Canton Charge announce 2021 roster

The Canton Charge on Friday announced their 2021 roster before they head to training camp in Florida, which starts January 31.

“We are excited that Charge basketball is back and are looking to pick up right where we left off last March,” said Charge General Manager Brendon Yu in a released statement. “While this season will be different than any other, we look forward to going out there and competing down in Orlando with the full support of Charge Nation cheering us on from Canton.”

The following will be on the Charge roster: Kadeem Allen, Antonio Blakeney, Aaron Epps, Anthony Lamb, Sheldon Mac, Charles Matthews, Sir’Dominic Pointer, Levi Randolph, and Malachi Richardson.

Norvel Pelle was on the Charge roster, but according to Adrian Wojnarowski, he has signed with the Brooklyn Nets once he clears testing protocols.

The Charge return three players from last year’s team that finished the shortened season 29-14, good for a franchise-best winning percentage. Sir’Dominic Pointer comes back to the Charge after becoming the first player in NBA G League history to record 80 blocks and 80 steals in a single season last year.

Levi Randolph and Sheldon Mac also return to the Charge after both being among the seven players to average double-digit points for Canton last season. Malachi Richardson will hit the floor for the Charge for the first time since his rights were secured at the end of the 2018-19 season.

The Charge acquired the rights to three players via trade earlier this offseason who are on the final roster – Pelle’s rights came from the Delaware Blue Coats in exchange for the rights to J.P. Macura and Jaylen Barford. Aaron Epps’s rights came to the Charge from the Northern Arizona Suns in exchange for the rights to Chance Comanche. Kadeem Allen joins Canton from the Westchester Knicks after his rights were acquired in exchange for the rights to the #9 pick in this year’s NBA G League Draft.

Charles Matthews comes to the Charge as an affiliate player after spending training camp with the Cleveland Cavaliers last month. Canton rounded out their roster by selecting two players in this season’s NBA G League Draft – 2018 NBA G League Rookie of the Year Antonio Blakeney with the third overall pick and 2019-20 America East Player of the Year Anthony Lamb with the sixth overall pick.

The coaching staff for the team was also announced:

• Head coach: Nate Reinking (Kent State)
• Assistant coach: Kendall Chones (Colgate)
• Assistant coach: Tyler Neal (Bluffton)
• Assistant coach: Austin Peterson (Baldwin-Wallace)
• Assistant coach: Bryan Tibaldi (Michigan State)
• Head athletic trainer: Kevin Kamlowsky (Kent State)
• Strength and conditioning coach: Brandon Joyner (Georgia State)