Kyle Julius leans on a familiar cast to hold down the fort defensively at the CEBL Summer Series
By Contributing CEBL Writer: Cassidy Kannemeyer • July 26, 2020
Julius entrusts Fraser Valley's guard corps with offensive and defensive responsibilities for the Summer Series.
Projecting the way a group of individuals will function together as a team is tasked to the general manager of a professional sports club. When the GM and coach are aligned, this process can be less complicated. When the GM is the coach, the vision is crystal clear. The Fraser Valley Bandits’ new head coach and GM Kyle Julius has a clear vision for his team heading into a unique, but exciting year of Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) action.
Reading between the lines sheds light on Julius’ offseason focus: Upgrading the guard position, adding a group of experienced playmakers and making all the guards battle for roles and playing time. Well travelled, experienced, familiar and hard-nosed, these six newcomers will help establish the culture of the Fraser Valley Bandits.
Junior Cadougan, because of his success with Marquette University and Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team, is the biggest name of the newcomers. Built like an NFL running back, Cadougan’s ability to get into the paint could land him as a starter on opening night of the CEBL Summer Series tournament. Cadougan is not your classic point guard, but he is a great late clock shot creator that has both a right and left killer crossover – reminiscent of former NBA all-star Tim Hardaway. His shooting will most likely determine his role. His last two seasons in the NBLC, Cadougan has hovered around 30 per cent from three-point range. Playing off the ball, his shooting will have to improve to unlock his full potential.
Kyle Johnson could also start at the two for the Bandits. Of all the new guards, Johnson at six-foot-five appears to be the best one-on-one scorer and one of the better shooters on the team. A volume scorer at Long Island University, Johnson averaged double figures every season he played at the NCAA Division I level. Overseas, he is a hired gun, asked to end late possessions from the mid-range like many great forward scorers from the 1980s. When watching his highlights in Iceland, one marvels at how he was able to score from isolation areas near the high post. Johnson appears to be a throwback, but he does have the touch necessary to extend out to the three-point line. Based on the tape, Johnson could be one of the primary scoring options the team lacked last season.
Julius will be able to rely on one thing: Marcus Capers will be able to guard any guard in the CEBL. An import from Winter Haven, Fla., and the reigning NBLC defensive player of the year, Capers played for Julius’ rendition of the London Lightning that won the 2017 NBLC championship with Johnson and Cadougan at the core as well. At six-foot-four with arms for days, Capers could potentially be the team’s best all-around athlete. A defensive beast, Capers stuffs the stat sheet and is a capable shot creator off the pick and roll. Capers is more than just a one-dimensional defender and will be relied on heavily to lock up the league’s premier offensive threats, which will allow other Bandits guards to focus on the offensive end.
Malcolm Duvivier, Jahenns Manigat and Jabs Newby round out the list of guards acquired through free agency. All three are gritty two-way guards. Newby projects as a back-up point guard, with some potential at the two position when called upon in a pinch. A defensive guard by trade, Newby is a master of the chase down block, a feature usually held by a guard much larger than six-foot-two. Manigat, a four-year man from Creighton University who also served as the Bluejays’ captain for three years, is a quick trigger shooter that is ready to let it fly from all over the floor. In his pro seasons overseas, Manigat has shot over 40 per cent from three-point distance several times. Lastly, Duvivier is the wild card of the entire group. Standing six-foot-two and built like a defensive end, Duvivier can squeeze through tight spaces and explode above the rim for highlight reel dunks. The youngest of the six guards at 25, Duvivier still has room to grow as a pro and could be a “three-and-D” guy for the Bandits this summer.
Julius is tasked with overhauling a roster that features only one returning player from last season, local Abbotsford product and Yale Secondary School alumnus Marek Klassen. A roster’s success is dependent on the ability to control the ball offensively and stop the ball defensively. Knowing Julius’ track record and reputation as a “player’s coach,” this group will compete and fight on every possession, which bodes well for the Bandits’ ability to handle most of the league’s top offensive threats, while also offering more options for shot creation in late shot clock scenarios. Time will tell if this is truly the year of the Bandit.
###
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Savory
Director of Operations
asavory@thebandits.ca
Fraser Valley Bandits
LATEST NEWS
Physio District is proud to partner with the Vancouver Bandits as the organization’s Official Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Provider. Led by Director of Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Vic Sanghera and Physiotherapist Neil Nijjar, the partnership will support the Bandits with comprehensive injury management, rehabilitation, performance optimization, recovery, and return-to-play services throughout the CEBL season. With extensive experience working in high-performance sport, amateur and professional athletics, and international competition environments, Physio District brings an integrated approach focused on athlete availability, performance support, and evidence-informed care through manual therapy, movement analysis, and corrective exercise principles. In collaboration with the Bandits performance staff, the partnership will also incorporate advanced athlete monitoring and performance technologies through Hawkins Dynamics systems, including force plate testing and TruStrength performance assessment tools, to support rehabilitation progression, performance profiling, and return-to-play decision-making. Physio District is committed to helping athletes perform at their highest level while supporting long-term health, recovery, and durability throughout the demands of a professional basketball season. Physio District is excited to support the Vancouver Bandits organization and contribute to a high-performance environment both on and off the court.
