Underdogs: With a new roster and coach, the Bandits are establishing a formula for team success
By Contributing Bandits Writer: Cassidy Kannemeyer • August 1, 2020
For three quarters basketball often resembles a prize fight. Both fighters trade haymakers in an attempt to land that elusive knockout blow to end the fight.
Typically, there is no knockout “shot” in basketball, but with the CEBL utilizing the Elam Ending, every CEBL Summer Series game has seen its own game winner.
Choreographed actions designed to find your opponent’s weakness can help a team build a lead, but no lead is safe in the Elam Ending format, which is specifically designed for comebacks and thrilling finishes.
The fourth quarter is a different animal. Every team needs a closer; a player who can get their shot no matter what defence is in place. Last season, the Bandits struggled to find their closing formula, often relying on the hot hand of that particular game to finish the job.
This strategy produced limited success and the Bandits struggled to create great looks down the stretch of games. Fast forward to this season and the current rendition of the Bandits has a clutch component built into its DNA - something head coach and general manager Kyle Julius has been able to harness from his players at every level that he’s coached at.
All of Julius’ pro teams have been built on the foundations of hard work, selflessness and an underdog mentality. With that being said, this team on paper appears to have a similar makeup to his teams of the past.
Julius has enlisted players that he has won with before, such as Kyle Johnson, Junior Cadougan and Marcus Capers. Each was a member of the London Lightning team that took the title in 2017, and each has brought a two-way intensity to the Bandits that has helped the team get off to a 2-1 start to the CEBL Summer Series.
Across the CEBL, rosters feature a vast array of Team Canada members, NBA G League stars and imports with NBA caliber size. Preseason pundits labelled the Bandits as “undersized,” but Fraser Valley has shown an ability to punch above its weight thanks to the length and athleticism of its players.
The Bandits have two players that have built their pro careers around their ability to isolate and score. Cameron Forte makes his living scoring on the block. Screens and straight rim runs allow him to establish his position in his office in the painted area. A natural lefty, Forte is a wide bodied post player that has proven to be a headache to guard. Remind anyone of Zach Randolph? Randolph could get the ball anywhere near the rim and turn to hook the ball in from tough angles. Forte has a similar skillset.
With his soft touch and his ability to shoot out to 18-feet, Forte has emerged as an elite scoring threat both early and at the end of games. Currently, Forte leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 24.3 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game.
The offensive load doesn’t rest on the shoulders of Forte alone. For three quarters the Bandits have several capable playmaking guards that are able to create their own shot and penetrate at will. Both Marcus Capers and last year’s CEBL assist king Marek Klassen have managed the offensive load for parts of the game, but the Bandits also have other members in their backcourt that are capable of creating mismatches.
This is someone who can consistently beat their man and get buckets. Someone who on any given night will have the opposing team’s primary wing defender and is still able to produce.
Kyle Johnson at 6-foot-5 has the size over smaller guards to shoot over the top and the quickness against bigger defenders to gain a slight advantage with his speed and strength.
Johnson throughout his career has consistently averaged double digits in scoring and has been counted on to be an isolation scorer.
Johnson had an outstanding first game against the Edmonton Stingers, scoring 19 points and hauling in six rebounds while also dishing out five assists.
Push offs, leaners, fadeaways, post-ups, jab steps - you name it, Johnson has it in his toolkit. He has the ability to make tough shots under duress and take on bigs at the rim. Ultimately Johnson’s value could be as the secondary scorer to Forte. His ability to be a primary scorer will depend on how often he gets to the free throw line and how often he can shake the opposing team’s shutdown defender.
Johnson exited last Tuesday’s game against Saskatchewan after landing on the foot of Robinson Opong. Johnson sat out Thursday’s game against Ottawa and is hopeful to return for today’s tilt on national TV against Hamilton at 10:30 a.m. PT on your local CBC channel.
The Bandits’ ability to score and defend the ball will determine how far this team can go after a hot start to the CEBL Summer Series campaign. Both Forte and Johnson will be relied on heavily regardless of what their role is.
