Globetrotting career empowers BC-bred Marek Klassen to lead new-look Bandits
By Contributing CEBL Writer: Emily Wilson • July 8, 2020
Klassen and co. tip-off against the Edmonton Stingers on July 26 at the CEBL Summer Series.
After playing in six different countries throughout his 10-year career, 28-year-old Canadian point guard Marek Klassen has learned to thrive in unfamiliar environments.
Now, he’s re-signed with a team for the first time in his career and aims to use his experiences to lead the new-look Fraser Valley Bandits as their only returning player for the 2020 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.
Born in Abbotsford, B.C., basketball has taken Klassen all around the globe. After punctuating his high school career at Yale Secondary School with a provincial championship in 2010 and a nod as the Triple A tournament’s most valuable player, Klassen moved stateside to play at Point Loma Nazarene University (a small National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program) in San Diego, Calif. At Point Loma, Klassen starred as a multi-sport athlete and excelled at both basketball and track and field.
Ultimately, basketball prevailed and Klassen looked to Europe to embark on his pro career. By 2015, he started building his professional resume and has played in leagues in Romania, England, Turkey and Ukraine.
Each season he adjusted to new atmospheres, teammates, coaches, languages and playing styles.
“Basketball is obviously a universal language. There's a lot of different ways you can play the game and there's a lot of different ways you can adapt,” Klassen said. “I like the challenge of going to a new country, playing with a different ball and trying to beat a team that has a totally different strategy than my team.”
The inaugural season of the CEBL presented another new and challenging environment for Klassen, who first signed with the Bandits in 2019 prior to re-signing this past March for the 2020 campaign. For the first time in a decade, he brought his game back to Canada to not only a new team but also a new league.
“There were so many questions coming into it all,” Klassen said. “It brought something new and fresh and exciting to the (Fraser) Valley – the fact that pro basketball is back and there’s just a lot of potential.”
In the first season, the Bandits finished last in the league, missing out on the CEBL’s playoff format, known as Championship Weekend. Individually, Klassen had a different story.
He finished as the league’s top passer, averaging 7.2 assists per game. He also set a record for the most assists in one game with 15 and earned a nod as a CEBL second team all-star
The Bandits have since refreshed their roster and coaching staff – keeping Klassen as the sole returnee. In addition to a new team, the 2020 season poses some unforeseen challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. As an alternative to a regular season of play, the Bandits will travel to St. Catharines, Ont., to compete at the CEBL Summer Series, a two-week tournament that will feature no fans in venue at the Meridian Centre.
So, while Klassen is coming back to a team he knows, he once again finds himself needing to adapt to a new environment. He hopes that his experiences in Europe will help him learn on the fly with a new cast of teammates and coaches.
“I’ve played for so many different teams and so many different coaches. I've really had to adapt quickly,” Klassen said. “I'm going to learn my personnel and I'm going to hopefully just make everyone better around me and try and make the game easier for everybody else.”
Throughout his travels across Europe, there has always been a constant for Klassen: Setting a positive precedent for Abbotsford’s basketball community. The opportunity to influence the next generation of young basketball players and student-athletes was a deciding factor for Klassen when it came time to re-sign.
“I just felt like I wasn't moving – I was going to come back here and try to make a positive impact again,” Klassen said of his decision to suit up for the Bandits again in 2020.
Off the court, he aspires to teach young athletes about basketball and the power of sport through various community programs including his Abby Made basketball camp and player consultation service, CourtVision.
In addition to his game, his leadership qualities were another reason new Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius decided to sign him back to the team, noting Klassen as the “ultimate role model for young athletes in the Fraser Valley” in a news release.
CourtVision partner Bret Macdonald shared the same views about Klassen.
“He's someone who puts the team first. It sounds cliché, but it's not with him. Marek puts the person before the player always and he's willing to ask questions – he’s willing to do the ‘quote-unquote’ grunt work. There's no task too big or too small for him,” Macdonald said.
“I think for a young aspiring kid to watch the Bandits and then also maybe be part of something like CourtVision while also watching Marek makes it something that’s realistic for kids to dream big.”
No matter where or who he plays with, Klassen’s goal stays the same and this season is no different. Win.
“It’s a totally different team, a totally different vibe and I think that we got the pieces (that) could take us all the way to the top,” he said.
“The Bandits are here to win this thing.”
Summer Series action begins on July 25, with the Bandits playing their first game on July 26 against the Edmonton Stingers. All games will be available on CBC Sports’ live-stream, with the Bandits’ matchup against the Hamilton Honey Badgers on Saturday, Aug. 1 set to be available on CBC TV as a national broadcast.
