Rattlers Return Three Familiar Players to Fold From C-E-B-L Draft

When it comes to the Saskatchewan Rattlers, familiarity doesn’t breed contempt!

Snakes Vice-President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Barry Rawlyk made three picks in today’s Canadian Elite Basketball League draft – all of whom have spent some time with the Rattlers. With the third overall selection, Saskatchewan chose guard Elias Ralph from the U of Victoria. Ralph was born in Saskatoon, but grew up in Okotoks, Alberta. He attended Rattlers’ training camp last year. The Snakes’ second choice was Saskatchewan Huskies’ star Alexander Dewar, taken with the eighth pick in the second round. Dewar is a Saskatoon product and played high school ball at Marion Graham before attending the U of S. He was initially a Rattlers draft selection in 2021. Plus, with the third choice in the third round, Saskatchewan picked Regina product and U of Alberta grad Isaac Simon, He’ll be a developmental player with the Snakes after being with the team last year. Following are news releases from the Rattlers on all three picks and Huskie Athletics with regards to Dewar…..

The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced their selections in the 2024 CEBL Draft on Thursday. Saskatchewan selected three returning U SPORTS players that all have ties to Saskatchewan. Elias Ralph from University of Victoria, Canada West 2nd Team All-Star and three-time Canada West Champion was the third pick overall. With the eighth pick in the second round, the Rattlers selected the fifth-year senior Alexander Dewar from the University of Saskatchewan. With the third pick in the third round, the Rattlers chose to welcome back Isaac Simon from University of Alberta as a Developmental Player.

“We are very proud that we were able to draft three players with Saskatchewan roots,” said General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Barry Rawlyk “and they all have great family connections in this province.”

In March, the CEBL announced a newly rebranded and expanded draft format beginning in 2024 that includes all eligible Canadian U SPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) student-athletes. The new format also allowed for teams to select three selections in total. The CEBL Draft presents a coveted opportunity for top players in U SPORTS and the CCAA to get a chance to experience professional basketball by practicing and playing alongside veteran pros from the NBA, NBA G League, Canadian National team, and top international leagues.

Elias Ralph returns to the Saskatchewan Rattlers after attending training camp for the 2023 season, the third guard is coming off a successful season with the University of Victoria Vikes. Ralph was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Okotoks, Alberta. Prior to his collegiate debut, he competed at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Edmonton, Alberta. Over three years with the Vikes, he has averaged 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 25.7 minutes in 76 games. In his most recent season with the Vikes, he set new career-highs in five stat categories during the month of February: 25 points, 18 rebounds, four blocks, three steals, and six three-pointers made.

During his collegiate career, he has been named to U SPORTS All-Rookie Team (2021-22), University of Victoria Rookie of the Year (2021-22), Canada West Rookie of the Year (2021-22), and Canada West 2^nd Team All-Star (2023-24). In all three seasons with the Vikes, Ralph has finished as a Canada West Champion. Elias Ralph will return with the Rattlers this May.

“Elias had a tremendous U SPORTS season in 2023-24,” said General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Barry Rawlyk. “His athleticism and tremendous versatility as a perimeter has us expecting that he will play a major role in our line-up this year.”

The Rattlers welcome back their 2021 CEBL Draft Pick, Alexander Dewar following a successful career with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The Dewar family holds a legacy in basketball in Saskatoon, SK with his late-father John, uncle, and brother all having significant connections to Huskies Basketball. Prior to his collegiate debut, he competed at Marion Graham Collegiate in Saskatoon. Over five years with the Huskies, he averaged 15.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 27.5 minutes in 110 games. In his most recent season with the Huskies, he set a new career-high with 38 points accompanied by five rebounds, three assists, one steal, shooting 70.6% from the field, and 75.0% from the arc in 34 minutes on January 13^th, 2024.

During his collegiate career, he has been named to Canada West All-Rookie Team (2018-19), U SPORTS Finals Player of the Game (2021-22), Canada West Third Team All-Star (2023-24), Canada West Men’s Basketball Community Service Award (2023-24), U SPORTS Men’s Basketball Service Award (2023-24), and a five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian. In 2022, Dewar and the Huskies claimed a Canada West Bronze Medal which led them to a U SPORTS Silver Medal finish to close the season. Dewar returns for his second season in the CEBL this May.

“Alexander was a bright spot for the Huskies this past season in his final year of college eligibility,” said General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Barry Rawlyk. “He is a fundamentally sound, high IQ, high character individual and will be a great asset for the Rattlers this season.”

Isaac Simon returns to the Rattlers after his CEBL debut season in 2023. Prior to his collegiate career, he competed at Harvest City Christian Academy in his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan. Over two seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, he averaged 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 25.1 minutes in 49 games. In his most recent season, he set a new career high of 33 points accompanied by four rebounds, five assists, one steal, shooting 56.5% from the field, and 60.0% from the arc in 31 minutes on December 2^nd, 2023. During his collegiate career, he has been named to University of Alberta Male Rookie of the Year and Canada West All-Rookie Team. Simon makes his return to Saskatchewan this May.

“Isaac had a great season with the team last year. According to U of A Head Coach Barnaby Craddock, he took a great leap forward in his development after spending last summer with us,” said Rattlers General Manager, Barry Rawlyk “I expect his development to continue on that trajectory and for him to play an even larger role with the Rattlers this season.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2024
Alexander Dewar Selected 18th Overall by the
Saskatchewan Rattlers in 2024 CEBL Draft
SASKATOON, SK – After helping lead the Saskatchewan Huskies men’s basketball team
over the past five seasons, Alexander Dewar will be trading in the PAC for the SaskTel
Centre, as he was selected 18th overall by the Saskatchewan Rattlers in the 2024
Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Draft Thursday (Apr. 11) afternoon.
The Saskatoon product is no stranger to the league, having suited up for the Rattlers
during the 2021 CEBL season, after he was selected 21st overall in the 2020 CEBL-U
SPORTS Draft.
Dewar becomes the fourth player in program history to hear his name called on draft
day, joining former teammates Nervens Demosthene, Chan De Ciman, and Tyrese
Potoma. It also marks the fifth time in six seasons in which a Huskie has been selected in
the draft, dating back to the league’s inaugural 2019 season.
After joining the Huskies for the 2018-19 season as a freshman, Dewar instantly became
an impact player, averaging 23.5 minutes and 9.9 points per game in his rookie season
earning himself a spot on the Canada West all-rookie team. His sophomore season saw
an incredible jump in production as the kinesiology major became a mainstay in the
Huskies starting lineup. Dewar averaged 17.6 points per game and finished the season
connecting on 51% of his field goals.
Following the canceled 2020-21 season, Dewar helped lead the Huskies to a Canada
West bronze medal and U SPORTS Championship final appearance in 2021-22. At the
national tournament Dewar averaged 19.7 points per game as the 8th-seeded Huskies
captured U SPORTS silver. As a fourth- and fifth-year student-athlete, Dewar would lead
the Huskies in scoring both seasons, closing out his career with the third-most points in
program history with 1734.

The 6-foot-3 guard took home his fair share of hardware both on and off the court
during his Huskie career. After being named to the conference all-rookie team he was
named a Canada West all-star in his senior season in addition to being recognized as
the student-athlete community service award winner at both the conference and
national stages. He recently closed out his USask career being honoured as the Rusty
MacDonald Cup recipient at the 2024 edition of Huskie Salute as the most outstanding
all-round male athlete.
Dewar and the Rattlers will tip-off their season at home on May 22 when they take on
the Winnipeg Sea Bears at the SaskTel Centre.