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
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.
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, and the Bandits Community Foundation partnered with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Nuxalk First Nation to host a series of youth basketball clinics throughout the Bella Coola Valley earlier this month, marking the club’s first visit to the region. Led by Bandits Team President Dylan Kular and Community Manager Pavan Kalair, nearly 200 local youth athletes 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. Beginning with a welcome ceremony from Nuxalk Nation community leaders and drummers, Bandits staff led PHE classes at Acwsalcta School, hosted skill development clinics at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School (SAMSS), and assisted community coaches with tryouts for Nuxalk Nation’s U13 and U17 teams participating at the 2027 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament, taking place in March. "Bella Coola has one of the richest basketball traditions anywhere in this province, and you feel it the moment you walk into their gyms. The passion that Nuxalk Nation has for this game runs deep, and it gets passed down from generation to generation," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "What stood out to us all week was how basketball brings this community together. Elders, parents, coaches and kids were all in the same room, and that is what the game is supposed to look like. We are grateful to Nuxalk Nation for welcoming us, and to I∙SPARC for helping us get here. This is the first time we have made the trip to the Valley, but it certainly will not be the last." “It was a pleasure to host the Bandits in Bella Coola; we are super grateful for the Bandits and I∙SPARC for their partnership and making the trip to experience the passion and love that Nuxalk Nation has for basketball,” said Nuxalk Nation youth coordinator Cole Sankey. “As a coach, it was a great opportunity to bring high-level basketball minds to our community and show our youth a little bit of what professional players go through. Dylan and Pavan brought great energy to our workshops at Acwsalcta, SAMSS and Nuxalk Hall, and they emphasized in each session that the best players master the basic details every day. Stutwiniititsxw Vancouver Bandits and I∙SPARC!” The camps were part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. 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.
Former Vancouver Bandits guard Jarkel Joiner has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz. The news was announced by the Jazz via press release on Friday . During his time with the Bandits in the 2026 season, House made 10 appearances, including 9 starts, averaging 24.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game and earned CEBL Western Conference Player of the Month honours for May 2026. On June 18, 2026 at Winnipeg, he set the Bandits' single-game franchise scoring record with 42 points. 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.
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, hosted a youth basketball camp on Wednesday, September 9 in Williams Lake, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and FortisBC. The Bandits welcomed over 40 local athletes and their families to the camp, with the main goal of building confidence, inspiring young athletes, and bringing youth sports development and mentorship to athletes across the province. Held at Lake City Secondary, the camp marked the first community visit by BC’s professional basketball team to the Cariboo region, bringing more basketball to more people across our province. “Community is a core pillar of the Bandits organization, and we are proud to host camps and opportunities that help shape and inspire the next generation of players and leaders,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Thank you to our partners at I∙SPARC and FortisBC for their support in bringing this camp to fruition, and to the Williams Lake basketball community for welcoming our team this week.” "We're proud to support opportunities that help young people build confidence, strengthen their skills and create lasting connections," said Janet Devaney, senior manager, community & Indigenous initiatives at FortisBC. "Through initiatives like this basketball camp, Indigenous youth can connect with peers and mentors, develop new skills and experience the positive impact that sport can have on confidence, leadership and a sense of belonging.” The free-of-charge camp was part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. 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.
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