FRASER VALLEY BANDITS ANNOUNCE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER FOR 2021 CEBL SEASON
Bandits Staff • June 15, 2021

ABBOTSFORD, B.C., June 15, 2021 – The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Tuesday the club’s training camp roster for the upcoming 2021 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.
“I expect training camp to be a war as everyone should be battling to prove themselves and in turn fighting together to establish a level of competition and team-wide excellence. This group will be ready to not only adapt to different styles of play but will also be ready for whatever surprises might be thrown at us throughout the changing dynamics of the pandemic,” Bandits general manager Kyle Julius said.
The two returning players from last year’s team that advanced to the CEBL final after finishing second during the regular season are Marek Klassen and Malcolm Duvivier. A six-foot-two guard, Duvivier is coming off the best season of his professional career. During the 2020 Summer Series, he averaged 11.3 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game on 42 per cent shooting from the field and three-point range, respectively. The Bandits named Duvivier defensive player of the year and team MVP for his stellar two-way play.
The longest tenured player in Bandits history, the 2021 campaign will be Klassen’s third consecutive year with Fraser Valley. Klassen enters the upcoming season as the club’s all-time leading scorer and playmaker with averages of 12.6 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Adding to the Bandits’ depth at the guard position are three CEBL veterans in Alex Campbell, Gentrey Thomas and Jamal Reynolds. Campbell suited up for 19 regular season games for the Rattlers in 2019 and chipped in across the board with averages of 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game. Campbell’s stellar production with the Rattlers consistently ranked among Saskatchewan’s team leaders; first in total points, minutes, and three-point percentage, as well as second in assists and third in offensive and defensive rebounds.
Thomas most recently played for the Bristol Flyers (2019-20) in the British Basketball League (BBL) where he enjoyed the best season of his professional career, averaging 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game over 11 regular season games. Prior to the Flyers, Thomas had a stint with the Rattlers in 2019. Reynolds is no stranger to the CEBL and previously played for the Guelph Nighthawks in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, Reynolds was a key cog for the Nighthawks and finished in the top five in several statistical categories (minimum seven games played), including second in points (16.7), fifth in rebounds (5.8) and fifth in assists per game (3.2) over the course of his nine games played for Guelph.
In an effort to size up at the forward positions, Julius hit the free agency market this offseason and recruited some big acquisitions. The first point of address for Julius and interim head coach David Singleton was rim protection. To help protect the hoop, Julius signed former NCAA Division I blocks per game leader Brandon Gilbeck. A seven-foot centre from Spring Green, Wis., Gilbeck recently played for Latina Basket during the 2020-21 campaign in Italy’s Serie A2. Gilbeck played 16 games and averaged 8.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game on 58.1 per cent shooting from field goal range.
Joining Gilbeck is Julian Washburn, who played 18 games for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018-19 NBA season. A native of Duncanville, TX, Washburn has played two consecutive seasons for the Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League (2019-21). Washburn averaged 7.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 42 and 36 per cent shooting from field goal and three-point range, respectively, this past season. The Blue Coats advanced to the G League Finals where the club ultimately fell short against the Lakeland Magic. Prior to suiting up for the Blue Coats, Washburn enjoyed solid tenures with the Austin Spurs (2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19) and Memphis Hustle (2018-19).
Further adding to the Bandits’ imposing front court is Shaquille Keith. Following his first CEBL season that saw Keith win a championship alongside Campbell, Keith joined the Ottawa BlackJacks and was a key contributor for the club at the 2020 CEBL Summer Series. Keith averaged 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 51.4 per cent from the field and 45.5 per cent from three-point range, respectively.
Gilbeck, Keith and Washburn inject an impressive combination of size and versatility into the Bandits’ forward corps, while Kenneth Manigault adds a deft scoring touch to the group. Manigault brings a decorated resume built on the foundation of a tremendous college career that saw the talented swingman win National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I men’s basketball player of the year in 2015. Manigault also led the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) in scoring as a member of the Macau Black Bears in 2019-20.
