Select U over Calgary Surge C guard Noah Wharton

On Thursday, the Calgary Surge made three selections in the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League draft, including University of Calgary guard Noah Wharton.

30 Canadian student-athletes selected from 20 Canadian post-secondary institutions participated in the project.

Through the three-round draft, the Surge selected St. Francis Xavier University guard Dondre Reddick in the first round; In the second round, guard Mike Demagus of McMaster University; and Wharton in the third round.

Wharton, from Brampton, Ont., averaged 15.1 points per game in 2023-24 and was a sharp shooter from behind the arc — sinking nearly 42 percent of his three-point attempts on the year.

“Being a professional basketball player has always been a dream of mine, so to have the opportunity to start my professional career with the Surge is something I am very excited and grateful for,” Wharton said in a press release.

The fourth-year guard started all 17 games for the Dinos last year and finished second on the team with 63 assists. Wharton also had 49 rebounds and 13 steals.

Another Dinos player will be in Alberta, along with Calgary guard Nate Petrone, who was selected by the Edmonton Stingers.

Petrone was a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian in 2023-24, averaging 20.7 points per game and a team-high 80 assists.

The former Dinos go head-to-head as the CEBL season kicks off on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00pm when they take on the Stingers at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The CEBL project was rebranded and expanded in 2024 to include all eligible Canadian U SPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) student-athletes.

“The CEBL project offers top players from U SPORTS and CCAA the opportunity to experience professional basketball by training and playing alongside experienced professionals from the NBA, NBA G League, Canadian National Team and top international leagues,” he said. This was reported on the website of the league.