Fraser Valley Bandits Sign Marek Klassen
Bandits Staff • May 24, 2019
Former BC Provincial Player of the Year and decorated star in various European pro leagues signs with the Fraser Valley Bandits.
ABBOTSFORD, BC, May 23, 2019 –
The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Thursday the signing of Marek Klassen, a native of Abbotsford, BC, and one of the Bandits’ Regional Round selections at the inaugural Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Entry Draft.
Klassen, a six-foot-one point guard, recently completed his 2018-19 season with Socar Petkimspor in the Turkish Basketball League (TBL) where he averaged 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Klassen was relied on as the team’s primary ballhandler and logged the most minutes per game on the team at 28.3 a night. Klassen was also the team’s top three-point shooter, nailing 41.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
“This is a special opportunity for me to come home and contribute to the development of basketball in my hometown and province. Through competing in some of the top pro leagues across Europe, I have had the honour of playing against and alongside elite players. Now, I get to do so in my own backyard,” Klassen said.
“By playing for the Bandits, I am excited to connect with youth in the community and to inspire students and upcoming players to pursue opportunities created by basketball on the court and more importantly, in the classroom.”
Klassen was the Bandits’ second selection at the CEBL Entry Draft. A former BC Provincial Player of the Year and 2010 High School Triple A MVP as a member of the Yale Lions, Klassen graduated with an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University, where he starred as one of the nation’s top point guards and three-point shooters in the NAIA. While at Point Loma (2011-15), Klassen won PacWest Conference Freshman of the Year, was named to the PacWest All-Academic Team, received an All-PacWest Honorable Mention, and shot over 40% from three-point distance throughout his collegiate career. He also led Point Loma in scoring and steals as a sophomore.
Since graduating from Point Loma, Klassen has starred for top-tier pro clubs such as the Leeds Force and Worcester Wolves in the British Basketball League (BBL) where he was named a BBL All-Star and captain for the Worcester Wolves. He has also played for CSU Atlassib Sibiu in Romania’s Liga Nationala, and for Bakirkoy Basket before recently suiting up for Socar Petkimspor this past season in Turkey.
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Andrew Savory, Marketing and Communications Manager, (604) 217-6213, asavory@thebandits.ca
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