Vancouver Bandits Sign Canadian Forward Kur Jongkuch for 2023 CEBL Season

LANGLEY, B.C., April 17, 2023 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Monday that the club has signed athletic big man and Team Canada GLOBL JAM forward Kur Jongkuch for the club’s upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

A 6-foot-9 forward, Jongkuch was born in Juba, South Sudan and grew up in London, Ont., where he starred at London Basketball Academy before making the jump to NCAA Division I basketball where he played at Northern Colorado University (2018-22) and Temple University (2022-23). 

Over the course of his five-year collegiate career, Jongkuch played 151 games (126 starts) and alternated between the centre and power forward positions. He averaged a combined 5.7 points, 5.4 rebounds (1.8 offensive) and 18.9 minutes per game on 62.9 per cent shooting from field goal range between North Colorado and Temple.

“I am excited to bring my energy and athleticism to the Vancouver Bandits. I am a two-way player and I love to give my all for my teammates in an effort to put us in the best position to win. This summer represents a chance to get better, grow as an individual and to inspire Bandits fans. I can’t wait to get after it and represent the Vancouver area,” Jongkuch said.

Jongkuch was invited last summer to be part of the Canadian U-23 men’s national team for the inaugural GLOBL Jam tournament. The 220-pound forward appeared in three games for the men’s national team at the event.

“Kur's journey to get to the CEBL is truly remarkable and inspiring. He has shown tremendous resiliency and consistent growth as a player to get to this point. He is a special athlete, an elite defender and his attitude and toughness fit our culture perfectly. We are all looking forward to welcoming Kur to the Bandits family,” Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius said.

The Bandits tip-off the 2023 CEBL campaign on Saturday, May 27 when the club takes on the Winnipeg Sea Bears at Canada Life Centre. Fans will have their first chance to watch Jongkuch and company on home soil at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 3 when Vancouver welcomes the Calgary Surge for its first-ever visit to LEC.

Season tickets for the fifth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by clicking here. A full seat map, price chart breakdown, season schedule and a complete list of season ticket holder benefits can be found by clicking here.

A key highlight of Vancouver’s fifth CEBL campaign will be its hosting of Championship Weekend, which takes place between Friday, August 11 and Sunday, August 13. An annual celebration of the highest level of Canadian professional basketball, Championship Weekend features a postseason format that combines three games of playoff basketball as part of a multi-day festival experience designed to celebrate the intersection of arts, culture and sport. As hosts of Championship Weekend, the Bandits receive an automatic semifinal berth.

Individuals interested in learning more about tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ 2023 season are kindly asked to call (604) 455-8881 or email [email protected]. A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

About the 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 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.