FRASER VALLEY BANDITS SIGN MARCUS CAPERS
Fraser Valley Bandits • May 27, 2020
Defensive Player of the Year and two-way guard brings experience, versatility and a winning pedigree to the Bandits.
ABBOTSFORD, B.C., May 27, 2020 –
The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Wednesday that the club has signed former Washington State University guard and defensive specialist Marcus Capers.
Capers is coming off one of his most successful seasons as a professional. The 2019-20 campaign was his fifth consecutive season with the London Lightning. Throughout his professional career Capers has proven that he is a defensive stalwart capable of guarding multiple positions. This past season Capers averaged 38 minutes, 13.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.8 steals per game. For his efforts, Capers won NBLC Defensive Player of the Year.
Capers’ grit and energy on the defensive end were a large part of the Lightning’s ability to hold opponents to a league-low 32.5 per cent from three-point range, and the second-lowest points per game at 105.9 and opponent field goal percentage at 43.3.
Capers was a member of the 2016-17 edition of the Lightning that won the NBLC title and was led by current Bandits Head Coach and General Manager Kyle Julius as part of a historic campaign that saw the team finish the regular season 35-5 and 46-7 including postseason competition.
“I’m excited to play and compete for Coach Julius again. We had tremendous success together in London and I’m keen to bring my high-octane style of play and defensive intensity to the Bandits,” Capers said. “The coaching staff has made it clear that this group will lock in on both ends of the floor and I’m looking forward to getting to work.”
Capers started 109 of the 135 games he played at Washington State University. The Cougars relied on Capers for energy on both ends of the floor and over the course of four seasons he averaged 5.1 points per game on 51.8 per cent shooting from the field, as well as four rebounds and 1.7 assists. Capers played three NCAA seasons alongside current Golden State Warriors all-star Klay Thompson, including two appearances at the 2009 and 2011 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT) before beginning his professional career in 2012.
“Marcus is like family to me. He was an integral part of our first team together in the NBLC. We have won two championships together – one in Canada and one in China. Marcus is a world-class athlete and a special teammate. He is one of the best defenders and smartest players that I’ve ever had,” Julius said.
“Marcus can literally play all five positions and change the game defensively. I am really looking forward to getting back on the floor with Marcus.”
A 6-foot-4 guard from Winter Haven, Fla., Capers has played professionally in Finland, Japan and Canada.
For more information on the Bandits, follow the team’s journey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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. Head to thebandits.ca for more information.
About the Canadian Elite Basketball League
The 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 on the CBC Gem app, CEBL.TV and the Island Sports Network. Head to cebl.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to learn more.
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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.
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