April 11, 2025
The Montreal Alliance have selected Jaheem Joseph 21st overall in the 2025 CEBL entry draft
The Montreal Alliance have added three new players to their ranks at the CEBL draft – including Montrealer’s Sultan Haider Bhatti and Jaheem Joseph, and Toronto’s Liam Rietschin.
Jaheem Joseph represents the Alliance’s commitment to local talent. The 6’5” guard from Concordia University brings a compelling story and proven production in the RSEQ conference. Despite losing vision in his right eye in 2020, Joseph rebuilt his game and earned RSEQ First Team All-Star and Second Team All-Canadian honors this past season while averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
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“Jaheem embodies resilience and determination,” said Joel Anthony. “His production on the court speaks for itself, and he’s already familiar with our organization, having participated in our training camp last season. We’re excited to see his progression.”
The Alliance made three selections on the day – including the first overall pick, Sultan Haider Bhatti from Brandon University, and York University’s Liam Rietschin with the 20th overall selection.
Bhatti, a 6’4” guard/forward from Laval, Québec, Bhatti returns to his home province after a dominant university career with the Brandon University Bobcats. The versatile player capped his senior season averaging 20.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while earning Canada West First Team All-Star and Second Team All-Canadian honors.
“Sultan represents exactly what we’re building in Montréal – a versatile, high-IQ player with deep local roots who can impact the game in multiple ways,” said Montréal Alliance General Manager and co-owner Joel Anthony. “His combination of scoring ability and playmaking at his position, plus his double-double production at the university level, made him the clear choice at number one. We believe his game will translate well to the professional level.”
Throughout his university career, Bhatti demonstrated remarkable consistency and development, improving his production each season while maintaining efficiency. In 75 career games, he averaged 16.9 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 46.8% from the field and 80.2% from the free-throw line.
“Growing up in Montréal, playing professional basketball in Montréal has always been a dream,” said Bhatti. “I’m honoured to be selected first overall by the Alliance and can’t wait to bring my game back home and contribute to building something special here.”
With their second and third selections, the Alliance continued their strategy of blending skill with size while maintaining connections to the province.
Liam Rietschin (20th overall) brings imposing size and elite shot-blocking ability to the Alliance frontcourt. The 6’11” center from York University led the OUA in blocks last season with 62 total rejections, averaging 2.8 blocks per game. The Toronto native also demonstrated offensive growth in his final university season, posting career-highs with 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
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“Liam’s combination of size and improving skillset offensively gives us a dimension that we haven’t quite seen at this level,” added Joel Anthony. “We’re excited to see where this untapped potential will take him professionally.”
All three draftees will join the Alliance for training camp, with the 2025 Alliance season set to tip off on May 18 against the Brampton Honey Badgers at the Verdun Auditorium.
