As announced on Wednesday (Apr. 8) afternoon, Nigel Hylton has signed with the Niagara River Lions as part of CEBL Signing Day.

This season sees a transition from the CEBL Draft to the CEBL Signing Day. Receiving a CEBL contract during this period of selection from U SPORTS and CCAA ranks, Hylton marks a third U of T basketball player chosen during this unique collaboration with the CEBL. Hylton joins former Varsity Blue and OUA Player of the Year Callum Baker who was taken second overall by the Brampton Honey Badgers in 2024 and 11th overall by Brampton in 2023. The first Blue ever selected, Eric Rwahwire was chosen 20th overall by the Hamilton Honey Badgers in 2020. 

Hylton joined the Varsity Blues in 2024 after two seasons competing with Simon Fraser University. Across his two seasons wearing the Blue and White, the 6-foot-8 centre from Toronto appeared in 37 regular season and postseason contests. This included a playoff run during the 2025-26 campaign in which Hylton played a pivotal role in both an OUA first round upset over nationally ranked Queen's, registering a 14 point and 16 rebound double-double, and an OUA quarter-final upset over nationally ranked Western, recording 30 points and 15 rebounds.

The arts and science student averaged 11.4 points and 5.6 rebounds across his two seasons with the University of Toronto. Shooting over 51 percent from the field, he totaled 388 points, 191 rebounds, 32 assists, 27 steals, and 12 blocks.

From the CEBL

Replacing the CEBL Draft, Signing Day will roll out across league-wide social platforms, spotlighting the next wave of elite Canadian talent as student-athletes from U SPORTS and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) officially sign for the 2026 season.

Since 2019, the CEBL's partnership with U SPORTS and more recently also the CCAA has built a pro-level stage where the best intercollegiate talent from coast to coast can shine. CEBL teams are incentivized to carry development players on their active rosters, with up to three developmental players eligible per game outside the Club's salary cap.

116 student-athletes from 44 schools across Canada have been selected by CEBL clubs through the draft process, a testament to the exceptional depth and calibre of Canadian collegiate basketball.

Through the CEBL's landmark five-year broadcast partnership with CBC Sports, these talented student-athletes will get national, and global, spotlight. Marquee games will air on CBC TV, including the first-ever best-of-three CEBL Finals in league history, with every CEBL game live streamed on CBC Gem and CBC Sports YouTube and CEBL+.

For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, visit cebl.ca/schedule. Details on the league's new playoff format are available at cebl.ca/playoffs, and ticket information for all CEBL games can be found at cebl.ca/tickets.