Import guard Avery Woodson has signed with the Saskatchewan Rattlers and is in Saskatoon waiting for the Canadian Elite Basketball League team’s training camp to start.
The 6’2″ Woodson is a Mississippi product who has played four professional seasons in Sweden, Finland and Greece. This will be his first C-E-B-L campaign. With the Snakes’ training camp set to start June 17th, import players either have or are arriving in town and going into quarantine for 14 days before camp starts. Saskatchewan’s first game is June 26 at Fraser Valley and the first home game is June 28 at SaskTel Centre against the Hamilton Honey Badgers. Following is the news release from the Rattlers…..
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Saskatchewan Rattlers are excited to announce the signing of import guard Avery Woodson, ahead of the 2021 CEBL season. This will be Woodson’s first season in the CEBL after spending the last four seasons playing professionally in the Swedish-Basketligan, Finnish-Korisliiga, and Greek Heba A1.
Woodson, a Waynesboro, MS-native has spent the last season playing for Boras – a member of the Swedish Basketball League. Over the course of his professional career, Woodson has averaged 14.5 points, 2.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 90 games. The 6-foot-2 guard had a career-high 39 points on January 22, 2021, while shooting 72.1 percent from the field in a loss against Lulea. The sharp-shooting guard has demonstrated the ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Woodson has recently showcased his smooth shooting stroke, shooting 36.7 percent from beyond the arc and 86.1 percent from the free-throw line. Woodson has also contributed on the defensive end, adding 0.7 steals a game during his time with Boras.
Prior to his professional career, Woodson split his collegiate eligibility between Butler University, the University of Memphis and East Mississippi Community College averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 125 collegiate games. In his freshman year of college, Woodson averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27 games with East Mississippi Community College of the NJCAA. Woodson then transferred to the University of Memphis in 2014. In two seasons with the Tigers, Woodson averaged 8.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.25 assists in 64 games. The guard compiled a number of impressive statistics while at the University of Memphis including making 77 three-pointers during his junior season, the fifth most in a single season in program history. Woodson left the University of Memphis ranking third in three-point shooting percentage, averaging 40.5 percent from behind the arc. After graduating from the University of Memphis, Woodson entered the transfer portal as a graduate where he decided to attend Butler University. During his graduate season at Butler, Woodson averaged 8.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists while making an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. Woodson led the Butler Bulldogs with 75 three-pointers on 45 percent shooting. Prior to entering college, Woodson led his high school team in scoring while earning an All-State Second Team selection.
“We are excited to welcome Avery to the team ahead of the 2021 CEBL season,” said Rattlers GM Barry Rawlyk. “Avery is a player that the entire fan base should be excited about. He is an adept scorer as well as a strong facilitator with the ball in his hands. He is also not afraid to contribute on the defensive side of the floor with his steals and rebounds. Avery is also a great individual to have in the locker room and will be a strong leader for the team.”
“I’m excited to join the Rattlers for the summer of 2021,” said new Rattlers guard Avery Woodson. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about the organization and the CEBL and I’m thankful to take part in it!”
The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021 starting June 24, 2021 following the success of this past year’s CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ont., which saw millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tune in starting July 25 to watch 26 games played over 15 days in a single-site league competition.
