The Winnipeg Sea Bears kick off their second season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) tomorrow on the road against Saskatchewan, and two Bisons have made the opening day roster. 

Reigning CEBL U SPORTS Player of the Year Simon Hildebrandt is back for his second season with the squad, while Daren Watts has earned a roster spot after impressing during training camp, where he was an invite. 

"On behalf of the men's basketball program, I'm very excited for the opportunity that both Daren and Simon have to build their professional careers and continue the pro pathway right here with the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Both are talented young men who work extremely hard at their craft, said men's basketball head coach Kirby Schepp, who enters his 16th season as head coach in 2024-25. 

"We are very thankful for coach Mike Taylor and the Sea Bears for giving our Bisons this opportunity."

Hildebrandt -- a back-to-back draft pick of Winnipeg -- won the CEBL award for the best U SPORTS player in 2023 after averaging 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per contest. He was one of only four Sea Bears to touch the court in every game last season, playing a key role on the Western-leading team at just 20 years old. 

The six-foot-nine grad of Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute followed that up by leading the Bisons to a 13-7 record while recording 16.1 points per game in his second U SPORTS season. Hildebrandt was named a Canada West First Team All-Star, becoming the first player in program history to be named a back-to-back CanWest First Team All-Star.

"Simon Hildebrandt played a very important part in our inaugural season, winning the CEBL U SPORTS player of the Year award and earning a major role in our Sea Bears team," said Taylor, Winnipeg's head coach and general manager.

"Who can forget his game winning shot at Canada Life Centre against Montreal? We are extremely excited to welcome him back and continue our teamwork into year two. Simon is a fantastic young man who perfectly represents our organization and connects us with the city, his hometown of Winnipeg."

Watts is coming off his best season as a Bison, leading the team with 16.4 points per game. He started every game at guard, and was arguably the most improved player in the nation, increasing his minutes per game by 19. Watts was particularly efficient from distance, where he drained 45 triples, which tied for sixth most in Canada West. 

The six-foot-four Miles Mac grad impressed during Sea Bears training camp as a developmental player, matching up with some of the team's top talent and "not backing down."

"He came to our tryout and did a great job and impressed the coaches, he caught our eye. He's really a focused, young player and he works extremely hard. You can see his attention to detail and his concentration when he steps on the court," said Taylor.

"He has not backed down. He has matched up with some of our top players, like Teddy Allen and Alex [Campbell] and some of these guys, and he's done a great job impacting the game on both ends. He pressures the ball and really beats screens and works hard defensively, and on the offensive side he's played with a lot of confidence and done a lot of good things. He's been very impressive."