Brampton basketballer #1 pick in CEBL U Sports draft

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Published April 19, 2022 at 8:53 pm

David Muenkat, right, in action with NCAA Division 1 St. Francis Brooklyn. He now plays at St. Francis Xavier in Nova Scotia. (Instagram)

David Muenkat, who averaged close to a double-double in his first season after repatriating to Canadian university basketball, has scored a coveted development opportunity in the 2022 Canadian Elite Basketball League.

The six-foot-seven forward from Brampton was the No. 1 overall selection tonight by the expansion Scarborough Shooting Stars in the CEBL U Sports draft. Under the Canadian league’s rules, each team brings in top university players for the summertime season for a chance to experience professional basketball by practising and playing alongside veteran pros from the NBA, NBA G League, Canadian national team, and top international leagues. Players’ rights expire after one season and they can be chosen by another team the following season.

Muenkat joined the St. Francis Xavier X-Men of the Atlantic University Sport conference this season, after previously playing at the similarly-named St. Francis Brooklyn in NCAA Division 1. At St. Francis Xavier, he averaged 13.8 points and 9.6 rebounds last season, showing an ability to attack the rim while also finishing second in the conference in rebounding.

The now 10-team CEBL, which also includes charter members Hamilton Honey Badgers and Niagara River Lions, is planning a 20-game regular season for its fourth year of competition. The season tips off on May 25.

The CEBL uses the ‘snake’ draft format popular in fantasy leagues, where the draft order flips for the second round. As a result, Hamilton had the Nos. 8 and 13 choices, while Niagara selected ninth and 12th.

Both franchises used their top choice to re-draft a player who acquired pro seasoning with them in 2021.

  • The Honey Badgers spent the No. 8 selection on forward Keeven Veinot, from Dalhousie University in Halifax. The Port Williams, N.S., native appeared in nine games with Hamilton last summer, averaging 7.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 14.8 minutes in nine appearances.At No. 13, Hamilton added Lakehead Thunderwolves guard Michael Okafor. Okafor, a native of Toronto, averaged 19.2 points last season for Lakehead to finish ninth in scoring in Ontario University Athletics (OUA).
  • The River Lions are bringing back two-time U Sports player of the year Lloyd Pandi, a six-foot-four guard from the Carleton Ravens. Pandi averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 22.0 minutes in 14 games for Niagara in 2021, then returned to his hometown Ravens in Ottawa and helped them win their third consecutive national title.Pandi has entered his name in the upcoming NBA draft, so he will not be returning to Carleton.

    With their No. 12 choice, the River Lions stayed local by adding Brock Badgers guard Isaiah Bujdoso, who hails from Hamilton. Bujdoso helped the Badgers capture the OUA Wilson Cup for the first time in 29 seasons. For the season, he averaging 7.1 points and a team-leading 3.7 assists in 18.9 minutes per game.

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