LATEST NEWS
The Vancouver Bandits announced today a two-year partnership extension with Sentinel Storage that expands on the companies’ long-standing relationship and reinforces a shared commitment to youth, sport, and community in British Columbia. This renewed partnership builds on a foundation that dates back to 2020 with the Bandits Athletic Centre in Abbotsford, where Sentinel Storage played a key role in supporting multiple sport organizations at the grassroots level during the pandemic. Sentinel Storage and the Bandits are deepening their impact through two major initiatives: co-presenting the Bandits' annual School Day Game, and serving as the founding and presenting partner of the First Buckets program by the Bandits Community Foundation. The School Day Game, set to be held at Langley Events Centre during the Bandits’ 2025 season on May 8th, is a high-energy morning basketball game that invites thousands of elementary and middle school students for an unforgettable field trip experience. The event is designed to inspire youth through sport, while providing educators and students with a unique opportunity to engage with professional basketball in a fun and educational setting. "At Sentinel Storage, we believe in the power of community and the importance of supporting youth development through sport,” said Jenn Johnson, Director of Operations, Western Canada, Sentinel Storage. “We’re excited to be expanding our partnership with the Bandits to help make basketball more accessible to youth across British Columbia, while also fostering important life skills like teamwork, resilience, and leadership. We’re proud to be a part of this journey and look forward to seeing how we can continue to make a difference in the lives of young athletes in B.C.” Sentinel Storage has also committed to leading the launch of First Buckets, a flagship initiative of the Bandits Community Foundation. This program delivers basketball starter kits to schools across British Columbia, helping introduce the game to new communities. Each kit includes basketballs, jerseys, and coaching materials, along with life skills curriculum and the potential for a visit from Berry the Bandit, the team’s beloved mascot. The program makes the sport accessible while championing important lessons in teamwork, resilience, and leadership. “We’re grateful to be partnered with a community-minded organization like Sentinel Storage who also took a chance on us in 2020 when we launched the Bandits Athletic Centre. Since day one with Sentinel Storage it has been evident that they passionately care about the power sport has on supporting youth in British Columbia,” said Dylan Kular, President of the Vancouver Bandits. “Together, through the Bandits Community Foundation, we are going to provide more basketball for more people across British Columbia with the First Buckets program and impact youth across all four corners of the province.”  The partnership between Sentinel Storage and the Vancouver Bandits is a testament to the impact that strong community-focused collaborations can have. With shared values at the core, this partnership is poised to make a lasting difference—on the court and beyond.
The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that the club has signed 6-foot-10 forward Grant Shephard for its upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). Hailing from Kelowna, B.C., Shephard recently played for Swedish club Jämtland Basket in the Basketligan, the country’s highest division of men’s pro basketball. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 28.5 minutes in 32 games played while shooting 62 per cent from the field. Prior to Sweden, Shephard also played in Estonia (BC Kalev-Cramo, 2023-24) and Spain (Esguiera Basket, 2023-24). Shephard established himself as a dominant big man during his U SPORTS career, playing at the University of British Columbia (2017-20) before transferring to Carleton (2021-23). He captured a national championship with the Ravens in 2022-23 while also being named a U SPORTS Final 8 tournament all-star and Ontario University Athletics (OUA) second team all-star. “Grant has had two great seasons playing overseas since he was last with us. He is one of BC's best big men and I am really looking forward to getting back to work with him,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. This will be Shephard’s third stint with the Bandits and fourth overall in the CEBL. He made his league debut in 2019 with the Bandits as a Development Athlete, including playing in the club’s inaugural game on May 9, 2019, and made subsequent appearances with the Niagara River Lions in 2021 and with the Bandits a second time in 2023. Across three CEBL seasons, Shephard has appeared in a combined 22 games and averaged 8.1 minutes, 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. “I am grateful to be back with the Bandits this season and ready to grind. I can already tell that this summer will be special,” said Shephard. Prior to finishing his high school career at the prestigious Montverde Academy in Florida, Shephard attended Kelowna Secondary. Shephard helped guide the Owls to a B.C. AAAA provincial championship in 2016 while he took home MVP honours as a junior. On the international stage, Shephard has represented Canada at both the junior and senior levels. Most notably, he captured the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2017, alongside current Toronto Raptor RJ Barrett, and earned a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The Vancouver Bandits announced today that Headlands Environmental has signed a three-year extension as an official partner of the club through the 2028 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The renewed partnership continues Headlands Environmental’s commitment to youth development, community building, and Indigenous reconciliation through basketball and environmental stewardship. A cornerstone of the collaboration is the Indigenous Basketball Collective (IBC) , a long-term initiative powered by the Bandits Community Foundation and supported by Headlands since its inception. “Headlands Environmental has been a driving force behind the vision and