Defensive Intensity Takes Centre Stage as Fraser Valley, Hamilton Battle on National Television
August 1, 2020
Midway through the round robin portion of the CEBL Summer Series the consensus surprise team has been the Fraser Valley Bandits. Surprise to most, but not to Bandits head coach Kyle Julius nor anyone wearing their orange and blue uniform. Julius emphasized chemistry when building a roster of players familiar with his system, most who have played for him previously during their career. Tenacious, tough, fighters who want to fight are labels often ascribed to a Julius-coached team, and this year’s Bandits exemplify that. Only a hard-luck roll off the rim late in Thursday’s 78-76 loss to Ottawa has kept Fraser Valley from a perfect 3-0 record. The Bandits present a balanced offensive attack with five players averaging in double digit scoring. They hold a 25.7 to 16.3 advantage over their opponents in points off turnovers, and a 28.7 to 20.0 edge in fastbreak points—evidence that pressure and scoring in transition are the staples of this team.
When Julius talks about his team being overlooked because it lacks big name national team players or the NBA tag, he’s alluding to today’s opponent, the Hamilton Honey Badgers. The Honey Badgers, who lost National team and NBA G League performers Aaron Best, MiKyle McIntosh, and Justin Jackson the week before training camp for different reasons, must re-tool yet again as the spiritual leader of the team and its most productive player in the CEBL Summer Series, Duane Notice, tore his left Achilles at the end of Wednesday’s loss to Edmonton and underwent surgery yesterday. Notice had been named Hamilton’s Player of the Game in the victory over Guelph and his 23 points against the Stingers drew the same honours.
Much like their opponent today, the Honey Badgers are ignited by ball pressure and winning the transition battles. Hamilton’s struggle to make shots—the team is shooting only .415 from the floor and averaging 88.0 points a game—is overcome by holding opponents to a .409 accuracy mark and 85.3 points per outing. Hamilton is scoring an average of 20.3 points off of 20.3 opponents’ turnovers a game.
Today’s game is being televised nationally by CBC, and internationally on cbcsports.ca and on Twitch.tv (CEBLeague). It’s also available on the CBC Gem app.
Players to Watch
Fraser Valley’s Cameron Forte, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Portland State, has jumped to the top of the CEBL Summer Series MVP race as his scoring average of 24.3 points is nearly seven points higher than the second-best scorer in the league. Forte accounts for 26 percent of his team’s points and 20 percent of their rebounds. Doing most of his damage in the paint, Forte is also grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. He burned Edmonton for 28 points in the Bandits opening game and tied the CEBL record with six steals against Saskatchewan on Tuesday.
Replacing Notice at guard on the Hamilton roster is third year pro Caleb Agada, who had signed with the team this spring before heading over to play in Israel. He returned to Canada in July after averaging 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 29.2 minutes in eight games with Hapoel Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League). The Burlington native played two games with the Honey Badgers in 2019, recording 19 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in 28 minutes in his debut appearance against Niagara. He left Hamilton to train with the Nigerian National team before signing with Melilla in Spain’s LEB-Gold league where he averaged 14.7 points in 23 games.
Brianté Weber led Hamilton in scoring in the team’s first two games and along with Alex Johnson will have to shoulder more of the team’s quarterbacking duties in the absence of Notice. Like Notice, Weber is a lockdown defender and gives the team a 94-foot effort on defense and offense.
Forte will have to contend with the Hamilton duo of Owen Klassen and Derek Cooke, Jr. in the battle of the big men. Klassen opened the Summer Series with a 15-point 10-rebound effort against Niagara and followed that up with 16 points and six rebounds versus Guelph. Foul trouble limited him to three points and five rebounds against Edmonton. Cooke Jr. made his tournament debut against the Stingers with two points and a rebound in six minutes.
The Bandits roll a four-man backcourt of Marek Klassen, Jahenns Manigat, Malcolm Duvivier, and Junior Cadougan—all scoring threats and strong defensively. Cadougan was drafted by Hamilton in 2019 but missed the season because of injury, and Duvivier was signed to a free agent contract immediately following the draft but was never added to the club’s Active roster.
Schmidt Back for 2021
Hamilton announced Friday that it has extended the contract of head coach Ryan Schmidt through the 2021 season. As assistant coach who has led player development with the Toronto Raptors NBA G League affiliate Raptors 905 the past three years, Schmidt picked up the first win of his professional head coaching career Monday against Guelph. Schmidt has been responsible for advance game scouting and planning with Raptors 905, and throughout his time with that team he has been accountable for offense, defense, and special teams that has included practice, game planning, and strategic execution. The Oregon native has also worked with players in the Canadian National Senior and Junior National teams since 2017.
Next Up
Both teams get right back at it in a doubleheader tomorrow. Hamilton meets the expansion Ottawa BlackJacks for the first time in the opener at 1:30 p.m. ET. With both clubs heading into the weekend carrying a 1-2 record, it could be a must-win game for one or both teams. Fraser Valley meets Niagara (1-3) in the second game of the twin-bill at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).
LATEST NEWS
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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Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.