Vancouver Bandits Re-Sign High Energy Forward Kur Jongkuch for 2024 CEBL Season

LANGLEY, B.C., March 14, 2024 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has re-signed 6-foot-9 forward Kur Jongkuch ahead of its upcoming season at Langley Events Centre (LEC), which tips off on May 23rd when BC’s pro basketball team takes on the Montréal Alliance.

Jongkuch made his professional debut with the Bandits last summer after completing a five-year career of NCAA Division I basketball split between Northern Colorado University (2018-22) and Temple University (2022-23).

Throughout nine regular season Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) games, Jongkuch made an impression through his energy and motor, frequently dazzling the crowd by blocking shots, hustling for loose balls or skying above the rim for a dunk. Jongkuch recorded season-highs in minutes played (18), points (nine), rebounds (six) and blocks (two) against Montréal on July 16, 2023. Jongkuch’s strong second half of the season continued as he capped off the campaign with a perfect 3-for-3 shooting performance in a crucial win over the Scarborough Shooting Stars on July 30th, followed by a big game on the glass in the CEBL Western Conference Finals when he hauled in seven rebounds (four offensive).

“This summer will be filled with hard work, passion and amazing basketball. We owe it to the best fans in the league. Go Bandits,” said Jongkuch. 

Currently, Jongkuch is playing for Horsens IC in Denmark’s Basketligaen. His club is tied for first place in the league, while Jongkuch ranks first on his team in blocks (1.2), second in rebounds (6.8) and fifth in points (11) per game as of March 13th, 2024.

Born in Juba, South Sudan, Jongkuch grew up in London, Ont., where he starred at London Basketball Academy before making the jump to NCAA Division I. Over the course of his 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.

“We are fortunate to have Kur back with us for a second summer. Kur's energy and positive attitude are infectious. He makes us a better team and a closer group. He has improved so much from his first day with us last summer. It's a testament to his work ethic and attitude. I can't wait to get back to work with Kur,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius.

Jongkuch represented the Canadian national team in the summer of 2022 when he suited up for the U-23 men’s program at the inaugural GLOBL Jam tournament. The 220-pound forward appeared in three games for the men’s national team at the event.

Vancouver will play a total of 10 regular season home games in 2024 between Thursday, May 23 and Thursday, July 18. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against Montréal on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. PT. 

All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices).

Exclusive single game tickets for the Bandits’ highly anticipated ‘Home Opener Weekend’ featuring games on Thursday, May 23 and Sunday, May 26 are on sale now at this link.

Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of tickets are invited to consider a flex pack or season tickets. More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a  Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing [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 73% of its 2023 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. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. 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.