BANDITS SIGN FORMER NIGHTHAWK, JAMAL REYNOLDS
Bandits Staff • April 23, 2021
ABBOTSFORD, BC, April 23, 2021 – The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Friday that the club has signed versatile guard and Canisius College alumnus Jamal Reynolds for the upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.
Reynolds is no stranger to the CEBL and previously played for the Guelph Nighthawks in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, Reynolds was a key cog for the Nighthawks and finished in the top five in several statistical categories (minimum seven games played), including second in points (16.7), fifth in rebounds (5.8) and fifth in assists per game (3.2) over the course of his nine games played for Guelph. Reynolds showcased his ability to be active on the offensive glass and to convert around the rim, finishing tied for second in offensive rebounds per game (2.2), while shooting 52.6 per cent and 37.5 per cent from field goal and three-point range, respectively.
Reynolds scored a CEBL career-high in points at the Bandits’ inaugural home opener on May 9, 2019, pouring in 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 106-103 victory. Reynolds returned to the Nighthawks in 2020 and averaged 9.8 points and four rebounds per game on 52.2 and 40 per cent shooting from field and three-point range.
“I’m excited to join the Fraser Valley Bandits family. I say ‘family’ because you can see the culture that has been built here from last season and I’m looking forward to being a part of that,” Reynolds said.
A six-foot-four guard, Reynolds hails from Pickering, Ont., where he attended Pine Ridge Secondary School. Reynolds then played at Mott Community College in Flint, Mich. from 2012-14. During the 13-14 season, Reynolds ranked first on Mott in field goal percentage (69.9 per cent), offensive rebounds (94), total rebounds (223) and blocks (34). His stellar field goal percentage placed him first in Division II of the National Junior College Athletic Association and first in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. His stellar campaign paved the way for Reynolds to transfer to Canisius College, an NCAA Division I program in Buffalo. N.Y.
Reynolds played two seasons for the Golden Griffins from 2014-2016 and was a stalwart on the defensive end while also providing timely offensive contributions thanks to his slashing ability. Reynolds averaged 6.2 points 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 steals per game over 65 games played for Canisius (60 as a starter).
Reynolds’ hard-nosed play helped him become a fan and coach favourite as his performance stuffed the box score beyond what is tracked by traditional statistics. During the 2014-15 season, Reynolds’ defensive and total rebound percentages ranked him fifth in the entire Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and his win shares per 40 minutes and 95.2 defensive rating ranked him second and fourth, respectively, in the MAAC.
"We are really excited to have Jamal join our grind. I have known Jamal personally for a long time and he is exactly what we are looking for in a person and a player to enhance our culture of toughness and resilience. Jamal has a special motor and has the ability to play and defend multiple positions. He will be a fan favorite in the valley,” Bandits general manager Kyle Julius said.
Since graduating from Canisius, Reynolds has frequently finished among team leaders in rebounds and field goal percentage. Reynolds played his first two seasons of professional basketball with the Cape Breton Highlanders in the NBLC. In 2018-19, he doubled his previous season’s scoring average and won sixth man of the year after posting 17.6, 8.9 rebounds, two assists and 1.1 steals per game for the Highlanders. Reynolds’ impressive line ranked him first in the NBLC in total rebounds (400) and his 51.4 shooting from the field ranked him ninth among eligible players.
Prior to the Summer Series in 2020, Reynolds took his talents overseas and was a star for Círculo Gijón Baloncesto in Spain’s LEB Plata, averaging 14.4 points per game and ranking ninth in the league in points (361) and finishing first on Círculo Gijón in total minutes played and points.
The Bandits open the 2021 season on the road at Edmonton on Thursday, June 24. The Bandits welcome Saskatchewan for Fraser Valley’s home opener on Saturday, June 26. All regular season games will be live streamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and on a new OTT streaming platform that the CEBL will unveil this spring.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its 2020 rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian national team program, and top NCAA and U SPORTS programs.
More information about the Bandits is available at thebandits.ca, as well as on Instagram (@fvbandits.cebl), Twitter (@FV_Bandits), Facebook (@fvbandits.cebl), TikTok, and YouTube.
