CALGARY SURGE SELECT MARJOK “MJ” OKADO AND JOSHUA FRANCIS IN 2026 CEBL SIGNING DAY

April 8 — The Calgary Surge announced today the selection of Marjok “MJ” Okado and Joshua Francis as the club’s U SPORTS draft picks in the 2026 CEBL Signing Day.

Okado returns to his hometown of Calgary after a decorated university career with the Carleton Ravens. A product of the Edge School for Athletes, Okado continued to develop into one of the premier guards in Canadian university basketball. In 2026, he earned OUA Third Team All-Star honours, while leading his team in scoring. Earlier in his career, he was named to the OUA All- Rookie Team in 2023, showcasing exceptional efficiency from beyond the arc. Okado capped

off his time at Carleton by being named the program’s Outstanding Graduating Male Athlete of the Year and became one of only 15 players in school history to surpass 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone in February 2026.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to join the Calgary Surge and represent my hometown. Growing up in Calgary, it’s always been a dream to play professionally here in front of family, friends, and the community that supported me along the way,” said Okado.

Francis, also a Calgary product and fellow Edge School alumnus, brings size and efficiency to the Surge frontcourt. After continuing his development at Fort Erie International Academy, Francis moved on to the Memorial Sea-Hawks, where he quickly made an impact and earned AUS All-Rookie Team honours. Known for his presence in the paint, Francis shot an impressive 51.6% from the field, establishing himself as a reliable and efficient interior player. Following the season, he transferred to the University of Lethbridge where he played under Surge Assistant Coach, Kenny Otieno, who also serves as the program’s Head Coach.

“It means a lot to be coming back and joining the Calgary Surge. I’ve worked hard to develop my game over the past few years, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to take this next step,” said Francis.

The Calgary Surge continue to build a roster that reflects both high-level talent and strong local roots. With the addition of Okado and Francis, the team strengthens its connection to Calgary’s basketball community, while adding two players who have demonstrated success and growth at the U SPORTS level.

Visit calgarysurge.ca for more details.

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 15,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches vie for 23 national championships in 13 different sports. U SPORTS also provides high performance international opportunities at FISU Winter and Summer World University Games, World University Championships, University World Cups and various educational initiatives. U SPORTS works in collaboration with 58 members and four conferences as well as the Canadian sport system and Corporate Canada on the growth and delivery of university sport to student-athletes across the country.

About Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association is the national governing body for organized sports at the collegiate level in Canada. The CCAA enriches the academic experiences of student-athletes by providing leadership, programs and services that foster development through high-level competitive opportunities in intercollegiate sport. CCAA student-athletes compete in seven sports at 10 CCAA national championships, each hosted by one of the 95 CCAA member institutions (colleges, universities, technical institutes and cégeps) located in nine provinces. In addition to governing the national championships, the CCAA also provides

national awards and recognition to CCAA student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors and member institutions. For more information, please visit ccaa.ca.

About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge

REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios.

The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the CanadianElite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have made three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single-game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca.

About the CEBL

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide.

In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media.

Media Contact:

Karina Castellanos Feijoó

Manager, Projects & Administration

Calgary Surge

647-916-3594; [email protected]