KAMBA JOINING HOMETOWN SURGE FOR CEBL SEASON
Two-time champion with Edmonton fresh off playing in top Spanish league
Mathieu Kamba is coming home.
The Calgary Surge announced Wednesday they are bringing in the city kid for the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League campaign.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to play professional basketball in my city,” said Kamba, a 6-foot-5 guard fresh off playing in Spain with Zunder Palencia in the Liga ACB, the top division of the Spanish system.
“I can't wait to meet my teammates and the coaching staff.”
Kamba has already helped bring two championships to an Alberta crew in the CEBL.
He was part of the title runs by the Edmonton Stingers in 2020 and '21.
The Surge would be thrilled if Kamba — a champion also at the high school level — can do it again with them.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mathieu Kamba to the Surge,” said team president Jason Ribeiro. “We're so proud to be a part of our city's incredible basketball community, and it means the world to welcome a player of Mathieu's calibre.”
Homegrown talents certainly help sell the game. And community is what the Surge are all about.
But with Kamba, they get more than just a backyard baller. They get a strong contributor, someone they've wanted to bring in since moving into Calgary and Winsport a little more than a year ago.
“Mathieu is an important signing for us,” said Surge general manager Shane James. “His story will be a great one to tell. Being a local son of Calgary, while also being a CEBL champion is special.”
With the double champ Stingers in 2020-21, Kamba averaged 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 29.6 minutes.
Before that, Kamba starred for the NCAA'S Central Arkansas Bears, where he averaged 11.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 28.4 minutes in 124 games over four seasons.
Kamba attended Bishop Mcnally High School in Calgary, where he was named a city high school all-star and won a city championship.
With Zunder Palencia this winter, the 28-year-old native of Zambia averaged five points, 3.4 boards, one assist, 0.7 steals and 20:46 of floor time.
Kamba joins a talent-rich team, featuring 2023 CEBL all-canadian guard Sean Miller-moore and last year's primary point guard Stef Smith, who were re-signed in March.
Another key addition to the club is guard Malcolm Duvivier, a longtime star with the Fraser Valley/ Vancouver Bandits of the CEBL. Last year, he averaged 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 25 minutes in 16 games played.
“Malcolm is a veteran in this league now,” James said. “He brings experience and leadership to our team, while being a versatile and tenacious defender that can disrupt the opposing team's offensive flow.”
Earlier this week, the Surge inked 6-foot-6 forward Emmanuel Ansah, who recently played with the U Sports' Guelph Gryphons, where he averaged 15.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists,
1.5 steals and 26.7 minutes in 42 games played in two seasons.
“Emmanuel is a high character guy on and off the court,” said Surge assistant GM Mike Girling. “This is his first experience in professional basketball, and he is motivated to learn and make an impact with the Surge immediately with his high-level shooting.”
Earlier this month, the club signed 6-foot-8 forward Gabe Osabuohien.
Osabuohien recently played with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G-league, where he averaged 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 15.1 minutes in 52 games played.
“This will be Gabe's first season playing in the CEBL, and he is eager to learn and get to work,” James said.
The Toronto native graduated from the NCAA'S West Virginia Mountaineers after averaging 4.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 18.1 minutes in 31 games played.
And also earlier this month, the Calgary crew inked 6-foot-1 guard Corey Davis Jr.
Davis Jr. is playing pro with the Vanoli Cremona of the Lega Basket Series A in Milan, Italy, where he averages 14.0 points,
2.0 assists and 23.5 minutes.
“Corey epitomizes professionalism in every aspect,” James said. “Being a born leader, his presence on the court is both inspiring and enjoyable to witness. His dynamic energy is sure to captivate and delight our fans in Calgary.”
The Louisiana native has played pro for the past five years, averaging 10.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 26.9 minutes in 127 games played in Europe and in the NBA Summer League with the Washington Wizards.
The Surge also picked guard Dondre Reddick ninth overall from the U Sports' St. Francis Xavier X-men in the 2024 CEBL draft. They also plucked guard Mike Demagus, of the U Sports' Mcmaster Marauders, and guard Noah Wharton, of the U Sports' Calgary Dinos, in the second and third rounds, respectively.
The Surge tip off their season May 21 against the Stingers in the Surge2thedome opener at Scotiabank Saddledome.