Around the World: David Singleton and K.J. Smith bring international touch to Bandits coaching staff
By Contributing Bandits Writer: Grant Vassos • August 5, 2020
David Singleton never imagined it would happen this way. He was working as the assistant boys varsity basketball coach at his high school alma mater, Salesian College Preparatory, in Richmond, Calif., after helping his team to the 2014 CIF Northern California Division IV finals. That's when he received a phone call from Tim Fanning, the newest head coach of the Nelson Giants, a men’s professional basketball team in New Zealand's National Basketball League (NBL).
Fanning, a family friend and mentor to Singleton, asked the Oakland, Calif., native if he wanted to join him as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2015-16 season. He gladly accepted the offer. At 26-years-old, it became Singleton's first real breakthrough in a coaching journey that has since taken him internationally, and most recently, to the Fraser Valley Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
"Basketball wasn't truly on my radar," said Singleton, who played NCAA Division II football at Tiffin University in Ohio. “It wasn't that I ever gave it up. I always missed the game, and I always thought maybe what could have been if I kept playing and things of that nature. But I always had a calling towards it."
Following a one-year stint with the Giants, Singleton went on to coach professionally in Vietnam for four seasons in the Vietnam Basketball League (VBL) and the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) before coaching in Indonesia. Along with learning under former British national men's basketball head coach Tony Garbaletto, Singleton's time overseas as the lead assistant to then Saigon Heat head coach, and now Bandits bench boss, Kyle Julius was enlightening for the young coach.
Singleton says today's game is moving towards a more European, high scoring style. Out is the old-school era of mid-range jumpers, getting into the post, and relying on point guards to run plays through.
Now, the focus has turned to pace and space, spreading out the floor to create mismatches, fast transitions, high shooting efficiency, and strong defense – which Singleton prides himself on having.
"The last two years I was in Vietnam, we were number one in defense in the league. And so that's another part of it. If you're able to get up and down and shoot the ball and play fast, it's a great thing. But at the same time, you also got to defend, and you got to defend to win." Singleton said.
K.J. Smith, an advanced scout for the Bandits, grew up in a basketball-minded family with close generational ties like Singleton. As the eighth coach of a family lineage extending from the high school level to the WNBA, the San Ramon, Calif., native grew up listening to strategies and philosophies of his older family members.
It was about the individual player: a pattern of figuring out their tendencies on the court, which direction they prefer to go in specific situations, and even their particular go-to move.
"There's certain things that all teams have consistent within their philosophy, it's kind of like a fingerprint, and certain aspects of that fingerprint can't change no matter how much you try to coach it away," Smith said.
Always the observer, Smith continues to learn from watching his younger brother and cousins, three of which currently play Division I basketball. It was his grandfather, however, who helped shape Smith's perspective when he was in high school. The former Milwaukee Buck taught Smith the value of the mindset and character needed to drive the talent on his team.
"He was always a big proponent of if you have this really, really fast, high-speed car and it's not the right engine or not the right fuel; it doesn't really matter how good the car is," Smith said.
The 2018-19 season was Smith's first year as an assistant coach for Brazilian basketball club Basquete Unifacisa of Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), helping the team win its first Liga Ouro (second division) championship. He learned how to be open-minded to every possibility and how to communicate with players when he had no prior knowledge of speaking Portuguese. Singleton faced similar barriers coaching in Asia where he had to be aware of how people operated in a different culture, and which players could handle more criticism from coaches.
For the last three months, Smith has been in Brazil communicating with Singleton and the Bandits in preparation for the CEBL Summer Series and has continued to scout and analyze opposing teams throughout the Summer Series. Although there's no substitute for being in the gym where he can feel his players' presence and body language, according to Smith, his advantage comes from being able to watch games more closely from the outside.
Prior to the start of the CEBL Summer Series, Singleton and Smith spent the past month watching how teams in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) adjusted to the new Elam Ending rule. And have had "at least five to six different calls about it" with the rest of the Bandits coaching staff about strategy and recreating game situations in practice.
The rule is a new addition to the CEBL, where the winning team adds nine points to their score during the first stoppage of play in the final four minutes of the game. To emerge victorious, it is a battle of whichever team reaches the target score.
In 2018, Smith posted an article via Medium outlining the importance of practicing daily late-game scenarios – such as being down six points with one timeout and three minutes remaining – and conditioning players to execute clutch basketball while under pressure.
"You're entering a situation where it's almost a new game after that four-minute mark," Smith said. "So really being able to prepare and learn from the mistakes of others and their situations is invaluable."
In a shortened season where every game ends on a shot, scouting and coaching are vital. The pay-off from Smith and Singleton's expertise, and how it applies to coach Julius' system in a Canadian basketball environment may significantly determine who walks away with the Championship come Aug. 9.
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Seven players who have previously suited up for the Vancouver Bandits, including five from the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, have been named to NBA G League training camp rosters ahead of the start of the 2026-27 season on November 6, 2026. The NBA G League serves as the NBA’s official minor league and features 31 teams, with 30 clubs having one-to-one affiliations with NBA franchises. Surrey, B.C.’s James Karnik will join the Portland Trail Blazers’ affiliate, Rip City Remix. Karnik has participated in 36 regular season games across four seasons dating back to 2022, including four games in 2026. This marks the first time that he has been named to an NBA G League training camp squad. Jaelen House, a former NBA G League All-Star who played in 10 games for the Bandits during the 2026 season, will be competing for a roster spot on the Utah Jazz’s affiliate, Salt Lake City Stars. He set the Bandits’ single-game scoring record, recording 42 points against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on June 18, 2026. The Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate and defending NBA G League champion, Greensboro Swarm, will feature Jarkel Joiner. Joiner played 21 games for the Bandits in 2026, leading the team in points per game (17.8), before being named to the Hornets’ training camp roster and logging minutes in four NBA preseason games. Joining Joiner on the Swarm is Kyle Mangas, who appeared in 16 games with 14 starts for the Bandits during the 2025 season. John Knight III, who logged 18 games for the Bandits in 2026, joins the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a club he has played for since 2023. D’Andre Davis, who appeared in three games for the Bandits in 2026, looks to secure a roster spot with the Boston Celtics’ affiliate, Maine Celtics. A member of the 2023 Bandits roster, Georgian-born forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili will take the court with the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate, College Park Skyhawks. The opening night rosters for all 32 NBA G League teams must be submitted by Sunday, November 5.
