Part 3: The Growth of the Game

As much as he hopes to build a successful franchise in Ottawa, Jevohn Shepherd knows that, ultimately, that’s just a small part of the overall goal. The CEBL is committed to building the game of basketball across Canada. That means it is each franchise’s responsibility to grow the game in their respective communities, and winning the championship is only part of that. Fundamentally, the success of the team and the league can only be measured by the impact they have on Canadian basketball as a whole.

For Shepherd, that just presents another series of challenges that he looks forward to conquering day by day. For his part, he’s just happy to be able to play a part in something he truly believes in, and to have a front row seat for what he expects to see from the league in the upcoming years.

“Expansion, growth, progression, all of the above,” Shepherd said about what fans can expect from the CEBL. “Commissioner Mike Morreale has so many ideas and it’s all to uplift this game, uplift the players, and just continue to build this game in Canada. And I think they’re well on their way with the blueprint that they have set out… There are just so many options and so many variables and the league is just going to continue to grow.

“I’m excited from a selfish standpoint just to be a part of it. Hell, I’m a GM in a professional league! Who would have thought that would have happened a year out of hanging up my shoes and getting all the experiences I’ve been able to get? It’s allowed me to get into some conversations I may not have had before. Just being in those rooms and learning that, I’m excited about it.”

The CEBL is looking to build upon the explosion in popularity basketball has had in Canada in the past decade. The growth of the game in this country has already become apparent at the highest levels. On opening night of the 2020-2021 NBA season, there were a record 17 players from Canada on rosters. While that may not seem like a lot, Canada was the second most represented country behind only the United States. For this season, that number rose to 18 – 22 if you count players on two-way contracts. And that’s not to mention all the work Canadians are doing in the top leagues overseas and in South America.

While the players are quick to get their rightly deserved credit, Shepherd wants to make sure that the support staff behind the scenes are given their dues as well. The way he sees it, they are just as responsible for the success Canada has had on the court over the past decade.

“I think the coaches don’t get enough credit,” Shepherd said. “They’re a big part of the development of these guys, and the coaches at the grassroots level of the game now are that much more knowledgeable, have that much more understanding of how to get the players to the next level and to the professional level. You have guys and ladies that are former players coming back. Former coaches at elite levels coming back and investing into the community. When I look at it and I look ahead, I have to commend all the coaches and support staff.

“I remember when I was going through it, we had coaches and development coaches that could get you to a certain level, but they had never seen some of the lengths that the players aspired to see. It’s only going to continue to get better because now we have a plethora of guys in the NBA. As they start to retire and come back home and inject their knowledge and what they went through into the community, then you have another wave of talent that’s going to come and that’s going to know more, that’s going to understand more, that’s going to have more access to resources than ever before.”

The CEBL will continue to do its part of growing the game by giving Canadian players and coaches a platform to showcase their talent at the highest level. For Shepherd, that’s part of what makes building out his roster so much fun.

The CEBL is notable in that it runs during the summer, opposite of when most other leagues are operating. As Shepherd learned in his first year, that means the managers are tasked with scouting talent throughout the year, and then crafting a roster that fits not just from a personnel standpoint, but a logistical one as well.

There are a number of pro leagues around the world whose schedule conflicts with the beginning and end of the CEBL season. That means Shepherd and the league’s other general managers are tasked with weighing and balancing the pros and cons of adding those players to their roster.

As Shepherd sees it, that’s all the more reason to invest in homegrown talent. With 70% of the roster required to be Canadian, whoever is able to attract the best talent from north of the border is bound to have an advantage over the rest of the league. That’s why he places such an emphasis on scouting and developing Canadian players. And that starts with the connections the CEBL has made at the university level.

“I think you definitely have to keep tabs on the Canadian pool of players, and they’re going to be so much more important as years go on,” Shepherd noted. “I think the U SPORTS players are going to be so important as this league continues to expand, because now that pool of Canadian players you have now that’s been cycling becomes a bit more deluded now that you add two more teams this year. That’s essentially two or three more Canadians off each roster spot this year that are gone to other teams. Your Canadians become that much more important.”

As far as Shepherd is concerned, it’s all part of the what makes being a general manager so much fun. The highs and lows, trials and tribulations, and last-minute roster changes are all part of the job description. It’s a job only a select few are capable of handling, but the BlackJacks are happy the team is in Shepherd’s capable hands. Rest assured, the feeling is mutual.

“All-in-all, it was a great experience, a tremendous experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

Read part 1 here.

Read part 2 here.