The Saskatchewan Rattlers added three guards to their 2021 Canadian Elite Basketball League roster with Wednesday’s announcement of results of the league’s annual U Sports Draft.
Coming off a last place finish in last year’s Summer Series, the 2019 champion Snakes had first overall pick and used it to select 6’2″ Nervens Demosthene out of Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. In the second and third rounds, Rattlers’ G-M Barry Rawlyk stayed close to home with guards he knows, picking Alexander Dewar and Tyrese Potoma respectively. Dewar is a 6’3″ member of the U of S Huskies, entering his third season with the Dogs out of Saskatoon’s Marion Graham Collegiate, while Potoma is a 5’11” inch product of Regina who has transferred to the U of S. Following is the news release from the Rattlers…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Saskatchewan Rattlers, member club of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), today announced their three selections in the 2021 CEBL U SPORTS Draft. The Rattlers selected Nervens Demosthene with the first overall pick in the draft. In the second and third rounds, the Rattlers added Saskatchewan locals Alexander Dewar and Tyrese Potoma.
Nervens Demosthene joins the Rattlers with an already impressive résumé in just three years of collegiate basketball. Demosthene comes to the Rattlers from Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, QC. The Bishop’s University Gaiters compete in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) conference. Demosthene has averaged 13 points, 4.1 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 28.8 minutes in 54 collegiate games. The Terrebonne, QC.-native turned heads in his freshman year (2017-18) when he was named to the RSEQ and U SPORTS All-Rookie Teams, as well as being awarded the RSEQ Rookie of the Year Award, the Basketball Newcomer of the Year (Brad Jones Award) and the Bishop’s Gaiters Newcomer of the Year. The 6-foot-2 guard took home a multitude of awards in 2019-20 as well, being named a RSEQ 1st-Team All-Star, as well as being awarded the Gaiters Basketball Most Valuable Player and Bishop’s Athlete of the Year. In 2019-20, the Gaiters won the RSEQ Championship in a thrilling 73-72 win over the UQAM Citandins. Known for his athleticism as well as playmaking ability, Demosthene will join the Rattlers backcourt ready to make an impact.
Alexander Dewar is entering his third year with the Huskies Basketball program after graduating from Marion Graham Collegiate in 2018. In 47 games with the Huskies, Dewar has averaged 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 25.6 minutes. Shooting an impressive .476 field goal percentage over his two years in U SPORTS, Dewar was named the Huskie Athlete of the Week on two occasions in 2018-19, as well as being named a 2018-19 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian. The Saskatoon, SK.-native has collected a multitude of other accolades in his young collegiate playing career including being named Mr. Basketball Saskatchewan in 2018 as well as being on the Canada West All-Rookie Team in the 2018-19 U SPORTS season. The 6-foot-3 guard was also drafted by the Rattlers in the 2020 U SPORTS Draft.
Tyrese Potoma comes to the Rattlers from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies program after transferring from Cleveland State University (NCAA Division 1) after the 2019-20 season. The Regina, SK.-native played at Campbell Collegiate where he was named the 4A Provincial Male Athlete of the Year on the way to leading the Campbell Tartans to a Provincial Championship in 2017. The 5-foot-11 guard started his collegiate career at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, WY before transferring to Cleveland State University after his freshman year. In two years of collegiate basketball, Potoma has averaged 10.8 points, 1.8 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 12.3 minutes in 51 games. Potoma will suit up for the Huskies in the fall of 2021, after the CEBL season.
“We are very excited to welcome Nervens, Alexander and Tyrese to the roster. These three young men have excelled in their collegiate programs and we expect them to come into training camp ready to compete and help the team”, said Barry Rawylk, General Manager of the Saskatchewan Rattlers. “Nervens is already a proven winner and competitor who will be a tremendous asset to us in our upcoming season. He is a tremendous talent at the guard position, and we look forward to seeing him elevate his game in a professional setting. Tyrese is another exciting piece that we are adding in 2021. Tyrese played at a very high level in the first division of the NCAA before transferring, and we are thrilled to see what he can do on the court for us. He has incredible self-discipline, drive and determination which will help him succeed at the professional level. Alexander is someone who is incredibly hardworking and a fantastic team player – his determination and tenacity will be an asset to us as we move into our 2021 season. We are excited to have these young men join us for training camp and help us compete throughout the season. This is a great opportunity for them to continue to elevate their individual game as well as contribute to a professional team.”
The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021 starting June 5, 2021 following the success of this past year’s CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ont., which saw millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tune in starting July 25 to watch 26 games played over 15 days in a single-site league competition. The CEBL became the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play after the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in mid-March shut down sports across the country. For more information on the Rattlers, visit therattlers.ca.
