The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the Montréal Alliance will select first overall in the 2025 CEBL U SPORTS Draft. The draft results will be unveiled during the first-ever "2025 CEBL Draft Reveal Show" streaming live on CEBL+ on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. ET.

In addition to the first overall selection, the Alliance also holds the 20th (Round 2, Pick 10) and 21st (Round 3, Pick 1) picks in the draft, which will feature 30 players selected from U SPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) programs.

This marks the second consecutive year that the Alliance will select first overall. In the 2024 CEBL Draft, the team selected Ismaël Diouf from Université Laval's Rouge et Or with the top pick. The Alliance has consistently prioritized local talent in their draft strategy, having selected players from Québec universities in three of their previous six picks, including Diouf (Laval), Marc-André Fortin (Laval), and Bahaïde Haïdara (UQAM), who was selected in both the 2023 and 2024 drafts.

The Alliance's previous first-round selections also include Alain Louis (Carleton University) in 2022 and Aryan Sharma (Western University) in 2023. Louis continues to be a cornerstone of the Alliance roster, having recently signed for his fourth consecutive season with the team.

The CEBL's developmental player program allows Canadian student-athletes with remaining university eligibility to gain valuable professional experience while maintaining their collegiate status. Up to three developmental players do not count against a club's active roster salary cap, incentivizing teams to develop young Canadian talent.

All developmental players become free agents at the conclusion of the CEBL season and maintain eligibility to be selected in the 2026 CEBL Draft or sign with a CEBL club as a developmental player.

The seventh CEBL season tips off May 11, with the Alliance playing their first home game on May 18 against the Brampton Honey Badgers. On May 23, the Alliance will make history by hosting the first-ever outdoor 5x5 professional basketball game in Canadian history with their "Éclipse: Match sous les étoiles" event at IGA Stadium.

Fans looking to watch the 2025 CEBL Draft Reveal Show can subscribe to CEBL+ for free at plus.cebl.ca to access the show and other exclusive CEBL content.

For more information on the Montréal Alliance, visit www.alliancemontreal.ca.