Two Bandits CEBL U SPORTS Draft selections have also been named to the training camp roster. First and second round draft choices, Anthony Tsegakele from Brandon University and Adam Paige from the University of Alberta, respectively, will join the club in preparation for the season.
No roster is complete without veteran leadership. Former Kitsilano Blue Demon and Canada Basketball alumnus Levon Kendall, who last played for the Bandits in 2019 when he averaged 9.5 points per game in 17 games of action, was also named to the training camp roster.
Singleton, as well as recently announced assistant coaches Tanner Massey, K.J. Smith and Tony Scott will lead Fraser Valley’s training camp, which begins Friday, June 18.
“Selecting the coaching staff and building the roster from the other side of the world has been an exciting experience. I can't wait to see our vision and culture come to life. We built this team on the same foundation as last year – each member embodies toughness, togetherness and grit. We have a smart and hungry coaching staff eager to push this group to compete at a high level. We built this roster on our core values with the goal of enhancing our culture and style of play from last season. We have an extremely versatile roster with some tough two-way players and guys who can really generate offence,” Julius said.
The Bandits open the 2021 season at Abbotsford Centre when the club welcomes the Saskatchewan Rattlers for Fraser Valley’s home opener on Saturday, June 26. All regular season games will be live streamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and on a new OTT streaming platform that the CEBL will unveil this spring.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its 2020 rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian national team program, and top NCAA and U SPORTS programs. More information about the Bandits is available at thebandits.ca.
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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. PerfectLens, a Vancouver-based contact lens supplier, is the official presenting partner of the Bandits’ 2021 season. Head to thebandits.ca for more information.
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The Vancouver Bandits are set to close out the 2025 CEBL regular season with a bang. As part of Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, August 3rd, Bandits guard and social media sensation Tristan Jass returns to Langley Events Centre for the Tristan Jass $10,000 Halfcourt Shootout . Four lucky fans in attendance will be randomly selected to participate in the competition at halftime against Jass. The last shooter standing takes home $10,000. Event Format: Four fans are drawn from the crowd in the first half. At halftime, each fan takes a shot from halfcourt, followed by Tristan Jass to end the round. If no one scores, they go again. If one person hits, they win the cash. If multiple fans hit, only those who made it advance to the next round. Repeat until one winner remains. Entry Rules: Must be in attendance and hold a valid ticket. If your seat is drawn, you can shoot or nominate someone from your ticket group. All participants must sign a media release waiver before participating. The Bandits, who clinched a playoff berth on July 13 , host the Winnipeg Sea Bears in a tight race for playoff positioning. Fans can expect a sellout crowd with post-season implications on the line, marking one of the most crucial matchups of the season. The Tristan Jass $10,000 Halfcourt Shootout is one of the many additions to what is shaping up to be the Bandits’ most electric night of the year. Pre-game activities begin with the Bandits Backyard BBQ starting at 3 p.m. outside Langley Events Centre , featuring $1 hot dogs, live music, an inflatable kids play area, a sign making station and a beer garden for fans 19 and over. Tip-off takes place at 5 p.m. and single game tickets are available for purchase by following this link . Jass, who appeared in two preseason games for the Bandits on May 8 and 10 respectively, has been placed on the Bandits’ Suspended List since July 1, 2025 as a result of the CEBL’s Import player limitations, restricting clubs to a maximum of four Import (non-Canadian) players on an Active Roster at a time. His “ YouTuber to Pro Hooper ” web series, documenting his day-to-day experience playing with the club, has garnered over 1.2 million views on YouTube. ### For Vancouver Bandits media inquiries, please contact: Senior Manager, Brand & Communications, Justin Sulpico, media@thebandits.ca , 604-626-8513 About Vancouver Bandits The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an 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 at Langley Events Centre (LEC).  About the CEBL: A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

