Vancouver Bandits add Jack Vandenberg, Jalen Shirley and Shadynn Smid, bringing three B.C. university standouts to the 2026 season.
A trio of university standouts is the latest boost for the Vancouver Bandits, as the club announced the signings of three players tied to B.C. programs.
The Bandits have brought back Jack Vandenberg, a six-foot guard from Trinity Western University, for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.. During his junior year at Trinity Western in 2025-26, he led the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game, while adding 3.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds across 20 games and 19 starts.
Meanwhile, the club’s announcement highlights how Vandenberg first surfaced through a Bandits University Combine in Vancouver, where local student-athletes competed with the goal of catching the coaches’ attention.
This matters for the Bandits because signing players who already fit the team’s training culture can shorten the learning curve as camp approaches.
Vandenberg’s path has included a stint at Concordia University in 2022-23 before returning to the pro pipeline in B.C.. Earlier, he attended St.. George’s School in Vancouver and earned second team all-star honours at the 2022 BC 4A Boys Basketball Provincial Championship, helping his school finish in the top 10 during his senior year.
Beyond Vandenberg, the Bandits also announced Jalen Shirley of the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO). A native of Brampton, Ont., Shirley is an all-time leader for UBCO in both points and assists, and he was also the invitee who drew notice after joining the same university combine.
On the court, the club described Shirley as a controlled, pace-setting point guard, pointing to his final season at U SPORTS where he averaged 20.8 points per game, along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while playing 34.4 minutes across 23 games and starts.. He also earned Canada West third team all-star honours.
Finally, the Bandits completed the trio with Shadynn Smid, a University of Victoria Vikes standout and former U SPORTS national champion. Smid also appeared at the Bandits University Combine, and the club said she offered a mix of athletic ability and improving skill that stood out.
Fans will get their first look at the Bandits in a charitable pre-season game on Saturday, May 9, at 5 p.m.. at the Envision Financial Court in Langley Events Centre, when the club plays the Sikh Warriors.. The team then begins the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14, with an opening road trip in Saskatoon before returning to Langley for a home opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22.
In this context, the shared theme across the three signings is clear: the Bandits are leaning on familiar university routes and combine evaluations to build a roster aimed at competing early.