LATEST NEWS
The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that the club has partnered with the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation and Little Legends Foundation to support the refurbishment of an outdoor basketball court at Grays Park in South Vancouver. The refreshed court will be unveiled this fall as part of an official launch event in collaboration between the Vancouver Bandits, Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation and Little Legends Foundation. The court refurbishment project is part of the Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects program that enhances outdoor basketball courts across British Columbia, including most recently a court refurbishment in partnership with City of Pitt Meadows in September of 2024. “Building a world class basketball court in this community has been a long time dream. Thanks to our partners at the Vancouver Bandits, Bandits Community Foundation and Vancouver Park Board for coming together to make this project happen - there are a number of incredible donors we are going to announce in the coming weeks,” said Little Legends Foundation founder Spensir Sangara. “Grays Park was the perfect place for Court Projects, the basketball culture here is strong and connected. The legacy goes beyond the refurbishment where, with Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation, we are going to host free youth camps and The Legendary Tournament at Grays Park starting in 2026.” The partnership was sparked in 2023 when Sangara expressed interest in building a basketball court for the South Vancouver community. Around the same time, the Bandits Community Foundation had completed a similar project in Pitt Meadows with the City of Pitt Meadows, creating a natural alignment between the two organizations. “Basketball has the power to bring people together, and this project is about more than just a court - it is about creating a safe, vibrant space where young people and families can connect, play, and grow,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We are proud to work through Court Projects with our partners in the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation, and Little Legends Foundation to invest in South Vancouver and to use sport as a tool for building resilience, unity, and positive change in the community.” 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. "It has been amazing to see the local community come together with the Vancouver Bandits to upgrade this beloved neighbourhood court," says Vancouver Park Board Chair Laura Christensen. "Strategic partnerships like this allow us to deliver so much public benefit for our residents.
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.
The last of this year’s four CEBL conference finalists was locked in once the dust settled at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday. It was the Calgary Surge earning that slot after 105-103 win over the Vancouver Bandits in the West Semifinal. Import Jameer Nelson Jr.’s 14-of-23 showing from the field and Evan Gilyard II, who finished with 29 points on a CEBL playoff record eight made triples, powered the Surge to the win. On the other side, Zach Copeland led Vancouver’s effort as he put up 30 points on 7-of-14 shooting from three and three steals. Meanwhile, captain Mitch Creek and Montreal native Tyrese Samuel chipped in 25 and 22 points, respectively. “We hunted them down, got to a position to win the game,” Creek said after the loss. “We did our job … I’m beyond proud of this organization. It’s been an incredible season, we had so much fun. But it’s so heartbreaking.” Calgary’s backcourt was humming early. First, a Miller-Moore baseline drive and dish to Gilyard II above the break for a triple, followed by a Gilyard II drive and wrap-around pass to a cutting Nelson Jr. for two more and then a Gilyard II transition make from distance for good measure. But just as it seemed Calgary was well on its way to figuring out Vancouver’s defensive strategy as the Surge held an early lead, the tides quickly changed on one play. The Bandits ran a fastbreak midway through the opening frame that not only ended with Creek finding Samuel on a dump-off pass for an easy slam, but also saw Nelson Jr. tweak something in his lower body. The Defensive Player of the Year finalist hobbled to the Surge sideline and eventually the locker room. When the Defensive Player of the Year finalist did return to the floor, what was once an 18-18 ball game had turned into a 26-18 Bandits lead. Vancouver’s charge went down as a 13-0 run as it ultimately carved out a 27-23 advantage after the first, led by Samuel’s eight points. A short-lived lead, however, as Calgary flipped the script on what was once a nine-point first-half deficit into a 61-51 lead at the break. The Surge outscored the Bandits 35-22 in the second, including a 17-2 run powered primarily by none other than the dynamic duo of Nelson Jr. and Gilyard II, who scored seven and 12 points in the frame, respectively. Also underscoring Calgary’s halftime lead was an uncharacteristically sloppy showing from Vancouver. The Bandits entered the matchup averaging the third fewest turnovers per game (13.7), but gave the ball away 11 times in the first half. Mistakes the Surge happily capitalized on with a barrage of transition triples — on 11-of-20 (55 per cent) — for a 21-1 edge for points from turnovers. And although the Bandits' struggles handling the ball continued — 10 second-half turnovers — they were able to cool down the Surge coming out of the break. Vancouver outscored Calgary 23-17 in the third, cutting what was a deficit as large as 14 down to 78-74 headed into the fourth. “We were sluggish walking around in the first half, but we came in the huddle at halftime and says ‘we got this,’” Creek said of the Bandits' second-half effort. “We changed gears, we switched mentalities and (the Langley Events Centre) woke up because we woke up.” The Bandits' momentum only continued from there as they used an 8-2 run early in the fourth to propel them to a 96-95 lead at the start of Target Score Time. Lost in the one-point advantage was a choice from Vancouver not to foul when they led by four a few possessions earlier, a decision Gilyard II made sure to make the most of as he hit a triple before the clocks stopped. After three consecutive foul calls which sent Vancouver to the line, which were overturned by independent official review, a back-and-forth Target Score Time came down to one final play that put the ball in Gilyard II’s hands. The import was fouled by Kyle Mangas while attempting a triple, sending him to the line for the win. After an official review — all foul calls that result in potential game-winning free throws are automatically reviewed — the on-court decision was confirmed and Gilyard II nailed all his attempts at the charity stripe, booking the Surge’s spot in the Western Conference Final. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2700450
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.
LATEST VIDEO
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.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on July 25, 2025.