Former Vancouver Bandits forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks. The news was announced by the Hawks via social media on Wednesday. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.
HAIDA GWAII, BC - October 6, 2026 - This past weekend, Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, and the Bandits Community Foundation hosted a series of youth basketball clinics on Haida Gwaii, continuing its ongoing series of community visits across the province in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC). The community visits and youth camps on Haida Gwaii were also made possible through the generous support of Langara Island Lodge and Skidegate Band Council. Led by Bandits Team President Dylan Kular and Community Manager Pavan Kalair, local youth athletes aged 10 to 17 from across Haida Gwaii participated in free-of-charge workshops and basketball camps, furthering the Bandits Community Foundation’s goal of bringing more basketball to more people across the province. "Haida Gwaii has an incredible passion for basketball, and it was an honour for our staff to spend time on the court with so many talented young athletes," said Vancouver Bandits Team President Dylan Kular. "Our partnership with I·SPARC through the Indigenous Basketball Collective is about building lasting relationships with communities across the province and making sure every young player has access to the game. We are grateful to Langara Island Lodge, the Skidegate Band Council and everyone in Old Massett, Masset and Skidegate who welcomed us, and we cannot wait to come back." “Programs like this show what is possible when partners come together for Indigenous youth,” said I·SPARC’s Chief Executive Officer Rick Brant. “We are proud to work with the Vancouver Bandits to bring high-quality basketball coaching to Haida Gwaii, where the game is so deeply loved." Bandits staff led PHE classes with students at Chief Matthews School in Old Massett, and ran skill development clinics for local youth athletes aged 13 to 17 across three communities at Kwiiyaans Community Hall (Old Massett), Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School (Masset) and George Brown Recreation Centre (Skidegate). “We are grateful for the opportunity for the Vancouver Bandits and I·SPARC to come in and work with our youth,” said Trevor Russ, head coach of the Old Massett Raiders boys basketball team. “Basketball plays a big role for our youth in Masset, and the Bandits coming to town provides an opportunity for them to work with some high-level coaches at the professional level. Our youth are very happy to have this opportunity.” “To be able to have the Vancouver Bandits come to Skidegate and Haida Gwaii is very important,” said Desi Collinson, Recreation Coordinator and elected representative to the Council of the Haida Nation. “Basketball means a lot to Haida Gwaii; it brings excitement, hope and inspiration to our communities. Organizations like the Bandits and I·SPARC give us different insights and outlooks that our young athletes have not experienced before, and we are happy to have them here to uplift our youth.” The camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, previous community visits hosted through the Collective since its inception include Ahousaht, Bella Coola (Nuxalk First Nation), Kitimat (Haisla Nation), Nanaimo (Snuneymuxw First Nation), Victoria, West Vancouver and Williams Lake with future youth camps and coaching seminars currently being planned for 2027.
This weekend, youth across Haida Gwaii will have the opportunity to learn and sharpen their basketball skills from British Columbia’s professional basketball team. Through the generous support of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Langara Island Lodge, the Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation will be hosting free-of-charge youth basketball camps across Haida Gwaii, marking the organization’s first community visit to the North Coast region. “Haida Gwaii means a great deal to us, and we know how much basketball means to these communities. The game gives young people a place to grow, brings families together, and creates opportunities for teams to proudly represent where they come from,” said Yos Gladstone, Sales Coordinator, Langara Island Lodge. “The young players, coaches, families, and teams here deserve every opportunity we can help bring their way. We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits, I∙SPARC and the Bandits Community Foundation for their commitment to make this program happen, and especially to those in Haida Gwaii who give so much of their time, energy, and efforts to basketball year-round.” “For us, supporting this program is personal. We care about the communities and the people who make them so special. If this visit from the Vancouver Bandits gives local players more time on the court, encouragement to keep going, and a chance to connect through the game, that is something we are proud to be part of.” The camps are hosted in collaboration with I∙SPARC, Bandits Community Foundation, Haida Gwaii Recreation and School District 50 Haida Gwaii. Across three days, over 200 youth athletes aged 10 to 17 and their families will gather in gymnasiums across Haida Gwaii for camps and workshops led by Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation staff members. Youth participants will also receive complimentary Vancouver Bandits merchandise. "Haida Gwaii holds a legendary place in this province and Indigenous basketball culture and being on the ground in Masset and Skidegate truly showcases how powerful this sport is," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "The competitive drive and skill level of these youth are incredible, but what is even more inspiring is how basketball acts as a heartbeat for the entire region. Seeing the immediate connection between the youth, the coaching staff, and the local fans highlights exactly why we wanted to bring the Bandits to Haida Gwaii.” “We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Haida Nation and our partners at I∙SPARC and Langara Island Lodge for hosting us and sharing their incredible hospitality. This visit marks an exciting milestone for our organization, and we look forward to building on this relationship for years to come." The camp schedule for this weekend is as follows: Friday, October 2 Kwiiyaans Community Hall, Old Massett 12:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School, Masset 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The forthcoming camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits, and build upon recent previous community visits to Williams Lake and Bella Coola earlier this year. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.
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