FRASER VALLEY BANDITS SOLIDIFY FINAL ROSTER FOR CEBL SUMMER SERIES

Fraser Valley Bandits Staff • July 23, 2020

Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius reveals a versatile and experienced final roster in advance of the Bandits’ first CEBL Summer Series matchup on Sunday, July 26 at 1 p.m. PT.

ST. CATHARINES, ONT., July 23, 2020 – The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Thursday the club’s final roster for the upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Summer Series. As one of seven teams in the first Canadian professional league to return to play, the Bandits will tip-off with their 11-player final roster against the Edmonton Stingers at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) on Sunday, July 26 on cbcsports.ca and on the CBC Gem App.

The roster features a collection of championship pedigree guards and forwards who have played at the Olympics, Pan American Games and have represented Canada as members of the Junior and Senior Men’s National Teams. 

“We are all having fun challenging and pushing each other. We’ve got a culture of toughness and togetherness and we can’t wait to compete,” Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius said.

The roster consists of eight guards and three forwards. Four members of the Bandits’ guard corps, Marcus Capers, Kyle Johnson and Junior Cadougan have each played previously for Julius before as members of the 2016-17 London Lightning team that won the NBLC title. Eight of the Bandits’ 11 players are Canadians, including one U SPORTS Development Athlete (Daniel Adediran), while the three international players are Capers, Cameron Forte and Tavarion Nix. 

The Bandits’ lone returning player is Abbotsford, B.C., native Marek Klassen. Klassen returns to Fraser Valley after a decorated 2019 CEBL campaign that saw the Yale Secondary alumnus average a CEBL-leading 7.2 assists per game in 2019. For his accomplishments, Klassen was named a CEBL Second Team All-Star. Klassen played for BC Kyiv Basket in the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague during the 2019-20 season where he posted an impressive line of 12.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and six assists per game on 48.9 and 50.9 per cent shooting from field goal and three-point range, respectively.

Fraser Valley’s forward group is defined by its strength and athleticism. Nix was playing for KB Feronikeli during the 2019-20 campaign prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. Over the course of five games with the club, Nix posted averages of 14 points, 10 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.

Joining Nix at the forward position is Forte. The Georgia and Portland State University alumnus brings finesse and a deft touch around the rim. Forte began the 2019-20 season with the London Lightning where in four games he averaged 29 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 67.5 per cent from the field. After his stop with the Lighting, Forte joined Club Atlético Goes, a professional team in the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball. Forte averaged 24.2 points, eight rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game on 61.1 per cent from the field.

The third and final forward on the roster is Olu Ashaolu, a former standout at the University of Oregon and Louisiana Tech University. Ashaolu is coming off a strong 2019-20 campaign that saw him play in Korea with the Goyang Orions and the St. John’s Edge in Canada. Ashaolu averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game on 56.2 per cent from field goal range, while also connecting on 79.3 per cent of his free throw attempts while with the Edge. 

As part of his cast of guards, Julius has recruited several familiar faces for the Summer Series. Julius’ first signing as head coach of the Bandits was Kyle Johnson, who has emerged as a steady source of leadership for the Bandits at training camp. A member of Great Britain’s national team, Johnson is coming off a strong season in Iceland where he averaged 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game for Stjarnan.

A fellow familiar face that brings Canadian national team experience and veteran poise is Cadougan, who turned pro after four stellar years of NCAA Division I basketball where he starred for the Marquette University Golden Eagles from 2009 to 2013. Cadougan has played for the St. John’s Edge the past two seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20). Cadougan averaged 12.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds on 46.7 per cent shooting from the field in 2018-19 on his way to being named an NBLC first team All-Canadian and second-team All-NBLC, as well as the league’s Most Improved Player.

Another player with a well documented history as a sharpshooter is Jahenns Manigat. An alumnus of Creighton University, Manigat recently played for DEAC Kosárlabda during the 2019-20 season where he averaged 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. The 2019-20 campaign was Manigat’s second year with the club and he started 15 of 21 games. During his tenure at Creighton, Manigat averaged 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 43.6 and 40.6 per cent shooting from field goal and three-point range. Manigat served as captain of the Bluejays for three years.

