May 12, 2024
The Montreal Alliance announce new player signings, bring back coach Derrick Alston and staff
With just about two weeks to go before the 2024 CEBL season gets under way, the Montreal Alliance have been hard at work getting players – and coaching staff, under contract. Today, the Alliance announce that former NBA player, coach Derrick Alston Sr., will return for a second season with the team.
Also signed to new deals, are Alston’s coaching staff including the return of assistant coaches Charles Dubé-Brais, Ryan Thorne, Jeff Dosado, Vincent Plante and Quesly-Marie Noresias for the 2024 season. Dubé-Brais, who served as head coach of the Ottawa BlackJacks during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, returns as both assistant general manger and assistant coach.
See Also: Montreal Alliance sign Manigat and ex-Pistons Chris Smith
Ryan Thorne, who operates as head coach of the McGill men’s team during the CEBL offseason, will return as the team’s assistant coach for a third consecutive season while Vincent Plante and Quesly-Marie Noresias will be in their second season with the Alliance.
The team also added two players to their roster, inking former Brampton Honey Badgers guard Jayden Edwards and former Brooklyn Nets guard Jordan Bowden.
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Bowden played four collegiate seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers, leading his team to two March Madness appearances. The 6’5” forward averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in his final collegiate season, in addition to being named SEC Player of the Week on November 18, 2019. He graduated ranking 24th in program history in total points (1,365), seventh in three-point shots made (186), fifth in games played (132) and is one of four players to record at least 1,000 total points, 450 rebounds and 250 assists.
“I’m thrilled to join the Montreal Alliance and compete in the CEBL”, said Jordan Bowden. “I’ve seen many talented American and G League players find success here, and I’m determined to leave my mark here as well. I look forward to contributing to the team’s success and making an impact both on and off the court.”
At six-foot-five, Edwards joined BMS Herlev in Norway following the 2023 CEBL season where he played for the Brampton Honey Badgers. In 19 games with the Norwegian organization, Edwards averaged 25.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 32.9 minutes per game. He scored 30 points or more on six occasions, including a 43-point game.
Edwards played five collegiate seasons with North Idaho College (2018-2020), Arkansas Tech (2020) and Cal Poly Humboldt (2021-2023). In 96 college games, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 19.0 minutes per game. He had his best collegiate season in 2021-22, averaging 16.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steal and 32.4 minutes in 26 games played.
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Coach Alston Sr. and the Montréal Alliance are gearing up for the 2024 season and will host the Edmonton Stingers in their highly anticipated home opener on May 30. Fans can purchase their single game tickets here.