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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.
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The Vancouver Bandits have announced that forward Miller Kopp has signed an NBA Summer League contract with the Houston Rockets. The news was announced by the Rockets on the club’s website in a release .  Appearing in 14 games (13 starts), Kopp quickly established himself as a key Import player for the Bandits during the first half of the 2026 CEBL season, tallying 13.9 points The Rockets' roster will be headlined by 2026 NBA Draft selection Bruce Thornton (31st overall), who will begin NBA Summer League play on July 10 with scheduled games running through July 16. The Bandits have placed Kopp on its Reserve Roster in order for him to participate in NBA Summer League play while also retaining his CEBL rights, with the option to return to the club at the conclusion of his commitments.
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The Vancouver Bandits have announced that Kyle Julius has stepped down as head coach to accept a head coaching position in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Julius, who has been an integral part of the organization's success since 2020, will remain with the club as general manager for the remainder of the 2026 season. The Bandits organization fully supports Julius in this next chapter of his career, with the opportunity to lead at the CBA level exemplifying the Bandits as the top development organization in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) for both players and coaches. A two-time CEBL Coach of the Year (2024, 2025), Julius guided the Bandits to two CEBL Finals appearances in 2020 and 2024 while leading the team to the postseason in each of his five seasons at the helm. In 2025, he propelled the Bandits to a .792 winning percentage (19-5), the highest by any CEBL club across a full season. "I want to thank our tremendous coaches, president Dylan Kular, our ownership group Kevin Dhaliwal, Bryan Slusarchuk, and Milan Mann, the entire Bandits organization, our players, and the incredible fans for everything we have built together over the past seven seasons. Coaching the Vancouver Bandits has been one of the greatest experiences of my career. Together, we established a culture built on energy, effort, accountability, and player development. I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished on and off the court, but even more proud of the relationships that were built along the way. This opportunity to become a head coach in the CBA is one that is very important for my family and my career and, while it is difficult to leave a place that has meant so much to us, I believe it is the right next step. I will always be grateful to everyone who believed in me and supported our journey. I will be cheering for the Bandits from afar and wish the organization nothing but continued success. Vancouver will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Julius. Julius’ relentless commitment to building a championship culture transformed the Bandits into the CEBL's premier organization, earning its status as a true destination for world-class talent and top basketball development. The Bandits have advanced players to NBA two-way contracts directly following their time with the club in each of the past three seasons, more than any other CEBL organization. "Kyle has become family. He believed in this organization and poured his heart into building something special here. His vision, passion, and commitment to developing players and people have set a standard that will define the Bandits for years to come. Beyond wins, he gave us a foundation built on passion, accountability, and genuine care for every person in our organization. I am grateful for every early morning meeting, every late-night phone call, and every moment we shared chasing this dream together. This isn't goodbye; we will be cheering louder than anyone when he succeeds in China and beyond in the next chapters of his career,” said team president Dylan Kular. Off the court, Julius participated in the Bandits' youth sports development efforts primarily through the Bandits Community Foundation School Tour. Since 2023, the free-of-charge initiative saw Julius support training and skill development directly with nearly 200 school teams across British Columbia. In addition, through the Bandits Community Foundation, Julius has hosted countless youth skill clinics and coaching seminars with athletes and volunteer coaches across the province. In a corresponding move, the Bandits have appointed Lead Assistant Coach Ransford Brempong as Head Coach for the remainder of the 2026 CEBL season. A former Canadian Senior Men's National Team member, Brempong has represented Canada at the highest level for eight years. He also played professionally for six years in Europe and was a standout NCAA DI player at Western Carolina University, where he graduated as both the program’s and conference's all-time leader in blocked shots, a record that still stands today. "The Vancouver Bandits have high expectations for our roster, and I am excited to lend my decades of experience and skills developed at the collegiate, international, and national team levels to help our players get better and to achieve success this summer,” said Brempong. Fans will have an opportunity to connect with Julius in August after he returns from training camp in China, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
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.