In addition to accuracy and a shooting prowess that runs throughout the roster, Julius has enlisted the help of additional guards with both size, length and agility. Despite only having three forwards, Capers is set to be a multi-positional force defensively as he enters the 2020 CEBL Summer Series campaign with a stacked resume. The former Washington State Cougar showed why he is known as a defensive stalwart this past season as he proved more than capable of guarding multiple positions with his long wingspan and 6-foot-4 frame. Capers averaged 38 minutes, 13.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.8 steals per game with the London Lightning in 2019-20 and for his efforts won NBLC Defensive Player of the Year. 

Malcolm Duvivier is the youngest current professional player on the roster. Duvivier began his pro career after averaging 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in his final collegiate season at the University of Akron in 2017- 18. This past 2019-20 season, Duvivier played for the Sudbury Five where he continued to develop as a professional and recorded averages of 9.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Added versatility arrives in the form of Newby, who previously played for Julius in 2014-15 as a member of the Mississauga Power (now the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League). Newby suited up for UDEA Baloncesto in Spain in 2019-20 and averaged 6.2 points, 2.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game over 25 games.

As the Bandits’ U SPORTS selection, Adediran will have a valuable opportunity to learn from current professionals as the final member of the Bandits’ Summer Series roster. Adediran was drafted by the Bandits in the second round of the 2020 CEBL-U SPORTS Draft. Adediran is entering his fifth year of U SPORTS eligibility and will suit up for Trinity Western University after playing his previous four years at the University of the Fraser Valley. He started 17 of the 18 games he played in 2019-20. He averaged 7.3 points and six rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game. 

“I’m thrilled to announce our final roster for the CEBL Summer Series. The group that coach Julius and his coaching staff have assembled is defined by individuals of high character who have played at some of the highest collegiate and professional levels across the globe. I’m excited for our fans watching at home on CBC Sports’ platforms to witness the level of talent present on the Bandits and at the CEBL Summer Series,” Bandits vice president Dylan Kular said.

For more information on the Bandits, follow the team’s journey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

2020 Fraser Valley Bandits Summer Series roster
NO. NAME POS. HT. HOMETOWN SCHOOL YR. LAST TEAM
3 Marek Klassen (CAN) G 6-1 Abbotsford, BC Point Loma ‘15 5 BC Kyiv (Ukraine)
4 Jahenns Manigat (CAN) G 6-1 Ottawa, ON Creighton ‘14 6 DEAC (Hungary)
6 Jabs Newby (CAN) G 6-2 Brampton, ON Gannon ‘14 6 UDEA Baloncesto (Spain)
8 Marcus Capers (I) G 6-4 Winter Haven, FL Washington State ‘12 8 London Lightning (NBLC)
11 Malcolm Duvivier (CAN) G 6-2 Toronto, ON Akron ‘17 2 Sudbury Five (NBLC)
13 Cameron Forte (I) F 6-7 Tempe, AZ Portland State ’16 4 Goes Montevideo (Uruguay)
15 Olu Ashaolu (CAN) F 6-6 Toronto, ON Oregon ’12 8 St. John’s Edge (NBLC)
17 Tavarion Nix (I) F 6-7 St. Petersburg, FL Midwestern State ’15 5 KB Feronikeli (Kosovo)
21 Daniel Adediran (U) G 6-5 Surrey, BC Trinity Western (5th Yr) U UFV (Canada West-U SPORTS)
24 Kyle Johnson (CAN) G 6-5 Scarborough, ON Long Island Uni. ‘11 9 Stjarnan (Iceland)
30 Junior Cadougan (CAN) G 6-1 Toronto, ON Marquette ‘13 7 St. John’s Edge (NBLC)

###



For media inquiries, please contact:

Andrew Savory, Director of Operations, (604) 217-6213, asavory@thebandits.ca



About the Fraser Valley Bandits

The Fraser Valley Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the club is proud to call Abbotsford Centre home. The Bandits offer a riveting entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue. PerfectLens, a Vancouver-based contact lens supplier, is the official presenting partner of the Bandits’ 2021 season. Head to thebandits.ca for more information.



