The first two weeks of the CEBL season have shown us that 2026 is not going to be a normal year of summer hoops. We’ve already had crazy comebacks, record-breaking performances, and fantastic nail bitting games. Many of the names we expected to hear a few times this summer have been as advertised. But it’s those names we have not seen be publicized, the ones we are going to talk about today. I am going to go over five names that I feel are underrated through the first few games and are players to watch as the season goes along.

Justin Harmon

My initial thoughts on Harmon during the offseason were that, is he going to continue the hot shooting from the G-League, into the summer? So far so good for the BlackJacks. Clearly the connection with coach Justin Mazzula is good enough, because Harmon has looked confident and comfortable. As an early front runner for Sixth Man of the Year, he is averaging 14 points and three rebounds, on 53% from the floor and 43% from three. Harmon has truly been a catalyst at times for Ottawa, bringing great complimentary scoring off the bench. There could be an argument to start him next to Javonte Smart, while moving other pieces around in the lineup. But he does play in Target Time, which is most important. Keep an eye out for Harmon to continue making an impact in games for the BlackJacks.

Davion Warren

I wanted to start out this piece by talking about the most impressive and intriguing bench players so far to begin with in 2026. Warren has been a fantastic addition for the Sea Bears, while only playing around 20 minutes a game. 13 points per game on 54% from the field for a team that’s in the past had trouble getting bench scoring is more than you can ask for. His ability to get to the rim and finish there in different ways is so fun to watch. The outside shot hasn’t fallen as much as you’d expect, but I do think there is a chance for it to get better. Winnipeg’s guard situation is very much log jammed, which doesn’t even include Xavier Moon yet, so look for Warren to keep pushing for minutes. Also be prepared for Warren to have a few more games of 20+ points.

Michael Hughes II

With a slower start to the season for Quincy Guerrier, Hughes II has been a fantastic anchor in the middle for Montreal. 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. This also includes a steal and a block per game, all on 68% from the field. He’s dealt with foul trouble two out of the three games he’s played, as well averaging three turnovers, which has not hurt his impact too much. Hughes II has provided much stability, along with teammate Jalin Anderson. My appreciation for Hughes II’s play has to do with his ability to fill up the stat sheet. While head coach Jermaine Small puts most of his big men in positions to make plays, you still have to have the ability to do so. At the professional level, being able to provide just a little bit of everything and not be a star player is huge for roster construction. I am very much excited to see more Alliance games and keep tabs on Hughes II.

Jamal Fuller

There have been a few times during games this summer that I have to remind myself that Fuller is a first year pro. It’s felt like every game he has a few moments where he takes over and makes a few plays, or goes on a scoring run by himself. The game against Scarborough was inefficient yes, but the flashes are there. The scoring ability at all three levels is impressive for a young player, while providing good rebounding and defence. Currently averaging 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists, along with a steal per game. With the Mamba not off to a hot start, look for them to try and get Fuller going even more as the season progresses. There is a ton of upside here and I really think he could be a marquee Canadian player going forward in this league.

Kellen Tynes

You may look at Tynes’ stats and be surprised he’s on this list. Only averaging six points a game as a starter, playing almost 30 minutes a game. But it’s not always the box score numbers that tell the story. Tynes has shown that be might be the best on ball defender in the league. He has bothered, locked up, and in some cases made some players’ games miserable while guarding them. We knew he was going to be a good defender, but to be this good already at the pro level is quite special. That also doesn’t include the four steals he’s had in each of the first three games. I am sure that the scoring will come up slightly as the season goes along, but still adding in three rebounds and five assists is plenty enough with the defensive ability. Be ready to see more Tynes highlights as the summer goes along, including his name in Defensive Player of the Year conversations.

Honourable Mentions

There are a few other players that I wanted to shoutout in this articles as names to watch for the remainder of the year, but these are players that may get more attention than the ones I spoke about above. Those names include, Matthew Cleveland, Tyrese Hunter, DaJuan Gordon, Samage Teel, Armani Chaney, Trey Townsend, and Dominic Parolin.

Let me know if you want more content like this, or pieces similar to it! Also write down below, is there a name I didn’t mention that you feel should be on this list?