growth of the Indigenous Basketball Collective,” said Dylan Kular, team president of the Vancouver Bandits. “This renewed partnership is a reflection of shared values — using sport as a tool for access, empowerment, and opportunity in Indigenous communities.” Since 2022, the partnership has helped fund basketball camps for Indigenous youth, officials and coaches, many of whom are attending their first ever organized training sessions led by professional athletes and coaches. In addition, Headlands has played a key role in supporting Court Projects — a program focused on building and revitalizing outdoor basketball courts including in Indigenous communities across British Columbia to create more accessible, safe, and vibrant places to play. Bandits and Headlands worked specifically on the development of an outdoor basketball court in Shxwhá:y Village (near Chilliwack) . "Headlands Environmental is proud to be a founding partner of the Indigenous Basketball Collective (IBC). As avid basketball fans we believe in the power of sport, and giving back to the communities in which we work,” said Mike Hofer, principal and owner of Headlands Environmental. “We’re very excited to be working with the Vancouver Bandits and with our Indigenous partners to be a part of this exciting initiative and to build on this with future opportunities for youth and community development". In addition to supporting Court Projects and Indigenous Basketball Collective, Headlands has played a key role in supporting youth from Mission in basketball participation through the Community Champion program. The Community Champion program with Headlands specifically supports Mission groups such as schools, not-for-profits and charitable organizations. With the 2025 season approaching, the Bandits and Headlands Environmental are excited to expand the reach of the Indigenous Basketball Collective to more communities and continue making sport a sustainable pathway for connection, confidence, and cultural pride. 
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has re-signed 6-foot-4 Canadian guard and Hong Kong national team member Glen Yang for its 2025 season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Born in Burnaby, B.C. and splitting time between Hong Kong and Calgary, Alta. in his youth, Yang played five seasons of U SPORTS basketball starring at Mount Royal University from 2014-2019. “I’m extremely excited to re-join the Bandits and go after a championship after so much success as a team last season,” said Yang. “The fans, support and resources that both the city and team provide are unmatched. In terms of basketball clubs, the Bandits are as professional as it gets.“ The 2025 season will be Yang’s third in the CEBL. Making his league debut in 2023, he started in all 20 games with the Winnipeg Sea Bears during their inaugural season before signing with the Bandits last year where he appeared in 19 regular season games. “Glen is a tremendous Canadian player in our league. He is the consummate professional and makes everyone around him better,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “I’m really excited about getting back to work with Glen this summer.” Yang is currently in his fifth season of professional basketball, playing the 2024-25 season with Hong Kong-based club, Eastern, who competed in the East Asia Super League and Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup competitions. During his time in the PBA, he shot a career high 45 per cent from the three-point line while helping his squad reach the Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals. At the international level, Yang represents Hong Kong. He received his first call up to the national squad during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers this past February, suiting up in games against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei. Tickets for the 2025 season, including Season Tickets, Jam Packs and Single Game Tickets, are currently on sale for the Bandits’ seventh CEBL season and are available for purchase at this link . The Bandits tip-off the 2025 CEBL campaign on Thursday, May 15 when the club hits the road to take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Fans will have their first chance to watch the club at home on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. PT when Vancouver hosts the Niagara River Lions in a rematch of the 2024 CEBL Final. Vancouver will play a total of 12 regular season home games in 2025 between Thursday, May 22 and Sunday, August 3. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road in Ottawa on Sunday, August 10 at 12 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in learning more about tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ upcoming 2025 season are kindly asked to call (604) 455-8881 or email tickets@thebandits.ca . A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here . More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter .
LATEST VIDEO
As part of the Court Projects initiative, the Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation partnered with the City of Pitt Meadows to refurbish and unveil the Constable Rick O’Brien Court. The court is named in honour of fallen RCMP officer Constable Rick O’Brien, who served in the Ridge Meadows community. The court is located at the Pitt Meadows Family Rec Centre, which he frequented during his seven years of service. Thanks to the City of Pitt Meadows, Joint Forces Foundation Standard Insulation Inc and Sherwin-Williams for their support making this project a reality. Learn more at https://www.banditsfoundation.ca/court-projects
The Vancouver Bandits have been busy this offseason visiting local high schools and lending his expertise to players and coaches. Head coach and general manager Kyle Julius and team president Dylan Kular speak with Global BC's Jay Janower. The Bandits Community Foundation School Tour is presented by Preston Chevrolet and University Canada West. Learn more at https://www.banditsfoundation.ca/secondary-buckets
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Niagara River Lions on August 11, 2024.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 9, 2024