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.
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Fraser Valley Bandits
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Today, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the winners of the 2026 CEBL Awards and the All-CEBL Teams via the league's digital and social media channels. Bandits forward Tyrese Samuel captured Canadian Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. He was also named to the All-CEBL First Team and earned his second straight CEBL All-Canadian Team selection. Additionally, longtime international basketball official and Lower Mainland resident Mike Thomson was named a recipient of the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award in recognition of continued contributions to the CEBL officiating program. The full list of award winners is as follows: 2026 CEBL Award Winners Most Valuable Player: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Canadian Player of the Year: Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) Coach of the Year: Tyrell Vernon (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Sixth Man of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars) CDIC Defensive Player of the Year: Kellen Tynes (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Developmental Player of the Year: Easton Thimm (Saskatchewan Mamba) Clutch Player of the Year: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award: Mike Thomson All-CEBL First Team: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Teddy Allen (Winnipeg Sea Bears), Javonte Smart (Ottawa BlackJacks), Sean East II (Brampton Honey Badgers), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) All-CEBL Second Team: Tavian Dunn-Martin (Saskatoon Mamba), Khalil Ahmad (Niagara River Lions), Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Nick Hornsby (Edmonton Stingers), Matthew Cleveland (Ottawa BlackJacks) CEBL All-Canadian Team: Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits), Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Quincy Guerrier (Montréal Alliance), Sean Miller-Moore (Calgary Surge), Jaden Bediako (Saskatoon Mamba) Samuel returns as the reigning Canadian Player of the Year, repeating as this year's winner after finishing third in the CEBL in rebounding at 8.7 per game. The Montreal, Que., native led Vancouver in rebounds (8.7), blocked shots (1.1) and field goal percentage (53.5 per cent), while finishing second on the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Samuel’s standout performances and accolades across his two seasons with the Bandits helped accelerate his career progression. Following the 2025 CEBL season, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns joining the team on its training camp roster. He is now preparing for his first overseas opportunity, signing with French club Cosea JL Bourg for the 2026-27 season who compete in the prestigious EuroCup league and the Ligue Nationale de Basket. A resident of New Westminster, Mike Thomson was honoured with the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award for his continued contributions to the CEBL officiating program. A FIBA-licensed Referee Instructor with nearly 50 years of basketball officiating involvement, Thomson’s resume includes officiating the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and serving as a Referee Instructor at the 2024 Summer Olympics and both the 2019 and 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cups. A longtime contributor to the CEBL, he served as both a Referee Coach and member of the Referee Advisory Committee this past season, drawing on his extensive experience in Canadian and international basketball to provide steady guidance and leadership throughout the season. Award winners and All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian Teams are determined by votes cast by the CEBL's team head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel, based on regular season performance. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team. All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the Official Supplier of Award Rings of the CEBL, as well as a special gift from Foot Locker, the official sportswear retailer of the CEBL and its 10 teams. Details on tickets for the 2027 season can be found via CEBL.ca/tickets .
The Vancouver Bandits, in conjunction with the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), announced Tuesday that forward Tyrese Samuel is among the nominees for Canadian Player of the Year at the 2026 CEBL Awards. Most Valuable Player finalists Myles Powell of the Scarborough Shooting Stars and Teddy Allen of the Winnipeg Sea Bears headline the list of nominees revealed across five player award categories. 2026 CEBL Award Finalists Most Valuable Player: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Teddy Allen (Winnipeg Sea Bears) Canadian Player of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) Sixth Man of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Stanley Davis Jr. (Edmonton Stingers) Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Fudge (Ottawa BlackJacks), Kellen Tynes (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Developmental Player of the Year: Easton Thimm (Saskatchewan Mamba), Mohamed Mahadhi (Saskatchewan Mamba) Additional 2026 CEBL Awards, including Coach of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year, the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award, and the All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian teams, will also be announced next week following the conclusion of the CEBL Finals. Samuel returns as the reigning Canadian Player of the Year, up for the award for a second consecutive season. The Montreal, Quebec native ranked third in the CEBL in rebounding at 8.7 per game and led Vancouver in rebounds (8.7), blocked shots (1.1) and field goal percentage (53.5%), while finishing second on the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Award nominees and winners are determined by votes cast by the league's head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team.
The Vancouver Bandits’ championship aspirations ended in the Western Final. The visiting Winnipeg Sea Bears never trailed after the first quarter, defeating the Bandits 107-96 on Saturday afternoon on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre in the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Western Conference Final. Winnipeg advances to face the Brampton Honey Badgers in the best-of-three CEBL Finals. “We had a couple of defensive assignment game plan pieces that I thought we just did not ever execute,” said Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius. “They jumped on us right from the start and had more energy.” Vancouver had won the season series 3-1, including a crucial 114-90 victory less than a week ago that clinched home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. “This group (today) is way better than the Winnipeg we played the other day because of him,” Julius said of Sea Bears guard Trey McGowens, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists. “I thought he was the X factor — the way he plays, the toughness he has, the athleticism,” Julius added. “He gave them a lot of life. The way he played, created a lot of opportunities.” Winnipeg’s Simon Hildebrandt also proved too much for the Bandits, finishing with 24 points to tie Xavier Moon for the team lead. “You have to give him a lot of credit … he absolutely killed us. He dominated his matchup all night,” Julius said. Shamar Givance led the Bandits with 21 points and 11 assists, while Mitch Creek and Tevin Brown finished with 19 points apiece.
At this stage of the season, style points don’t matter. “Just win the day. I said after the game, it wasn’t pretty, but this time of year, it’s survive and advance,” said Vancouver Bandits General Manager Kyle Julius, who returned to coaching duties on Thursday night. Julius had stepped away from coaching duties earlier in the season after accepting a coaching position in China but retained his role as the Bandits’ general manager. With Vancouver entering the Canadian Elite Basketball League playoffs, Julius returned to the sidelines Thursday night after consulting with interim head coach Rans Brempong, who had previously served as his lead assistant. The result was a 92-83 victory over the visiting Edmonton Stingers in the Western Conference semi-final on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Edmonton raced out to a 9-0 lead before Vancouver settled into its game and took a 52-42 lead into halftime. The Stingers responded with a strong third quarter, outscoring the Bandits 25-13, and led by five points in the fourth quarter before Vancouver battled back with an 11-1 run heading into Target Score Time. The game ended on a Mychal Mulder three-pointer from the corner. “I was spaced properly … and Shamar (Givance) made the right read and kicked it out to me, and I was able to knock it down,” Mulder said. “Our entire fourth quarter is a testament to how we fight and how you pull a win out.” Mulder scored 15 points off the bench and was one of five Vancouver players in double figures, with Givance leading the way with 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Mitch Creek (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Tyrese Samuel (13 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles, while Tevin Brown added 19 points and connected on five three-pointers. Nick Hornsby led the Stingers with 22 points, but he was the only Edmonton player to score more than 11. A big factor in the late-game turnaround was the sold-out crowd cheering on the home side. “The crowd really got into it in the fourth quarter and they really boosted us,” Julius said. “I cannot say enough about our fans, they have been tremendous.” It was a sentiment echoed by Mulder. “They are incredible. They pack it out every game. (Coach) was saying in the locker room, it’s like all of a sudden, it turns into six-on-five,” Mulder said. “They are great for our energy and that’s what we fought for, to have home-court advantage.” Vancouver will look to capitalize on that home-court advantage once again when the Bandits host the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Saturday (August 8) at 12:30 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre in the Western Conference Final, with a spot in the CEBL Championship Finals on the line.
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