CHICAGO (May 11, 2022) – Aher Uguak (Edmonton, Alberta/Harry Ainlay/New Mexico), who recently exhausted his collegiate eligibility at Loyola University Chicago, will play for the Edmonton Stingers in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) this summer. The league is one of the top landing spots for Canadian players, several of whom have NBA playing experience.
 
"Playing for the back-to-back CEBL champs is a great opportunity for me to start my professional career," Uguak said. "I am beyond excited to do it in my hometown. I am grateful for my time at Loyola. It was full of success and championships. I learned what it takes to win at a high level and I hope to add to the winning culture of the Stingers."
 
The 6-foot-7 Uguak, who was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference All-Defensive Team selection and in 2020-21 earned Third Team All-MVC accolades, will be returning to his hometown to compete for the Stingers. In four years at Loyola after spending his first season at the University of New Mexico, Uguak contributed 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest, while connecting on 53.2 percent (316-for-594) of his field goal attempts. His career field goal percentage (.532) ranks ninth in Ramblers history.
 
Uguak's best season came in 2021-22, when he produced 8.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg, both personal season highs, for a Loyola squad that won 25 games and reached the NCAA Tournament. The athletic and versatile forward scored in double figures on 14 occasions last season, including a season-high, 18-point performance against Florida Gulf Coast, and came up big in the Ramblers' MVC Championship title game victory over Drake, racking up 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Throughout his career, Uguak worked tirelessly to become a two-way threat and this past winter had his best season shooting the ball from the perimeter, sinking a career-high 24 three-point field goals after knocking down just 18 treys in his first three seasons combined at Loyola.
 
During the 2020-21 campaign, Uguak was a key contributor as Loyola reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, knocking off top-seeded Illinois in the second round. A Third Team All-MVC pick that season, the defensive stalwart put up 7.3 ppg and 3.9 rpg, hitting 61.9 percent (86-for-139) of his shots from the field. He netted a career-best 26 points in the Ramblers' victory over North Texas, an eventual NCAA Tournament team.
 
The CEBL begins its fourth season on May 25. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program and top NCAA programs as well as U Sports. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August.