A few friendly bounces at the rim made all the difference for the Calgary Surge in a tense battle against rival Vancouver on Friday night (July 25). With the game on the line in Target Score Time at WinSport Events Centre, Calgary guard Evan Gilyard Jr. launched a deep three that rattled in after a few tense moments. It was Gilyard’s first triple of the game, but it lifted the Surge past the Bandits 98-96. The Surge have now swept the regular season series against the top-ranked Bandits, with both teams already locked into playoff spots in the Western Conference. The intensity of Friday’s contest mimicked a postseason showdown. Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said the group executed the game plan on both ends of the floor with togetherness and championship poise. “We felt we had a great week of practice. We knew this was a heavyweight fight. We have a lot of respect for that team but I love our team and I love our squad and I love where we’re at,” Canales said. Both teams saw the return of NBA Summer League talent, with Vancouver’s Tyrese Samuel and Calgary’s Jameer Nelson Jr. making an impact after their time in Las Vegas. Nelson Jr. netted 21 points, including 15 in the first half, while tallying six rebounds, six assists and four steals. “[Jameer] was playing both ends at an … elite level. We absolutely love him and he was making plays when it was time to make plays,” Canales said. Sean Miller-Moore and Greg Brown III also had standout performances in the win. Miller-Moore dropped a game-high 27 points and hauled in eight rebounds, while Brown III notched a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. Meanwhile, Samuel finished with a team-high 26 points for Vancouver on 12-15 shooting. He said he could’ve done better on the boards, but was happy with his return to the lineup overall. “It feels good to be back out there with the guys. Obviously, today wasn't the result we wanted but we're just gonna go back to the drawing board and just be ready for the playoffs,” Samuel said. Aussie big man Mitch Creek was also a force in the frontcourt with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the loss, while Kyle Mangas added 12 off the bench in his second game back from NBA Summer League. After three consecutive games with at least 15 threes, the Bandits cooled down on Friday with eight from long range at a 29 per cent clip. Calgary also capitalized on 18 Vancouver turnovers with 25 points. “Some turnovers and giving them some easy offensive rebounds I think was part of the problem for sure,” Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said. The range of talent for both squads was on full display in the early stages of the game. The Bandits and Surge each started hot before the pace slowed. A catch-and-shoot triple from Corey Davis Jr. gave the Bandits their first lead at 16-14, and they stayed ahead 25-22 after 10 minutes. Vancouver extended its lead to nine in the second quarter following inside finishes from Creek, Zach Copeland, Samuel and a three from Davis Jr. However, Nelson Jr. willed the Surge back into the game with 11 points in the quarter. He showed off his complete game as well, stealing the rock on defence before dishing to Brown III in transition for a massive slam. After trailing for the entire second quarter, Calgary tied it up heading into the locker room with a buzzer-beating putback from Javonté Brown. Miller-Moore regained the lead for the Surge to kick off the third quarter with a transition dunk. Calgary locked in defensively for the remainder of the frame, limiting the high-powered Bandits' offence to just 18 points. Brown III added to his highlight reel late in the quarter, spinning for a left-handed dunk on Kur Jongkuch that put him on the free throw line as well. Down four points entering the final quarter, Creek and Samuel went to work inside for Vancouver. The frontcourt duo combined for 17 points before Target Score Time to knot the game at 87, but Brown III finished a putback to give Calgary a two-point advantage heading into the final stretch. The bigs continued to duel in Target Score Time, with Samuel opening the scoring before Brown III showed his versatility, connecting on back-to-back threes and rejecting Creek on the other end. Calgary missed multiple shots for the win, and Samuel added another layup before fouling out. A putback from Creek vaulted Vancouver back in front at 96-95, putting both teams a bucket away from victory. On the following possession, Gilyard did his best Kawhi Leonard impression to win the game with a deep three that needed multiple bounces before dropping. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600650

The Vancouver Bandits have announced today the following roster update in advance of its Friday, July 25 away game against the Calgary Surge at 7:00 p.m. PT: F Tyrese Samuel has been removed from the Suspended List and added to the Club's active roster; he will be available for tonight's game. G Izaiah Brockington and G Tristan Jass remain on the Club's Suspended List.
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