The Ottawa BlackJacks have signed Ottawa native JD Muila — who has played elite basketball in U.S. college and European pro leagues — ahead of the 2024 season.

The six-foot-eight forward, coming off his first professional season in Norway, told Capital Current he’s “excited” to play “in front of my people” when the BlackJacks launch their fifth season with the Canadian Elite Basketball League next month at TD Place Arena.

With Froya Basket in Bergen, Norway, the 24 year old averaged 19.7 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 33.8 minutes in 28 games.

Prior to joining Froya, Muila played with the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 team at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa before transferring to play with the top-tier NCAA Division 1 Salukis of Southern Illinois University.

I’m excited to finally play in front of a crowd that I know is going to cheer me on. It’s going to be great to play in front of my people.

JD Muila

Muila was the first graduate from Canada Topflight Academy — an elite basketball preparatory program based out of Ottawa’s Notre Dame High School — to make it to NCAA Division 1, despite getting a very late start playing the sport at age 16.

Growing up in the city’s west end, Muila explained that as a young teenager, he became a part of Pathways to Education, a program dedicated to helping students who live in low-income communities earn their high school diplomas.

“After school, we’d go to Pathways to do homework. They wanted us to spend time there instead of in the neighbourhood that had a lot of drugs and stuff going on”, he said. 

Muila’s basketball career has taken him all over North America and to Europe. He looks forward to his first season with the BlackJacks. (Infographic © Sylina Wright)

It was at Pathways that Muila met basketball coach Emil O’Neil.

At first, Muila was opposed to playing summer league basketball through Pathways, but after some convincing, O’Neil was finally able to get the young athlete to start playing.

“That was the first time that someone who wasn’t my mom cared so much about me,” said Muila.

“He told me he promised my mom that he was going to look out for me — that he was going to make sure I’d go to college and graduate.”

It was not long after joining the summer league that Muila was noticed by the founder and head coach at CTA, Tony House.

“He’s just a testament to his dedication to not only the game but to his studies, as well,” said House. “He’s definitely a role model for us and I use him as a perfect example to all of our guys.”

House said he was not surprised to see Muila sign with the BlackJacks.

“He checks all the boxes,” said House. “He’s a hell of a player, a great young man, he’s local, and I think he deserves the opportunity. He’ll do a great job of promoting BlackJacks basketball.”

He’s just a testament to his dedication to not only the game but to his studies, as well. He’s definitely a role model for us and I use him as a perfect example to all of our guys.

Tony House, Canada Topflight Academy

After graduating from CTA in 2018, Muila sustained multiple injuries that prevented him from clocking much playing time over three seasons in the NJCAA and NCAA.

In his first two seasons at Indian Hills, Muila tore both his left and right meniscuses.

During recruitment to Southern Illinois in late 2020, Muila was recovering from his second knee injury.

“I knew I wasn’t healthy, but I thought I could still do it. I ended up making it worse and tore my right meniscuses again. I missed that whole season.”

During his senior year, Muila missed the first half of the season because of a back injury.

“It got to the point that I would have a hard time walking,” he said.

But now, after finishing his first professional season in Europe, Muila says he’s the healthiest he’s ever been.

Despite his success in Norway, where Muila was among the league leaders in scoring, he says he still has a lot of work to put in.

“I’m excited to finally play in front of a crowd that I know is going to cheer me on. It’s going to be great to play in front of my people,” he said.

He said he looks forward to the opportunity to be a role model to younger athletes in Ottawa who are working toward the same achievements that Muila once was.

“Believe in yourself,” he advised young athletes. “You have to be your person. You have to take care of you. Once you start doubting yourself, it’s over.”

In a statement issued after Muila’s signing, BlackJacks head coach and general manager James Derouin described him as “a disciplined player who works really hard” and added that he and the organization are “excited to welcome him back to the Capital.”

Muila will debut in the BlackJacks home opener on May 29 against the Edmonton Stingers.

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