From HTA to UVic to the professional ranks.
Okotokian Elias Ralph’s upward trajectory has landed the 6-foot-7 University of Victoria Vikes junior in the Canadian Elite Basketball League as the Saskatchewan Rattlers’ third overall selection in the 2024 draft on April 11.
“Elias had a tremendous U SPORTS season in 2023-24,” said Barry Rawlyk, Rattlers GM and vice-president of basketball operations, in a team release. “His athleticism and tremendous versatility as a perimeter has us expecting that he will play a major role in our lineup this year.”
Ralph was born in Saskatoon and grew up in Okotoks, developing into a versatile point guard with size and athleticism as a key cog on two Holy Trinity Academy Knights teams in 2019-20 before his senior season was wiped out due to the pandemic.
https://twitter.com/CEBLeague/status/1778475230802886704
At the university level, Ralph transitioned to more of a wing, with an outside shooting game and defensive acumen that has seen his role increase over three seasons on Vancouver Island.
In his freshman campaign of 2021-22, Ralph was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team and took home the Canada West Rookie of the Year nod.
As a junior in 2023-24, Ralph was named a Canada West Second Team All-Star while posting a career-high15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 40.5 per cent from beyond the arc.
UVic has won the Canada West championship in all three of Ralph’s seasons with the Vikes.
The CEBL Draft is open to eligible Canadian U SPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) athletes with each team allowed three selections.
The drafted players from the collegiate ranks are able to get a taste of professional basketball before going back to university in the fall, as is the case for Ralph who will return to Victoria for his senior season with the Vikes in 2024-25.
The CEBL, which was founded in 2017 and features 10 teams, has its season run from May-late July.
The Rattlers will make one visit to Calgary to take on the Surge on June 5.
For more information, visit cebl.ca.
