Photo credit: Marc Lafleur, source https://goravens.ca/news/2021/10/mbb-ravens-dispatch-of-redbirds/
Going to prep school, winning University National Championships, and playing at the professional level are all possibilities for basketball players, without even having to leave Ottawa. Aiden Warnholtz will complete that list of accomplishments when he suits up for the CEBL franchise Ottawa Blackjacks for their season opener on Wednesday night.
Warnholtz was signed by the Blackjacks as a USports developmental player. The CEBL, which played its first season in 2019, allows University athletes to compete during the summer and return to their studies in the fall.
“For USports guys to be able to play in the summer and return to school in the fall is amazing. I wasn’t sure what the league would look like, or how strong it would be, but it has really impressed me with how well it is doing, and it is great to have a team in Ottawa,” said Warnholtz.
Warnholtz played club basketball with Ottawa Next Level and Ottawa Elite. He attended A.Y. Jackson for his early years of high school before opting to go to prep school before university.
“When Tony House opened the Canada Top Flight Academy it was a big decision for me to attend a prep school, I think that was a really big step for my career. Some of the coaches there were a part of the Carleton program and I got comfortable and enjoyed playing with them.”
Warnholtz got comfortable with the environment at Carleton while spending time there with Ottawa Elite. He also got to know some of the players through the basketball camps held by the Ravens.
“By the time I was in Grade 12 I knew attending Carleton was a good decision for me. With all the alumni that have went pro and all the National Championships they had won before I got there, I knew it was a good choice.”
The Ravens have won the National Championship in all three of his seasons at Carleton. The school has now won 16 of the last 19 National Championships.
“My first year I didn’t play a lot. But there is great value in getting to practice with the older guys and having coaches that stay on top of you to get better. They get the best out of you. It has been an amazing opportunity, especially seeing my role increase over the years.”
Warnholtz will play at least one more season with the Ravens and graduate in the spring with a Health Sciences degree.
The Blackjacks enter their 3rd season coming off two consecutive appearances in the semi-finals. They open their 20-game schedule at home on Wednesday night against the Fraser Valley Bandits. The Blackjacks will also host the 2022 CEBL Championship Weekend August 12-14 at TD Place Arena. For tickets visit https://www.theblackjacks.ca/tickets.
