The Winnipeg Sea Bears have injected size into their lineup for the stretch run of the Canadian Elite Basketball League regular season.
On Tuesday, Winnipeg announced the signing of 6-11 American centre Noah Starkey. The 27-year-old from Hutchinson, Kan., joins the team after averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds during a 22-game championship run with the NBA G League’s Oklahoma City Blue.
Starkey fills a void left by the release of American big man Byron Mullens on June 28.
“Noah is a big, physical centre who plays hard and does traditional big man things,” said Winnipeg GM and head coach Mike Taylor in a release. “Noah helped the OKC Blue to win the G League Championship this season with his steady, team-oriented, blue-collar style of play. We’re excited to add Noah to our big man rotation and believe he will make a positive impact in the paint on both ends.”
The Sea Bears are now at the CEBL’s three-import limit, with guards Justin Wright-Foreman and Scottie Lindsey already on the roster.
“I’m excited to join the team and get to work,” said Starkey. “Winnipeg is a great organization with passionate fans, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”
Starkey is expected to be in the lineup when the Sea Bears wrap up a five-game homestand against the Edmonton Stingers tonight. Game time is 7 p.m.
