May, we are thrilled to have Joe serving as director of basketball operations.'
A resident of Hamilton, Ontario, Raso is the all-time winningest coach in McMaster University history, and one of the most successful coaches in CIS/U SPORTS history, compiling 389 wins against only 155 losses (a .715 winning percentage) in 18 seasons, including 17 seasons with 20 or more wins with the Marauders. He currently serves as Head Scout with the Canadian Men's National team, and is an advance scout with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Denver Nuggets. Last season Raso served as head coach and general manager of the Niagara River Lions, leading the team to its first-ever playoff victory before the franchise moved up from the NBL to join the CEBL.
'I am very happy to be on board with the CEBL, and joining a winning and dedicated professional league that is building a legacy for a game that means so much to me,' Raso said. 'The CEBL is going to be an entertaining league that allows Canadian fans nationally the opportunity to enjoy professional basketball that will include Canadian and international talent playing together in great facilities. The development of this league, with its solid corporate administration and commitment to entertainment and the development or basketball, is very important to me.
'Basketball, in my opinion, is the most inclusive sport in Canada in both participation and fan base,' Raso added. 'It is important to me that I'm involved in a league that has both a national vision, and a shared view of development with our national and international governing bodies.'
Raso has been a national and international consultant, clinician, committee member, speaker, and basketball analyst during the past 25 years. A former National team assistant coach for four years, he has coached in World Championships and Olympic qualifiers, and has coached some of Canada's greatest players, including NBA two-time Most Valuable Player and Hall of Fame inductee Steve Nash. Raso's basketball resume includes four OUA titles, 12 CIS National Championship tournament appearances that resulted in four Silver medals, and being named OUA Coach of the Year six times. He produced five 'All Canadian' players and two National Player of the Year winners while leading McMaster.
An alum of both McMaster and Brock universities who started his university coaching career at the University of Guelph in 1983, Raso has been instrumental in developing basketball at the grassroots level. He is a former Technical Directory with the World International Children's Games, and his Hamilton, Ontario teams won international Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at those Games. As a high school teacher for 32 years, he coached St. Mary's high school in Hamilton to an OFSAA championship in 1991, and represented Canada at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany, the top international junior tournament in the world. He has served as director of the Joe Raso High School Basketball Camp since 1999, and as director of Focus on Youth Basketball Camp in Hamilton since 2009.
Raso was founder and developer of 'Basketball vs Bullying', which became the largest anti-bullying seminar in the world and holds the Canadian record for the most attended university basketball game in Canada's history. He was awarded the YMCA National Peace Award in 2006 for that initiative. In 2008 he developed and co-directed 'Hoops Against Hate 'Faces of Racism'', an interactive experience for high school students using basketball to deliver a message of anti-racism.
The inaugural season of the CEBL tips off in May 2019 and runs through August with teams in Hamilton, Niagara, Guelph, Saskatoon, Abbotsford, and Edmonton. Teams will play 20 regular season games, including 10 at home. Deposits on priority season tickets are being accepted now by each team, with season seats going on sale later this fall.
Further information may be obtained at: www.cebl.ca
It's not often that a collection of Canada's best basketball players have an opportunity to gather in one gym for a unique chance to be scouted and watched by spectators that included some of Canada's leading basketball coaches, agents, members of the media and fans. However, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) provided such a platform on Sunday, August 26, at Ryerson's Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto, Ont. Players were thrust into the spotlight as part of an importa... [read more]
It's not often that a collection of Canada's best basketball players have an opportunity to gather in one gym for a unique chance to be scouted and watched by spectators that included some of Canada's leading basketball coaches, agents, members of the media and fans.
However, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) provided such a platform on Sunday, August 26, at Ryerson's Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto, Ont.
Players were thrust into the spotlight as part of an important chance to gain professional exposure from prospective professional coaches, and to also measure themselves against the talents of their peers. Similarly, league officials and executives gathered to assess the skills of the elite players in attendance.
"I think it went very well. I think we put our best foot forward and since that time I've received a bunch of feedback, both at the event and after, about how much they liked and appreciated the direction we're taking as a league," CEBL CEO Mike Morreale said.
Morreale added that while support for the league on behalf of fans is steadily growing, he takes pride in the far-reaching impact that the CEBL will have in the communities where its first six teams are based.
'From a player's perspective, that's where we've gotten most of our positive response because they're looking for a place to play. That trickles down to the minor leagues-where 5 to 10-year-old kids now have something to aspire to locally,' Morreale said.
One of the player's in attendance was Anthony Ottley. Ottley, a 27-year-old veteran of professional basketball, was impressed with the branding and professionalism that was shown at the New Era sponsored event. Players were provided with CEBL branded player bags, shorts, snapbacks and jerseys as part of their personal invitation to the showcase.
For Ottley, the New Era gift bag was a strong indication of the business opportunities outside of basketball that could accompany the exposure from playing in the CEBL.
'It would mean a lot. I don't think my mom's seen me play yet, so it would be really good-that exposure. People that are affiliated with basketball around Canada can now actually see you in your own country, and when you play outside of the country they don't really get to see you,' Ottley said.
Dele Ogundokun, a former standout for the McGill Redmen and a young talent to watch on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, had high praise for the event after being put to the test in a series of drills and scrimmages against fellow players at the showcase.
'It was nice-there was a lot of top guys here playing and competing, so once we got to know each other a little bit and started going, it got competitive when we got into the 5-on-5 and playing full court,' Ogundokun said.
'It's a great opportunity for Canadian talent and ballers to be able to play on their home soil in front of families and friends. It's awesome to have an opportunity to play all over Canada and show that Canada basketball is on the uprise.'
The CEBL plans to hold combines and local tryouts in the future as tip-off for its inaugural season in May 2019 draws closer.
Until then, Morreale said a strong focus of the league will be continuing its grassroots approach towards building relationships with prospective players, as well as local businesses and organizations in each of the CEBL's six markets.
WARNING:
Do not copy, redistribute, publish or otherwise exploit information that you download from the site !
Do not encumber, license, modify, publish, sell, transfer or transmit, or in any way exploit, any of the
content of the site, nor will you attempt to do so.
USA Basketball
Canadian Hoops
: NBA G League starts
: NBLCanada starts
: World Cup starts