The Vancouver Bandits were unable to find consistent offense against the Edmonton Stingers, suffering a 91-78 defeat Saturday night at the Edmonton Expo Centre. The game started with both teams going blow for blow in scoring, until the Stingers began to pull away with three-pointers from Samage Teel and Michael Nuga. The Stingers applied overwhelming defensive pressure, slowing down the Bandits up-tempo offence. The Bandits got into a rhythm in the second quarter, chipping away at the deficit and out-pacing the Stingers defense. The Stingers went cold offensively as they approached half time, going a full three minutes without scoring. That dry spell for the Stingers took place during a 19-6 run for the Bandits in that quarter, as they defended aggressively and found more space on the attack. Jalen House shot 8 for 9 in the first half at the free throw line, while Tevian Jones used his explosive athleticism to score 16 points. The Bandits took the lead on free throws from reigning Canadian Player of the Year, Tyrese Samuel, who finished with a team-leading 13 rebounds. The second quarter ended with the Bandits on top, 42-38. The Stingers responded in the third quarter with gritty, physical defense, while using the full shot clock on offense. The Bandits couldn’t build momentum, allowing 33 points and surrendering the lead. The Bandits flirted with a comeback in the fourth, shrinking the Stingers’ lead to seven points, but were unable to capitalise. House led the game in scoring with 27 points, but he was disappointed with the defensive effort from the Bandits. “We were letting them get [points] too easily in the paint, easy threes.” Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said “our defensive effort was poor everywhere,” calling tonight’s game “one of our worst performances in two to three years.” The success in the second quarter came from the Bandits “playing good defense, playing hard,” said House. “That’s obviously why we shot up and got that three point lead going into half time, but we got away from it.” The Stingers big man Dain Dainja put up 25 points and 14 rebounds in over 29 minutes, all of which led his team. Vancouver falls to 1-1, and goes down 0-1 in the home-and-home series. Vancouver will play Edmonton again on Friday, May 22 for their Home Opener at Envision Financial Court at the Langley Events Centre. Tickets are available for purchase at this link . Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2798728
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Mamba on May 14, 2026.
The Vancouver Bandits opened the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season on the road with a 124-95 victory over the re-branded Saskatoon Mamba at SaskTel Centre on Thursday. Guard Jaelen House, who was signed just two days prior to the season opener, ran the floor for the fast-paced Bandits offense posting a double-double with 33 points and 10 assists. His debut efforts earned him “Player of the Game” honours in his first CEBL games “Jaelen [House] just got in here 24 hours ago,” said Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius. “Figuring the guys out, figuring the system out, that’s big.” Vancouver wasted no time, jumping out to an early lead from House and Mychal Mulder. The team set a new franchise record, scoring 68 points in the first half. Local rookies Dominic Parolin and Shadynn Smid both debuted and got their first professional buckets. Parolin logged an efficient 11 points in over six minutes, while Smid played impressive defense. Saskatoon had difficulties slowing down Vancouver, especially struggling with the chemistry between House and Tyrese Samuel as they combined for 57 points. Their soft and porous defense provided plenty of time and space for Vancouver to feast, with six players scoring double digits. When asked about the balanced attack, Mulder credited their teamwork. ”Just continuing to play together. I think we did a good job of sharing the ball, did a good job of locking in on our defensive assignments,” he said. Saskatoon’s offense was stymied, with every player logging a negative plus/minus. Vancouver’s tight defense clogged passing lanes and strangled Saskatoon’s offense to the tune of 21 turnovers. Tevian Jones picked up four steals, leading the team. Mulder was proud of the effort, saying they defended “as a unit on that end of the floor. [We’re] continuing to grow as a unit and staying together.” Vancouver dominated in the paint, scoring 74 points under the hoop against Saskatoon’s underwhelming 42. House, Samuel, and Jones flashed their speed on the fast break, with the team scoring 21 points while flying downhill. Saskatoon head coach Isaiah Fox got a rude awakening in his first game with the team, saying “Obviously, that could’ve went better.” “Vancouver is a very physical team, and I don't think we quite matched their physicality,” he said. “There were some good moments but unfortunately they came already when we were down double-digit points.” The physicality was on display in the third quarter as Vancouver suffocated Saskatoon defensively, allowing just 17 points. Saskatoon went a whole 2:45 without scoring, while Vancouver increased their lead to 32 in that time. Their biggest lead of the game would be 36. However, Saskatoon made progress in the fourth quarter, out-scoring Vancouver 31 to 24. Trey Townsend came off the bench to lead Saskatoon, scoring 10 of his 15 points in the final frame. Dajuan Gordon chipped in 20 points for Saskatoon, knocking down 5-6 at the charity stripe. Julius was unhappy with the team letting off the gas late in the game. “I thought we really let up in the fourth quarter, but it's an entirely new group,” he said. “We only have two, three guys from last year's team, so overall it was a solid first game for sure.” “I think these first couple games are all about us getting used to the league. We have a lot of guys that have never played in this league,” Julius added. “so we're still kind of just getting used to everything.” Vancouver begins their season 1-0. Vancouver will travel to Edmonton to take on the Stingers on Saturday, May 16, at the Edmonton EXPO Centre at 6:00 p.m. in a home-and-home series. Edmonton comes to Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre to play Vancouver in their Home Opener on Friday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at this link .
LATEST VIDEO
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Mamba on May 14, 2026.
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.