After another all-star season, Shawn Maranan has earned a chance to go pro this summer.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears used their third pick in the Canadian Elite Basketball League draft on Thursday to take the Winnipeg Wesmen point guard, making the Sisler High School grad the third Wesmen player ever to be drafted into the summer pro league. 

Maranan was taken 28th overall in the draft, giving him a spot on the active roster after he spent the Sea Bears' inaugural 2023 season on the team's practice squad. The CEBL Draft allows U Sports players to play in the professional league without affecting their university eligibility. 

In 2023-24, Maranan finished his fourth season of eligibility by elevating himself into the discussion of the top point guards in the country as he set career-highs in assists per game, steals and free throw percentage. 

He was named a Canada West second-team all-star for the second time in his career, and earn a tournament all-star at the Final 8 in Quebec City.
 
Maranan led the nation with 7.2 assists per game and made nearly 90 per cent of his free throws, which ranked third in U Sports. 
 
Maranan got better as the season went along, averaging 13.3 points, 8.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game over the final 10 conference games, while posting three double-doubles in that span.
 
In the post-season he averaged 21.8 points and 10 assists per game.

Maranan follows Jelane Pryce and Narcisse Ambanza as former Wesmen who were drafted into the CEBL. Both were part of the inaugural 2019 draft with Pryce going to Saskatchewan and Ambanza to Edmonton. In a now defunct format, Pryce was taken ninth overall in the regional rounds while Ambanza went in the U Sports rounds, making Maranan just the second player to jump from the Wesmen straight to the Canadian league. 

"I'm super blessed and thankful to be able to officially put on that jersey this summer," Maranan said. "But what makes it even better is being at home and representing the City of Winnipeg. I look forward to the season as this opportunity fulfills my childhood dreams of playing professionally in front of my friends and family."

The 2024 draft picks represent 20 different Canadian schools with each CEBL franchise making three selections. 

The Sea Bears will also have current Wesmen head coach Mike Raimbault on staff as a top assistant, as well as UWinnipeg assistants Josh Reddy and Braeden Floyd also on staff. 

"We are pleased to make Shawn Maranan our third round pick in the 2024 CEBL draft," Sea Bears head coach Mike Taylor said. "Shawn has been a leader and playmaker for the University of Winnipeg and we are very happy with our connection with the Wesmen. We hope Shawn can gain great experience with us this summer and return to his Wesmen better than ever as he earns legend status at the University of Winnipeg."

The Sea Bears open training camp Monday, May 13 at the Sport for Life Centre and begin their second season in the CEBL on the road May 22 in Saskatoon taking on the Rattlers. They will then host their home-opener May 24 at Canada Life Centre against the defending champion Scarborough Shooting Stars.

Single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via Ticketmaster. 

—With files from the Winnipeg Sea Bears