Sea Bears finally unveil home-grown star – Winnipeg Free Press

Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson had to stop going to Winnipeg Sea Bears games last summer.

It was tough being a spectator knowing he might be on the floor, and even tougher when fans in the downtown arena asked him when he would be playing for his hometown club in Canada's elite basketball league.

“So I said, 'You know, I have to watch it at home,' because it was so emotional,” the 32-year-old defenseman said Monday.

Things will be different for Ogungbemi-Jackson this summer after recently signing with the Sea Bears.

The Winnipegger brings nine years of professional ball experience and was most recently in Belarus with JV Tsmoky-Minsk of the VTB United League, where he averaged 18.9 points per game in 33 contests, ranking third among all scorers.

Ogungbemi-Jackson has seven regular home games left for Winnipeg after terminating his contract in Belarus at the end of March. He signed with the Sea Bears shortly after, but that news was kept under wraps until Monday's announcement.

“I'm proud to be a Winnipegger, I really am. I try to show that everywhere I go because I feel we are a blue town. We have a lot of talent here and I feel like we've never had a lot of exposure… I think Winnipeg is on the rise,” Ogungbemi-Jackson said at a news conference.

“I'm really excited to play in front of my friends and family. But at the same time, I have a mission and I want to help this team fight for the championship.”

In 321 professional games — with stops in France, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Spain and Portugal — the University of Calgary product averaged 16.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 31.9 minutes per game.

His family has seen him play several games since his sports days.

Jarred is a homegrown talent who will inspire the next generation of Winnipeg players to pursue their basketball dreams.”– Sea Bears Head Coach/General Manager Mike Taylor

“I love my job. I'm happy to be able to play in all these countries and travel around the world to play in the highest competitions. But the fans and the media only see the highlights. “They don't see me for 16 hours on a bus to a gym where no one knows my name,” he said. “Those are the tough things about being a professional athlete, especially overseas.”

Ogungbemi-Jackson first gained attention in Winnipeg when she started on the varsity team at Garden City College in grades 9-12 and led the Gophers to multiple provincial titles.

The 5-10 scorer joins center Chad Posthumus, forward Simon Hildebrandt and guard Sean Maranan as Winnipeggers on the team.

Sea Bears head coach/general manager Mike Taylor has been in contact with Ogungbemi-Jackson for more than a year. They talked every week before they made the deal.

Aside from reigning CEBL MVP Teddy Allen, Ogungbemi-Jackson may be the team's most important signing this offseason.

“Jared brings a great point guard game, excellent three-point shooting and a lot of experience to our team. More importantly, Jarred is a homegrown talent who will inspire the next generation of Winnipeg players to follow their basketball dreams,” said Taylor.

Sea Bears training camp begins on Monday, May 13 at the Sports for Life Center. The team opens the 2024 campaign on Wednesday, May 22 on the road against the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

Winnipeg's home opener is on Friday, May 24 against the defending CEBL champions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

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Taylor Allen
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Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor began working for the Free Press on June 1, 2011.

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