Rhooms Headlines Stingers 2025 Draft Picks

EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday their official draft picks from the 2025 CEBL Draft. The Stingers have selected forward Aaron Rhooms out of Toronto Metropolitan University with their first round pick, followed by forward Liai Tong (Cape Breton University) and Jalen Shirley (University of British Columbia Okanagan) with their second and third round picks respectively.

With the eighth overall pick, Head Coach and General Manager, Jordan Baker selected Aaron Rhooms from Toronto Metropolitan University. It is the second straight year Rhooms has been selected by the Stingers, as he was a member of the team in 2024 on a U SPORTS Developmental Player contract. The fourth year guard started all 24 games for the TMU Bold this season, averaging 16.7 points per game,with a .489 shooting percentage. Rhooms registered a career high 190 rebounds this season, averaging 7.9 per game.

“I am looking forward to another season with the Stingers and picking up where we left off in chasing a CEBL championship,” said Rhooms, “I’m grateful to Jordan for giving me another opportunity to be a part of this great organization.”

With the third pick in the second round, the Stingers selected 6 '6, first year forward Liai Tong. Averaging 18.9 minutes per game, Tong was able to put up 207 points and 16 assists this season, also averaging 5.5 rebounds per game.

He put up a season best 21 points against StFX on November 9th, and posted another season best against the same team when he pulled down 11 rebounds on January 25th.
“Im really looking forward to getting to play professionally and to experience Edmonton.” said Tong. 

With the eighth pick in the third round Baker selected 6-foot-tall, fourth year guard Jalen Shirley from UBCO. The five-time UBCO athlete of the week has played 88 games over his four year tenure, averaging 29.6 minutes, 14 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. 

“I’m honored to be selected by Coach Baker and the Stingers.” said Shirley, “I’m grateful for the chance to grow as a player and compete at the pro level. Being the first player from UBCO makes this moment even more meaningful. It's an opportunity to represent and shine a light on our small program.”

The guard started his U SPORTS career with UPEI in 2019-20. In his freshman year, he averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 assists per game in 20 games en route to an AUS All-Rookie Team selection.

“Our coaching staff is very excited to get to work with the three players selected in the CEBL Draft.” Said Head Coach and General Manager Jordan Baker, “Each brings something unique to the table, and we look forward to them raising the intensity at training camp. It was certainly a priority of ours to bring Aaron back to Edmonton after working with him all of last summer, and both Liai and Jalen have potential to be excellent pros at the conclusion of their post-secondary careers”

All three 2024 CEBL Draft picks are expected to join the Stingers for training camp on May 3rd, eight days prior to the season tip-off in Calgary on May 11th.

The Stingers will return to the Edmonton EXPO Centre on May 11th to host the Calgary Surge in their home opener. Tickets are available for as low as $20 per seat and can be purchased online , by contacting the Stingers head office via email (tickets@thestingers.ca) or phone (1-87STINGERS).