Project rebuild leaves Fraser Valley Bandits with future blueprint for success
Emily Wilson • November 3, 2020
After finishing in last place in their inaugural season, the Fraser Valley Bandits went back to the drawing board determined and focused on rebranding themselves as true competitors.
When the Bandits returned to play nearly a year later, the new-look organization had engineered a sharp turnaround, proving themselves to be a championship contender by finishing as runners up in the 2020 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
But with such a dramatic turnaround, where do the Bandits go next?
Led by new head coach Kyle Julius, the organization travelled almost 4,500 kilometres from Abbotsford, B.C. to St. Catharines, Ont. to participate in the ‘bubble-style tournament’ for a pandemic impacted season.
Their opponents were familiar, but the Bandits looked reborn. The team sported a new roster with just one returning player in B.C. native, Marek Klassen. Right from the start, they had a game plan moving into year two.
“The first thing that we did as the team [was] just mostly reflecting after year one. We were the worst team based on record in year one, we lost a lot of close games but there was definitely an edge that we were missing and right away we knew that we had to rebuild,” said Bandits vice president Dylan Kular.
“We knew that we wanted to be the developmental hub for the CEBL. We wanted to make sure that if players were coming to the Fraser Valley, that they knew they were going to get the best medical treatment, the best basketball development, they're going to develop as people and they are going to propel their careers.”
Starting from scratch might have been seen as a setback, yet the Bandits held a slight advantage as Julius knew most of the players and their playing styles from previous years. With those connections, it didn’t take long for the team to make themselves known in the CEBL.
“My coaching style is process-driven and I wanted a group of guys that I knew were going to play as hard as they could,” said Julius on constructing the roster. “I wanted a group of guys that really wanted to be there in the CEBL and specifically for the Bandits.”
“What you saw was what we planned to do.”
Kular echoed the same thoughts. “We knew if we brought those kinds of people in that we were going to give ourselves a really good chance to be successful in the Summer Series and that ended up being the case.”
However, while the prior on-the-court experience enhanced the team’s cohesiveness, it was the individual drive that pushed them to be their best and earn a spot in the final.
“Coach Julius gathered a bunch of guys who had something to prove, myself included,” said guard Jahenns Manigat. “A bunch of guys who have felt underappreciated, undervalued.”
“In the locker room, it was just a bunch of guys who are hungry, who were eager to prove something not only to the public but to themselves as well. We just all kind of took that as like our warcry and carried it with us with every game.”
Message received. The CEBL took notice as opposing teams took note of the chip on Fraser Valley’s shoulder.
Right from the opening tip-off, the Bandits impressed many as the team finished with a 4-2 record in the round robin, earning themselves a berth in the playoff semifinals against the Hamilton Honey Badgers.
In group play, the Honey Badgers were one of the two teams to defeat the Bandits, handing them a 102-96 loss. But with a spot in the final on the line, Fraser Valley wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip.
The match-up was a tight contest as the Bandits won 76-75 after overcoming a 14-point fourth quarter deficit.
“That semifinal was a crazy comeback,” Kular said. “We had guys puking in the changeroom after the game and then less than 24 hours later we got ready for another game.”
When it came time for the final, Kular said the Bandits had just simply run out of gas as they lost 90-73 to the top-seeded Edmonton Stingers.
Despite not going home with any hardware, the team returned to B.C. with their heads held high and most importantly, a new foundation for the organization.
“Our goal was to win. So on that Sunday afternoon after we lost we were all deeply saddened about it. We didn't want to go home without that number one spot. But when you look at it, in hindsight, we did a really good job,” Manigat said. “We've proved that the right pieces could have an immediate effect.”
“Our goal was to show fans a type of a basketball that is gritty and people that want to lockdown on defence and are going to give their full effort night in and night out,” Kular said. “I think we achieved that. Fans back in B.C., and even across the country, were letting us know that.”
Whether or not the same players and coaching staff return for the 2021 season, the redevelopment of the organization leaves a solid blueprint to refer to for future success.
“If you understand how to build a team, if you understand how to get a coach who knows how to coach up his players and to have players who are willing to listen and give 110 per cent effort, then you're going to move in the right direction,” Manigat said.
“I think that's what the Bandits learned this past summer and I think that's what they're going to look forward to continuing to build in the future.”
Kular emphasized that plan, “We're looking forward to what 2021 holds.”
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.
LATEST VIDEO
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Mamba on May 14, 2026.
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.