About the Canadian Elite Basketball League

Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is a new basketball experience that features world-class professional basketball in a fan-friendly entertainment environment across seven cities in Canada. The 2019 inaugural season saw more than 100 Canadian and international players take to the court, culminating with the Saskatchewan Rattlers earning the first CEBL championship trophy. CEBL players come from NBA G League clubs, top NCAA programs, the Canadian national program, U SPORTS and other Division 1 FIBA leagues. As the First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, all games are live-streamed by CBC Sports. This season, the CEBL’s seven teams will convene at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., starting July 25 to play the CEBL Summer Series, a round robin competition that will culminate in crowning the second-year league’s 2020 champion. The timing of the Summer Series, subject to the status of the province of Ontario’s phased in reopening, will make the CEBL the first professional league in Canada to return to play following the COVID-19 outbreak in March. Head to cebl.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to learn more.



LATEST NEWS

By Dillon White June 15, 2025
Vancouver emerged victorious over Montréal in a battle between the best of both conferences on Saturday (June 14) at Langley Events Centre. The Bandits stormed back from a 20-point deficit in the first half to earn their third straight victory. A timely 15-0 run in the fourth quarter propelled the Bandits to the comeback, featuring clutch shooting from Curtis Hollis, along with inside finishing from Mitch Creek and Shamar Givance. Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said certain possessions in the third quarter set the tone for the comeback. “We just kept talking about chipping away and we talked a lot about the power of one possession and how it can change a game,” Julius said. Creek paced the Bandits’ attack with a game-high 30 points to go along with seven rebounds. Hollis added 18 points, including the game-winner. “I knew we had to get one more bucket. I knew the guys were helping off me all game, which I really don't know why, but I saw he helped off me, and Shamar made a great pass and I just had to make a shot,” Hollis said. James Karnik and Corey Davis Jr. also made their season debuts for Vancouver, adding nine points each. Julius said incorporating new faces mid-season can be a challenge. “The chemistry of a locker room is fragile. You build your offence around a particular group, you build your defense around a particular group, and when certain pieces change, it can affect your scheme. And so, yeah, you have to tweak things all week,” Julius said. Meanwhile, Montréal guard Tavian Dunn-Martin proved difficult to stop despite second-half struggles as a team. He netted 20 points with four threes on eight-of-13 shooting overall. “We settled for too many threes [in the second half]. We didn't attack the basket … didn't get to the line. Then they got out in transition and made shots, and we didn't,” Dunn-Martin said. Montréal seized control early on, shooting 70 per cent from the field in the first quarter and forcing the Bandits into catch-up mode. Alliance head coach Jermaine Small said his squad was outrebounded in the second half but expects to get better from the loss. “You have to understand that you've got to play a 40-minute game. We got off to a really good start [and] obviously we tapered off a little bit. But it's just a good lesson … basketball is a long game, so I'm not worried about it,” Small said. Montréal began the game on a 14-4 run that culminated in back-to-back threes from Anthony Walker and Quincy Guerrier. Creek showed off his rebounding ability on the offensive glass, keeping the Bandits in the contest with three putbacks. However, the Alliance offence was on fire in the opening 10 minutes. Montréal closed the quarter on a 13-3 run, highlighted by a pair of Michael Diggins Jr. slams and a deep trifecta from Dunn-Martin, to take a 32-15 lead into the second. Guerrier connected on a free throw and a spin layup to extend Montréal’s lead to 20 early in the second before Vancouver went on a quick run fueled by transition finishes to narrow the gap. However, the Alliance stayed hot with another deep triple from Dunn-Martin and a corner three from former Bandit Malcolm Duvivier. The red-hot Montréal offence cooled off to end the half and Vancouver took advantage, closing the deficit to single digits by halftime at 48-41 with a 9-2 run. The third quarter turned into a defensive battle, with neither team scoring more than 15 points. The Bandits fought back to tie the game for the first