The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that they have signed Flordia-native LJ (Leonard) Thorpe ahead of next week’s training camp.

The pride of West Palm Beach and Royal Palm Beach Community High School, Thorpe is currently averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 27.3 minutes through 41 games with BC Siauliai in Lithuania. 

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome LJ (Thorpe) to our organization,” said Jermaine Anderson, general manager and vice president of basketball operations. “He is a pure PG that will be relied upon to orchestrate Coach Cassimy‘s offense, and to help lead our team this season.”

This season in Lithuania, Thorpe leads his team in scoring, achieving double-figures in a team-best 20 contests. His season has been highlighted by a 15-point performance against Bristol in the European North Basketball League Quarter Finals on March 7, draining a career-best five triples.

Following a five-year standout collegiate career at the University of North Carolina Asheville, the 6-foot-5 guard made his professional debut in Finland as a member of Pyrinto Tampere. In 40 games, he averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 27.4 minutes. 

“I’ve heard so many great things about this league about development and helping us players get to the next level,” said Thorpe. “I’m ready to get to work and am excited for opening night.”

Thorpe had an accomplished collegiate tenure with the Bulldogs, averaging 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 25.2 minutes in 102 contests. As a redshirt senior, he received All-Big South Honorable Mention and All-Big South Preseason First Team honors. Thorpe scored 20+ points in six contests that same season, including a pair of 28-point performances February 26 and January 29 vs. Presbyterian.

During his third season with the Bulldogs program, Thorpe became the second player in school history with a triple-double, scoring 17 points and adding career-highs in rebounding (13) and assists (10) at Hampton on February 10. That same game, Thorpe also became the first player at the University of North Carolina Asheville with double-digit assists in a game since 2010.

Thorpe’s addition to the Honey Badgers makes him the third import player Brampton has signed in CEBL free agency, joining North Carolina native Zane Waterman and Greek forward Petros Melissaratos. He is also the fourth guard that has been announced to the roster, the only one with previous international experience. 

 The Brampton Honey Badgers open the 2024 campaign at home against the Niagara River Lions as part of Home Opener Weekend at the CAA Centre. Season tickets, ultimate voucher packages, and single game tickets are available now to witness the best of Canadian professional basketball this summer. For more information contact a Honey Badgers representative at tickets@honeybadgers.ca or visit www.honeybadgers.ca/tickets.

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About the Brampton Honey Badgers

One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca.

About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) 

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2023 rosters being Canadian. TSN, Canada's sports leader, is the official broadcast partner of the league. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

Media Contact:
Kyle Warrener - Sr. Coordinator, Ticket Sales and Communications

Brampton Honey Badgers

kwarrener@honeybadgers.ca