Vancouver Bandits Sign NBA Experienced Guard, Big 12 All-Star Izaiah Brockington

Trailing by 22 points, it looked like it simply wasn't the Vancouver Bandits' night. To their credit, the Bandits chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to 10 heading into Target Score Time before eventually pulling even at 91 against the visiting Montreal Alliance. The Alliance then went to the free throw line with a chance to seal the victory. Instead, Jack Hemphill made the first but missed the second, leaving the door open. Vancouver's Jarrell Eddie grabbed the defensive rebound to ignite the fast break before Shamar Givance knocked down the game-winning jumper, sending the Country Night crowd at Langley Events Centre home celebrating an improbable 93-92 victory, the largest comeback in franchise history. With the victory, the Bandits have qualified for the CEBL playoffs for a seventh season in a row.  The win moves Vancouver into a tie for first place atop the Canadian Elite Basketball League's Western Conference at 12-7, while Montreal falls to 8-11 and remains fifth in the Eastern Conference, just outside the playoff picture. “Our mindset, our will to not lose,” said Bandits coach Rans Brempong about what changed with the team trailing 68-46 with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter. “That’s what I’ve told the team is the gift and the curse: we can be as good as we want to be. I'm proud of them. They showed what we could do, how we could play defense and how that translates to offense, but we got to be able to do that consistently. It takes discipline.” “One stop at a time, one possession at a time. You can't get it all back at one time. So just go out there, get a stop, hopefully get a bucket. Get a stop, get a bucket, get a stop, get a bucket,” said Vancouver’s Tyrese Samuel, who led the team with 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. “And I think we did that at a really high rate, especially going into the fourth. It showed the fight that we actually have and we need to continue going into every game, starting with the fight that we ended the game with.” Samuel was one of three Bandits to score in double figures, joined by Eddie with 18 points and James Karnik, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Both were making their Bandits debuts, although Karnik had previously played for the organization and only arrived the morning of the game. For Alliance coach Jermaine Smalls, the loss felt like déjà vu. “I’ve said to them and I’ve said to other people, we win the four quarters, but we don’t win the fifth quarter,” he said, alluding to Target Score Time. “But at the end of the day, I'm just proud of the effort we gave. And you know what? We missed the free throw to win the game, so it's part of the game.” Montreal had five players score in double figures, led by 17 points apiece from Jack Hemphill and Blondeau Tchoukuidgno. Kevin Osawe, Prince Oduro and Keeshawn Barthelemy each added 13. Next: The Bandits head out on a two-game road trip, visiting the Calgary Surge on July 21 before facing the Winnipeg Sea Bears on July 23 in a matchup between the teams tied for first place in the Western Conference. The team’s next home game at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre is on July 25 (6:00pm) against the Saskatoon Mamba. Click here for tickets.

The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that the club has re-signed homegrown talent James Karnik for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A 6-foot-9 forward from Surrey, B.C., Karnik is set to compete in his fourth CEBL campaign. He has appeared in 29 games for the club dating back to the 2022 season, averaging 10.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. During the 2025-26 season, Karnik suited up for three different teams: Neptunas Klaipeda in Lithuania, Basquet Girona in Spain, and IHC Apes in Mongolia, where he helped the latter to a domestic championship. His international career also featured previous playing stints in Switzerland and the Netherlands. Karnik represents the Czech Republic in international FIBA play by way of naturalized citizenship. His most recent call up to the national team was for the 2027 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers, which were held earlier this month. Prior to turning professional, Karnik played five years of NCAA DI basketball between Lehigh University (2017-20) and Boston College (2020-22), while he played high school basketball at Earl Marriott Secondary in Surrey and BC Christian Academy in Port Coquitlam before transferring to Orangeville Prep in Mono, Ont..

The Vancouver Bandits are set to wear specialty jerseys, designed in collaboration with Realtree, for its second-annual Country Night game tomorrow (Friday, July 17) when country music, fashion and culture take centre stage at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. A nod to the rich agricultural, western and outdoor lifestyles of the Fraser Valley and beyond, the first-of-its-kind jersey incorporates Realtree’s iconic camouflage design, featuring photorealistic tree bark, leaf, and branch patterns, into various uniform elements including the side panelling, player numbers, and within a unique cursive team wordmark on the front. With only three home games remaining in the regular season, the Bandits currently sit second in the CEBL’s Western Conference and are gearing up for a crucial push to clinch home court advantage for the 2026 CEBL Playoffs . Tip-off for the Bandits’ second-annual Country Night this Friday against the visiting Montreal Alliance is set for 7:00 p.m. PT. Alongside exciting basketball action, fans can enjoy a halftime musical performance by Langley-based country recording artist and BC Country Music Association (BCCMA) award winner Shawn Daniels. Boasting over 12,000 monthly Spotify listeners, his latest release “Good Time Drinking Song” has amassed over 100,000 streams and counting. Additionally, the Canadian national anthem will be sung by Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) nominee Jojo Mason. Known as the “Horse Capital of Canada,” the Township of Langley, home of the Bandits, serves as a major hub for country life and agricultural commerce in the region. Nearly half of all farms in Metro Vancouver are located in the Township (1,103 farms total), while total farm capital accounts for $2.9 billion, totalling greater than any other municipality in Metro Vancouver. Furthermore, the Township accounts for approximately seven per cent of the province’s total horse and pony population, according to a recent Census of Agriculture. The Vancouver Bandits provide an affordable and unique entertainment option for fans of all ages in the Metro Vancouver area. One of 10 teams in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits deliver a thrilling entertainment experience, combining the excitement of fast-paced basketball with the chance to see some of Canada's top professional athletes. Tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ Country Night start as low as $20 per person, with special discounts and experiences available for groups of 10 or more. Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here .