Sea Bears sign former Bandits MVP Campbell

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/02/2024 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears will really have a coach on the floor when they open the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League season in May.

Alex Campbell, a four-year CEBL vet who has served as an assistant coach with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s basketball team for the past two seasons, has signed in Winnipeg, the club announced Monday.

The 6-2 Campbell, a two-time winner of the Vancouver Bandits MVP award, averaged 7.5 points per game, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 21 games with the Bandits in 2023. He will join Teddy Allen, the reigning league MVP, who re-signed with the club earlier this month.

Campbell was the league final MVP while leading the Saskatchewan Rattlers to the inaugural CEBL championship in 2019.

“Alex is a guy who I developed a great respect for and trust in during our time in Fraser Valley (now Vancouver),” said Sea Bears GM and head coach Mike Taylor. “He was a captain of our team. He played really well, he’s an experienced player, he’s a high character individual and he’s won a championship in the league his first year with with Saskatchewan. He’s been a key part of the Bandits teams the last several seasons. Coming into a new situation, you immediately look for those guys who you have faith, belief and confidence in, and Alex is one of those guys.”

Campbell is the third signing for Winnipeg thus far.

The team previously announced the return of Allen and homegrown forward Chad Posthumus in preparation for the start of training camp on May 13.

The 31-year-old Brampton, Ont., product was a star at the University of Windsor and Niagara College before embarking on a pro career that has taken him to Boulazac in France, Lahti in Finland and CB Prat in Spain.

“I like to look at it as being like a foxhole guy,” said Campbell from Saskatoon where he lives with his fiance and three-year-old child. “I take pride in going to war and just being a pest on defence and then, fortunately for me, I’m able to knock a couple of shots down and contribute offensively.

“So with a great talent like Teddy Allen, I think I’ll be able to stretch the floor and just really give our team that legit three-and-D player.”

Taylor, an assistant coach with the Bandits in 2022 before joining the expansion Sea Bears in 2023, was struck by Campbell’s ability as a pressure player. He recalled Campbell scoring the game-winning points three times in target time during the 2022 season — a three-pointer to win one game and stealing the ball before scoring the decisive points in two other games.

“We were looking to upgrade at the wing with a guy who’s experienced three-and-D type player, who fits alongside Teddy well,” said Taylor. “So there’s so many reasons for us to be excited about adding Alex. I’m really looking forward to working with him again.”

Campbell doesn’t expect any significant rust issues after not playing during the winter pro season.

“There’s nothing like the game experience, right?” said Campbell. “But I’m just getting up and down, getting some runs in here. We have a couple of pros that stop here all through the year and I’ve organized runs and programs. Gearing up for the CEBL should not be a problem.”

Added Taylor: “I’m very optimistic and very positive — I know that Alex stays in the gym. He works to keep his conditioning right. He’s out there working with his players, with their player development and getting his opportunity to get his shots up and getting to work on himself.”

Campbell had an opportunity to return to the Bandits but declined the chance to re-sign.

“I’ve been there for the last three summers so it’s definitely hard leaving them but it’s a business and I have some familiarity with coach Taylor,” said Campbell. “It was a hand and glove fit for me.”

Campbell is eager to experience summer basketball in Winnipeg as a member of the Sea Bears. He was on the court last May when the Bandits served as the opposition for Winnipeg’s CEBL debut, which drew a then league-record 7,303 fans to Canada Life Centre.

“It just set the tone for a summer,” said Campbell. “I thought every arena was going to be like that. I think we went to Sask. after that and obviously it wasn’t the same electric feel in the gym.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca