THE ROAD LESS TRAVELELED: REYNOLDS READY TO MAKE A STATEMENT
By Bandits Contributing Writer: Yulissa Cortina • June 5, 2021
From basketball camps hosted by the Toronto Raptors, to winning a high school championship and playing professionally, Jamal Reynolds has had quite the basketball journey.
Seeing Raptors fan favourites like Vince Carter and Morris Peterson walk in and out of youth camps inspired a then seven-year-old Reynolds to pursue the game.
As he grew up, Reynolds continued developing his skills and took various steps that helped him play at the collegiate level, such as playing in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournaments.
AAU tournaments gave Reynolds an opportunity to travel as part of a team among other high schoolers and exposed him to elite players in both Canada and the United States, as well as college scouts, which gave him a platform to showcase his skills.
Reynolds received various scholarship offers, including from Baylor University in Waco, TX, but was unable to accept due to a hiccup with the NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly known as the NCAA Clearinghouse) regarding his academic and athletic eligibility.
Reynolds was faced with the decision of attending a junior college in the U.S. and carving out a path that would allow him to transfer to a Division I school.
He ultimately decided to attend Mott Community College. During his two seasons at Mott (2012-14), Reynolds excelled and emerged as a star. In 2013-14, his two-point field goal percentage (69.9 per cent) placed him first in Division II of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
His successful run at Mott opened the doors for him to play at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., an NCAA Division I school where he went on to serve as team captain.
Although it wasn’t the route Reynolds initially planned to take, he’s grateful because he developed a new mindset.
“The lessons and experiences taught me that hard work always prevails and that you can reach any level no matter the adversity you face,” Reynolds said.
Since graduating from Canisius in 2016, Reynolds has established a reputation as a hard-nosed rebounder and a tenacious defender.
When asked if there is a trick to rebounding, Reynolds said that he realized that guards have a better chance to rebound because the “big men” (forwards) are usually occupied with boxing out the opposition’s forwards, which leaves an opportunity for guards to swoop in.
“A lot of guards tend to either try to run the floor or don’t want to catch the rebounds, so I think it’s a mentality thing. You have to put it in your mind that you want to do something great and I think you can,” Reynolds said. “You do have to have a certain athleticism and skill but I think it’s a desire as well.”
Now in the midst of his fifth season of professional basketball, Reynolds said he’s hoping to become one of the best players in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
He’s already had a stint in the CEBL before, having played with the Guelph Nighthawks in 2019 and 2020, but he’s excited to further his career with Fraser Valley and to join the Bandits family.
He hopes to bring a championship to Fraser Valley and urged fans to get ready for a special season ahead.
“We have one of the most hungry teams in the league,” Reynolds said. “I think it’s going to be a huge season.”
LATEST NEWS
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, hosted a youth basketball camp on Wednesday, September 9 in Williams Lake, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and FortisBC. The Bandits welcomed over 40 local athletes and their families to the camp, with the main goal of building confidence, inspiring young athletes, and bringing youth sports development and mentorship to athletes across the province. Held at Lake City Secondary, the camp marked the first community visit by BC’s professional basketball team to the Cariboo region, bringing more basketball to more people across our province. “Community is a core pillar of the Bandits organization, and we are proud to host camps and opportunities that help shape and inspire the next generation of players and leaders,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Thank you to our partners at I∙SPARC and FortisBC for their support in bringing this camp to fruition, and to the Williams Lake basketball community for welcoming our team this week.” "We're proud to support opportunities that help young people build confidence, strengthen their skills and create lasting connections," said Janet Devaney, senior manager, community & Indigenous initiatives at FortisBC. "Through initiatives like this basketball camp, Indigenous youth can connect with peers and mentors, develop new skills and experience the positive impact that sport can have on confidence, leadership and a sense of belonging.” The free-of-charge camp was part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. 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.
Vancouver Bandits guard Jarkel Joiner has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets. The news was announced by the Hornets on social media . During his time with the Bandits in the 2026 season, Joiner made 21 appearances, including 13 starts, and finished with 16.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals per games. 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.
Former Vancouver Bandits guard Kyle Mangas has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets. The news was announced by the Hornets on social media. Mangas is expected to practice and compete with the Hornets during the 2026-27 Training Camp and preseason from October 3rd to 12th. During his time with the Bandits in the 2025 season, Mangas finished top five on the team in points (15.3), rebounds (4.6), assists (3.3) and steals (1.3). 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.
The Vancouver Bandits have partnered with the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation and Little Legends Foundation to unveil a newly renovated outdoor basketball court at Grays Park in South Vancouver. Part of the Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative, the team officially unveiled the refurbished court on Saturday (August 30). The grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a free youth basketball clinic led by local coaches. Attendees also enjoyed a complimentary BBQ lunch, free haircuts and massages, and free backpacks and school supplies distributed for local youth. “The Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative was designed to build and enhance public outdoor courts,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “The love for the game grows in spaces like Grays Park. This project would not have been possible without the support of our community partners. We will continue to enhance outdoor public courts, make them more inviting, and create stronger communities through basketball.” “Over the past few years, we have been trying to build one of the nicest courts here in South Vancouver for the community,” said community leader Spensir Sangara. “We recognized that Grays Park was one of the few neighbourhood parks without a quality basketball court for the community. Thank you to our businesses and donors who came together to make our vision a reality. This court is filled with a rich basketball culture and this is a legendary day for our community.” “When the Vancouver Bandits approached the Vancouver Park Board with the idea to upgrade this park, it seemed like the right fit and partner to help renew an important asset in a community where basketball plays such an important role,” said Vancouver Park Board Director of Business Services John Brodie. “Thank you to the Bandits and our partners for their generous contributions, and for being examples of what having a strong, community-oriented mission looks like.” The court refurbishment at Grays Park, located at 4850 St. Catherines Street in Vancouver, includes upgrades to the basketball hoops, playing area resurfacing and seating areas. Grays Park was identified as one of Vancouver’s most active outdoor basketball spaces, and community feedback strongly supported the refurbishment. Established in October 2023, the goal of Court Projects is to enhance outdoor basketball courts across British Columbia, creating productive and safe spaces for individuals to play while enriching local basketball at the community level. To date, this partnered team effort has featured the construction and installation of six brand new outdoor basketball courts and upgrading hundreds of basketball rims in communities across BC.
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