The Cape Breton Highlanders professional basketball team have signed two 6’9” centers for the upcoming season.

Quincy Okolie is returning to the National Basketball League of Canada where he started his pro career as a freshman in Halifax in 2012. Since then he has played in Turkey, Mongolia,Thailand and won a championship in Denmark. The 29 year old, 230 lbs Okolie is an athletic big man and shot blocker.  He is Canadian and originally from Miami, Florida. 

Okolie started his athletic career as an NCAA Division 1 football player with the University of South Florida. He was a walk-on who quickly earned a full scholarship. An injury led him to switch to basketball where his athleticism and 7’5” wingspan set him on a path to play professionally.

Okolie is all in with his commitment to Cape Breton Island as his wife and three young children will be moving here with him.

See video highlights below.

Junior Fortunat started his pro career in Spain. The 25 year old, 235 lb center played NCAA Division 1 basketball with Rider University in New Jersey. He is from Quebec City, QC. See video highlights below.

Tyrone Levingston, President and General Manager of the Highlanders, said, “Coach Spon and I are excited for our team to have two athletic big men. Both are top-level Canadian talents with international experience. Our twin towers have the potential to be a dominant force in the NBLC."

NBLC teams are required to have 5 Canadians on their rosters. Up to 7 other players can be of any nationality, for a maximum of 12 players per team. The NBL Canada requires all player contracts to expire at the end of each season, so teams must rebuild their rosters. Up to five players on each team can be protected to allow a team to maintain some continuity on the roster.

Read about the other players signed by the Highlanders

The season starts in November and Season Tickets can now be reserved in advance at HighlandersBasketball.ca/tickets