Canadian basketball player dies in Bahrain at age 27

A Canadian professional basketball player from Brampton, Ont., has died in Bahrain at the age of 27.

Kenny Ejim was playing with Al-Najma in the Bahraini Premier League, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) said Tuesday in a statement confirming his death. There's no word yet on how he died.

Ejim played for the CEBL's Hamilton Honey Badgers last season and with the Saskatchewan Rattlers in 2020.

"His hard work and infectious personality motivated his teammates and inspired younger players to pursue their dreams. As much as Kenny derived from the game, he gave back far more," the CEBL said in the statement.

"Our sympathy and prayers are with all who knew Kenny as a family member, friend and teammate. He will be greatly missed."

CBC News spoke with a member of Ejim's family who said the family is asking for privacy at this time.

Mike Morreale, commissioner and CEO of the league, said the news of his death is a shock.

Morreale said Ejim went to Bahrain to continue his career in the off-season and to become a better basketball player. He was the star of his team there, he added.

"He was such a personable guy. I know his teammates loved him. I know the fans loved him. He left a mark," he said.

"We were excited to welcome him back home in May this season to one of our teams. It certainly is a difficult day."

Ejim 'had a smile that could light up an arena'

The Hamilton Honey Badgers organization said in a statement on Tuesday that it is "deeply saddened." The team described Ejim as a "valuable" member during the 2021 season and a friend to many people in the Canadian basketball community.

"Kenny brought a high level of energy to our organization on and off the court, and he was an exceptional teammate,' the organization said.

"Kenny had a smile that could light up an arena. He invested in himself as a player and as a person, while always making time to lift up those around him. It is incomprehensible that such a bright, strong and driven young man would have his life end."

The organization extended its condolences to family and friends. "He will be greatly missed and remembered with much love and respect," it said.

John Lashway, president of the Hamilton Honey Badgers, said Ejim was well-known and well-liked.

"He was certainly a player who was central to our organization. He was also a player who was usually the first guy to volunteer to do some community work for us, a guy that brought a high energy to everything that we did. He was quiet but he had a big personality," he said. 

Lashway said Ejim would stay around after practice to help clean up and he was humble off the court. 

"It's a real tragic day for us. It's hit us pretty hard."

'The ultimate teammate'

Ryan Schmidt, head coach of the Hamilton Honey Badgers, coached Ejim in the 2021 summer season. He said he was a real team player.

"He was the epitome of toughness," Schmidt said.

"There was nothing you could ask him to do that he wasn't capable of doing or didn't want to do. Probably the best way to describe him is he was the ultimate teammate," he added.

"He really loved to see his teammates succeed  That defined who he was as a person." he added.

"His loss is going to be felt for a really long time. He was a fun person to be around. He brought joy every single day. He made others feel better."

'He was like a son to me'

According to a biography by the Honey Badgers, Ejim was born in Brampton on Dec. 3, 1994.

According to a biography by the Saskatchewan Rattlers, he had three brothers, whom he credited as being "big influences in his life," along with his mother. Two of his brothers, Ryan and Melvin Ejim, are also professional basketball players.

He attended Humber College and played with the Humber Hawks from 2014 to 2019. 

Patrick Au, who was head coach of the Hawks at the time, said he is still trying to process the news.

"He was like a son to me. It's just so hard," he said in tears. "He was a young man who had finally found his groove and was headed in a really good direction."

As a professional, Ejim played with Zornotza Saskibaloi Taldea, Aquimisa Zamorano Innova Chef and Ciudad Autónoma De Melilla Enrique Soler in Spain. He signed as a free agent on June 9, 2021.

Global Affairs Canada said in an email on Tuesday that it is aware of a death of a Canadian in Bahrain.

"Consular officials are in contact with local authorities and are providing consular services to the family,"  Global Affairs Canada said in an email.

The federal department said it can't disclose any other information due to privacy considerations.

Tributes are being posted to Ejim on Twitter.