Edmonton Native Aher Uguak Signed by Stingers
Edmonton Native Aher Uguak Signs With the Stingers After Successful NCAA Career
EDMONTON, AB- The Edmonton Singers of the CEBL have signed Edmonton native Aher Uguak for the 2022 season. Uguak played 5 years in the NCAA, spending his freshman season in 2016-2017 with the University of New Mexico Lobos before transferring to the Loyola Chicago Ramblers for the 2018-2019 season, playing until the 2021-2022 season.
“Playing for the back-to-back CEBL champs is a great opportunity for me to start my professional career,” said Uguak. “I am beyond excited to do it in my hometown.”
““This is major for the Edmonton community,” said head coach and general manager Jermaine Small. “To have one of their basketball sons return home, it’s more than basketball. What he represented is truly inspiring for the kids growing up in this community.”
Uguak spent three years at Harry Ainlay High School, leading them to back-to-back provincial titles in 2014 and 2015. After committing to the Lobos in October of 2015, he was named to the BioSteel All CanadianGame the following year as Alberta’s top recruit.
Uguak played 19 games in his first season with the Lobos, managing a season best 5 points. Despite starting in two games, Uguak’s role was limited, and he decided to transfer to the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers for the 2017-2018 season. Partially influencing this decision was his relationship with his cousin, former NBA-player Luol Deng who spent 10 seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
Due to the NCAA’s transfer rules, the 6’7” forward was sidelined for the Ramblers historic 2018 March Madness run. Uguak was not deterred, and in his sophomore season he started 28 games for the Ramblers, scoring 5.8 points per game while grabbing 3.5 rebounds.
Uguak would consistently improve over the next three seasons (he was granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2020-2021, Uguak upped his averages to 7.3 points per game compared to 5.7 the year before. He managed a career best 26 on January 2nd, 2021 against the North Texas Mean Green.
In the 2020-2021 season, his offensive output was aided by a well-rounded defensive game as he provided the Ramblers with one-through-five defensive ability. While Uguak’s defensive presence was not necessarily reflected in the box score (0.9 steals and 0.0 blocks per game), he was recognized as a Missouri Valley Conference All-Defensive Team member. His well rounded play also netted him a All-MVC Third Team selection as he helped the Ramblers to a MVC Championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
This past season, the senior would average career highs of 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds without missing a beat defensively. In 13 of his 32 regular season games he managed double digit scoring while hitting 50.0% of his field goal attempts. The forward was named to his second straight MVC All-Defensive Team.
Uguak and company won the MVC Championship for a second consecutive year and returned to the NCAA tournament where they met a powerhouse in the Ohio State Buckeyes. This first round matchup would ultimately be Uguak’s last NCAA game. In his NCAA career, the Edmonton product averaged 6.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
“I am grateful for my time at Loyola, it was full of success and championships,” said Uguak. “I learned what it takes to win at a high level and I hope to add to the winning culture of the Stingers.”
About The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its 2021 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow the league (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
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