Stingers 2024 Draft Picks Unveiled

EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday their official draft picks from the 2024 CEBL Draft. The Stingers have selected forward Aaron Rhooms out of Toronto Metropolitan University with their first round pick, followed by a pair of guards in Taye Donald (Wilfrid Laurier University) and Nate Petrone (University of Calgary) with their second and third round picks respectively.

First selected by the Stingers with the 5th pick overall, Rhooms, a 3rd year guard from Toronto, ON, averaged 16.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for the Bold, leading his team in both categories. He notched a season-best 32-point performance on January 13th versus Western Ontario and led his team to an OUA playoff berth. 

For his efforts Rhooms was named an OAU Second-Team All-Star, his second such selection in as many years. He was previously selected 10th overall by the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2022. 

Joining Rhooms, 16th overall pick Donald bring three years of post-secondary experience under his belt, most recently with the OUA’s Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Last season,  the 6’2” guard averaged a team0high 18.1 points per game across 20 games, in part due to a preseason scoring barrage of 43 points against the University of Calgary Dinos on October 20th. Donald led the team to a playoff victory over York University. 

Donald was named a 2023-24 OUA First Team All-Star and Second Team All-Canadian. Prior to joining the Golde Hawks in 2022-23, he competed for the Seward County Saints in Liberal, Kansas in NJCAA DI, scoring 10.0 points per game in his lone season in 2021-22.

Selected 25th overall from the University of Calgary, Nate Petrone was named First Team All-Canadian Team this past season after averaging 20.1 points per game with the Dinos.  The third year guard eclipsed the 30-point mark on four occasions this past year, including a 33-point outing against the provincial rivals the University of Alberta in the Canada West quarterfinal. The Calgary native led his team to a Canada West semifinal appearance, notching a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. It was his first season with the Dinos after transferring from Mount Royal University in 2022-23. 

All three 2024 CEBL Draft picks are expected to join the Stingers for training camp on May 12th, nine days prior to the season tip-off in Calgary on May 21st. The full 2024 CEBL Draft results can be found on the CEBL’s website.

The Stingers will return to the Edmonton EXPO Centre on June 2nd to host the Saskatchewan Rattlers in their home opener. Tickets are available for as low as $20 per seat and can be purchased online or by contacting the Stingers head office via email (tickets@thestingers.ca) or phone (1-87STINGERS).

Quotes

“We’ve drafted an excellent crop of players this season. These athletes add depth and talent to our roster and we expect to see all three of them make an impact on the floor this year.”

• Jordan Baker, Head Coach and General Manager.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Stingers organization and look forward to learning, playing, and working hard. Seeing my name in the draft and becoming a Stinger is surreal. Being able to do what I love at a professional level and be in an organization known for winning in this league is the best. I am excited for the experience and our pursuit of another championship.”

• Aaron Rhooms, 5th overall pick

“I’m super excited to get drafted by the Edmonton Stingers and be a part of the team this upcoming season! Growing up, I’ve always wanted to play professional basketball, and to have the opportunity now is amazing. I’m looking forward to learning from everyone on the team and growing as a player over the next couple of months”

• Taye Donald, 16th overall pick

“I’m excited to be a part of this organization and work my way up the ladder. Teams often overlook me, so it felt great to get on the phone with Baker and Steve and have them express belief in me. I’ll run through a wall for guys that support me. I don’t know many of the guys yet but I’m excited to gain some new brothers.”

• Nate Petrone, 25th overall pick