time since the opening tip, powered by an 11-2 run in which the Alliance didn’t connect on a field goal. However, long-range shooting put Montréal back in front with back-to-back threes from Guerrier and Dunn-Martin. The Alliance carried a 62-56 advantage into the fourth quarter. Dunn-Martin continued to showcase his range with another deep three early in the fourth to bring the Alliance lead back to double-digits. But the Bandits demonstrated their resilience with a massive 15-0 run that put the home squad in front for the first time all game. Alain Louis made some clutch trifectas ahead of the final stretch, but a Creek and-one put Vancouver ahead 80-77 with an 89-point Target Score. After Guerrier kicked off scoring in Target Score Time with a transition slam, Davis Jr. buried a three, Creek got the hoop and the harm, and Givance scored in transition to put Vancouver one point away from victory. Hollis connected on a catch-and-shoot from the wing to complete the comeback and improve the Bandits’ record to 8-1. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600585
By Bandits Staff June 15, 2025
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Montreal Alliance on June 14th, 2025.
By Bandits Staff June 14, 2025
The Vancouver Bandits have announced today the following roster updates in advance of its Saturday, June 14 game at home against the Montréal Alliance at 7:00 p.m. PT: G Corey Davis Jr. has been added to Club's active roster and will be available for tonight's game. F James Karnik has been removed the the Club's Suspended List and added to Club's active roster and will be available for tonight's game. F Tyrese Samuel has been placed on the Club's Suspended List in order for him to participate in potential NBA team workouts and Summer League opportunities; he will return to the club at the conclusion of his commitments. G Izaiah Brockington has been placed on the Club's Suspended List in order for him to participate in potential NBA team workouts and Summer League opportunities; he will return to the club at the conclusion of his commitments. G Tristan Jass (lower body) is ruled out for today's game.
By Bandits Staff June 12, 2025
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has signed 6’1” American guard Corey Davis Jr. No stranger to the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Davis Jr. was a member of the Calgary Surge during the 2024 season where he set the league record for most assists in a single season with 126 helpers. Appearing and starting in 19 regular season games and three playoff games, he averaged 13.4 points, 6.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals through 33.1 minutes played. He finished the season with three consecutive, 20+ point performances in the postseason, leading the Surge from the Play-In round to the CEBL Western Conference Final. Davis Jr. most recently played professionally with Vanoli Cremona, the highest-tier level of Italy’s basketball league system, where he appeared in 30 games and averaged 13.6 points, 5.6 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 29.8 minutes of action per game during the 2024-25 season. His pro career also includes stops in Spain, Montenegro, France, Turkey and a stint with the Washington Wizards during the 2019 NBA Summer League. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be back in the CEBL and can’t wait to get started with the Bandits. I’m looking forward to working with coach Kyle and the team, and building on the success that the Bandits have had so far this season,” said Davis Jr. A member of the University of Houston’s men’s basketball team for two seasons from 2017 to 2019, Davis Jr. was a unanimous First Team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2019. Davis Jr. also helped the Cougars advance to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the 2019 Sweet 16. Davis Jr. will be on the active roster for the Vancouver Bandits game Saturday evening at home when the club hosts the visiting Montréal Alliance at Langley Events Centre. In a corresponding move, the club has placed guard Izaiah Brockington on its Suspended List in order to accommodate Davis Jr.'s addition while adhering to CEBL roster rules, which limit clubs to four Import players on active rosters.

LATEST VIDEO

By Bandits Staff June 15, 2025
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Montreal Alliance on June 14th, 2025.
By Bandits Staff June 8, 2025
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Saskatchewan Rattlers on June 8th, 2025.
By Bandits Staff June 6, 2025
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Ottawa BlackJacks on June 6th, 2025.
By Bandits Staff June 2, 2025
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on June 1st, 2025.