
Canadian Elite Basketball League (2025)
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Canadian Elite Basketball League 2025
Champion: Niagara River Lions
League MVP & Import POY: Mitch Creek
Top Scorer: Ja'Vonte Smart (25.9)
Domestic POY: Tyrese Samuel
Defensive POY: Jameer Nelson Jr.
Coach of the Year: Kaleb Canales
Canadian Elite Basketball League Final: Niagara River Lions - Calgary Surge 79-73 Niagara River Lions: Ahmad Khalil 16, Cayo Nathan 14, Hill Ahmed 13, Curry Ronald 10, Mackenzie Kimbal 8, Hollis Curtis 7, Lufile Elijah 6, Payen-Boucard Guillaume 5, Vreeken Connor 0, James Gatluak 0, Lufile Meshack 0 Standings 2025
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
- qualified to the play-offs Stats Leaders 2025
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
![]() Osceola M. Canadian Elite Basketball League Final ![]() River Lions beat Surge 79-73 to repeat as CEBL champions (Photo: CEBL)
River Lions beat Surge 79-73 to repeat as CEBL champions-Aug 25, 2025
The Niagara River Lions are once again kings of the Canadian Elite Basketball League jungle. The River Lions, who finished first in the five-team Eastern Conference with a pedestrian 14-10 record, defeated the Calgary Surge 79-73 on Sunday at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg to win back-to-back titles. The River Lions edged the Vancouver Bandits 97-95 in last year’s championship final. Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad (6'3''-G-1996, college: CS Fullerton, agency: Octagon Europe) led the River Lions with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Nathan Cayo (6'7''-F-1997, college: Richmond) had 14 points and six rebounds. Ahmed Hill (6'5''-SG-1995, college: Virginia Tech) chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds. Sean Miller-Moore (6'4''-G/F-1998, college: GCU) scored 19 points for the Surge, who had their seven-game win streak halted. Jameer Nelson Jr. (6'1''-PG-2000, college: TCU), Evan Gilyard II (5'11''-PG-1998, college: UMKC, agency: JCK Sports Group) and Khyri Thomas (6'3''-F/G-1996, college: Creighton) all scored 13 points for Calgary. “It feels incredible. It really does,†said River Lions head coach Victor Raso. “It’s as special of a moment as I ever had as a coach. This one, for these guys, it just cemented them. I’m really happy for them.†“And he’s (Ahmad) the greatest player to ever play in this league and he’s just a phenomenal person, so he won’t say all the things that I say, but that’s the truth,†Raso said. Captain Kimbal Mackenzie (6'1''-G-1996, college: Bucknell) echoed his coach’s sentiment. “ (It’s) getting a little bit ridiculous at this point, quite frankly,†Mackenzie said. “When he (Ahmad) hit that shot against Scarborough (in the 93-91 East final victory), I was like, ‘How many times is this guy gonna do this?’ He just has a knack for when those moments get big, just playing off his instincts.†Miller-Moore, the league’s all-time leading Canadian scorer, came up just short at his third Championship Weekend. “Every loss is a heartbreak. Even when we lose in the regular season, it’s a heartbreak. So of course this was the last game and the last time I’m gonna be with this particular group, so it hurt more, but we were a good team all season and we just came up short today,†Miller-Moore said. For Niagara, by Raso’s own admission, this season — the longest in CEBL history, with 24 games per team — was more difficult than last, as a roster featuring multiple returning players struggled at times to find motivation during the summer-long grind. Around midseason, however, the River Lions ripped off a seven-game winning streak to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference. And the team found its motivation. “It took a while for this team to jell and find its rhythm. We have Ahmed Hill coming off the bench. He’s the leading scorer in CEBL history. That’s what bothers me when people talk about us this year the way they did,†Raso said. “This was a really, really good basketball team and when it mattered, we were awesome.†Niagara led 42-36 at halftime and took a 63-51 lead into the final quarter. When the clocks stopped for Target Score Time, a River Lions lead that was once 16 had been cut to three points at 70-67. Courtesy of: thestar.com USBasket.com All-CEBL Awards 2025-Aug 26, 2025
![]() Mitch Creek, 33-year old Australian swingman from the Vancouver Bandits, picked up the Player of the Year at the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He received multiple other awards, was named the Forward of the Year, and was voted to the First Team and Defensive Team.
Creek was the Player of the Week honoree in the league.
His court vision propelled him to the second spot in points per game an outstanding average of over 24.
Creek also averaged over 7 rebounds per game in the league.
He has totalled 17 games of 20 or more points on the year and recorded 30 or more points in 5 games.
Creek registered double-doubles in 4 games during the event.
His 36 points against Edmonton were the most he scored in the 2025 season.
Zach Copeland, 28-year old American guard from the Vancouver Bandits, was voted the Guard of the Year of Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He graduated from the Illinois State five years ago.
Copeland was also selected to the First Team.
He had over 19 points and 4 rebounds per game that season in the league.
Copeland has totalled 7 games of 20 or more points on the year and recorded 30 or more points in 2 games.
His 36 points against Montreal were the most he scored in the 2025 season.
Sean East II, American guard from the Edmonton Stingers, was chosen to the First Team at the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He Is the Missouri alumni from 2024.
East II was also named to the Defensive Team.
His playmaking prowess was on full display as he secured the fourth position in points per game averaging over 23.
East II also logged almost 5 assists per game over the season in the league.
He has totalled 18 games of 20 or more points on the year and registered 30 or more points in 4 games.
East II's 36 points against Calgary were the most he scored in the 2025 season.
Among many awards he won the NJCAA D1 Region XXIV championship title in 2022.
He was selected as the NABC Reese's Division I College All-Star Game in 2024 during his college time.
Greg Brown III, 23-year old American forward from the finalist team the Calgary Surge, earned a spot in the First Team of Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He Is ex Texas from 2021.
Brown III's best performance made his team reach the final but they were defeated by Niagara 73 to 79.
His masterful distribution skills earned him the fifth spot in rebounds per game with an impressive average of over 8.
Brown III also averaged almost 19 points per game in the league.
He has totalled 13 games of 20 or more points and notched double-doubles in 9 games on the year.
Brown III's 30 points against the Scarborough were the most he scored in the 2025 season.
Among many awards he was selected to the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year as well as the All-VYPE Austin Public School First Team and the All-Americans Second Team back in 2020.
He was selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team back in 2021 during his college time.
Donovan Williams, 23-year old American guard from the Scarborough Shooting Stars, was voted to the First Team at the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He Is alumni of the UNLV from 2022.
Williams' court vision was unparalleled as he secured the third spot in points per game, delivering an average of over 23.
He also recorded almost 5 rebounds per game that season in the league.
Williams has totalled 14 games of 20 or more points on the year and registered 30 or more points in 2 games.
He had double-doubles in 2 games at the event.
Williams' 34 points against the Saskatchewan were the most he scored in the 2025 season.
Player of the Year: Finals MVP: Defensive Player of the Year: Guard of the Year: Forward of the Year: Center of the Year: Coach of the Year: First Team Second Team Third Team Honorable Mention All-Defensive Team *The awards were created by USBasket.com staff based on the stats (if available), teams' performance and players' performance.
It very often required deeper research and collecting various data about the players and their teams. |


















































