Jahnae Gyles signs professional contract to play in England
ETOBICOKE – 2018 national champion Jahnae Gyles is taking her talents to England, where she will continue her basketball career at the professional level. The 2020 Academic All-Canadian inked her first pro contract with the Nottingham Wildcats of the Women's British Basketball League (WBBL) back in October.
"It's a dream and manifestation come true," said Gyles. "It's something I always knew was in my path and I'm excited to put all my years of hard work and grit into my game at the professional level."
Gyles signed a one-year contract with the perennial contenders, making her WBBL debut on October 30 against the Sevenoaks Suns. With two games under her belt, the Mississauga native is averaging 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists-per-game.
"I want to thank the entire coaching staff, Ray [Chateau], and every teammate I've had at Humber, for believing in me and trusting me" added Gyles. "I was in a bad place when I arrived at Humber but winning that national championship was a real eye-opener, it let me know that anything is possible in my path."
The WBBL is the top-level women's basketball league in Great Britain and was founded in 2014 and features clubs from England, Wales, and Scotland. The 13-team league's flagship competition is the WBBL Championship that determines the winner after a 22-game regular season. The Wildcats have captured two division titles since 2014, including the 2018 WBBL Cup.
"I'm proud of everything Jahnae has accomplished and I'm excited for what the future holds for her," said Humber women's basketball head coach Ajay Sharma. "She has the tools to make an immediate impact with Nottingham and we will all be cheering her on back here in Canada."
In three seasons with the Hawks, Gyles scored 749 points – the fifth-most in program history. She also finished top-10 in assists, steals, and rebounds, while her career 35.2 3-point percentage is the third-best mark all-time.
"I would never have been able to do this if it wasn't for Humber," continued Gyles. "With all the opportunities to be great, I was fortunate to be a part of such a winning and dedicated atmosphere. Humber pushed me to reach my full potential."
Gyles is now the third student-athlete to go pro under the tutelage of Coach Sharma, joining Ceejay Nofuente (Högsbo/SISU) and Aleena Domingo (US Wittenheim) on the international stage.
Gyles and the Wildcats return to WBBL action on Nov. 20 against the Newcastle Eagles (2-4).
