The CEBL's draft gives professional experience to university players without affecting their school eligibility, and the Vancouver Bandits are committed to making sure that chance goes to local players
Jerric Palma has been drafted by the Vancouver Bandits. The six-foot guard from Richmond he recently wrapped up his fourth year with the Western University Mustangs in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference, where has averaged 13 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 24 minutes of play
Jerric Palma had just stepped off the court from a run at the rec centre courts at Western University, and noticed a missed call. His heart rate had dropped down to a resting pace, but picked right up again when he listened to the voicemail.
"It was Kyle Julius, he said 'call me back,'" said the Richmond native. "I knew who he was, but I was like, 'What?! Why is he calling me?' I was very, I was pretty surprised."
Julius is the head coach and general manager of the Vancouver Bandits, the pro basketball team based out of the Langley Events Centre. There was likely only one reason Julius was calling, and Palma wasn't going to return it in his current site and state. He dashed home, showered, calmed himself, and called Julius back.
"He said, 'Oh, we've been impressed with your past few years, and we're interested in taking you in the draft this year,'" said Palma, who's helped the Western Mustangs to two-straight second place finishes in USports' Ontario University Athletics conference.
"And ... I was shocked. At least, when I got that call. But then my initial feeling was excitement.
I've always wanted to pursue a professional career, but I didn't think it come so soon. But here we are now, and I'm looking forward to being part of the team."
Palma was the Bandits' second pick, going 17th overall, while Adam Olsen — who was named to the Canada West all-rookie team for his outstanding freshman season with UBC — went fourth overall.
Trinity Western University's Connor Platz rounded out the Bandits picks, going 24th overall.
The CEBL has introduced a much-needed developmental bridge for post-secondary players in Canada to get introduced to a professional environment. The players from either the USports or CCAA ranks don't lose their amateur status and can return unpenalized to the school ranks.
The number of high school players who move on to college teams is around six per cent, with 0.9 per cent making a Div. 1 roster. For those who have pro aspirations, the number dramatically shrinks again.
The new step on the developmental ladder has helped immensely for those who are seeking to make the jump. Not all see playing time, and not all are brought back the next year.
Diego Maffia is a prime example of a successful transition. The Bandits brought him back this year on a developmental contract after drafting him sixth overall in 2023. Maffia, who averaged seven points and 2.5 assists as a rookie in 14 games last year, remains eligible to play in his fifth year at the University of Victoria by virtue of signing a developmental contract.
“I felt it was important to sign and announce Diego as a standard player," said Julius. "He will have a development contract to maintain his eligibility, but I view him as a high level pro who has earned a proper roster spot with us. Diego has proven he belongs in this league."
Palma, who's in his fourth year with the Mustangs, remembers going against Maffia in high school. When he heard the former Oak Bay standout got drafted last year, he made sure to add the CEBL to his viewing habits alongside NBA and NCAA basketball.
His teammate at Western, Aryan Sharma, was taken by the Montreal Alliance in the 2023 draft too. Along with Brian Wallack, the UBC forward who was also drafted by Vancouver in 2023, it game Palma plenty of resources to use as soundboards for what to expect.
Adam Olsen, a deadeye shooter at Elgin Park before his freshman year with the UBC Thunderbirds, was the Bandits first pick, fourth overall.
"I learned a lot about the league, especially last year, and the pro level talent it's got," he said. "So honestly, I think last year, it definitely became a goal of mine to try to play like on that on that level.
"Obviously I have high expectations for myself. I want to eventually get in games and like get minutes and play. But I understand, as a development player, they're going to develop me. All these high level pros around the world are coming into play. In university, you're not playing for money. But other guys who come in are playing for a paycheque.
"My expectation is just to come in every day, and get better. Improving my game, improving all the weak spots in my game, that's my goal."
Plenty of local talent has donned the blue and orange for the Bandits, starting with Yale Secondary grads Joel Friesen and Marek Klassen in the league's first year.
Semiahmoo's Adam Paige, UBC's Conor Morgan — who was just part of an epic Euro run with the British Basketball League's London Lions — Levon Kendall, UBC's Suhkman Sandhu, Parm Bains ... the list reads like a B.C. selects team.
Palma has played the arena court at the Langley Events Centre many times, whether it was with his club, DRIVE basketball, or St. George's in high school.
"Honestly, yeah. It feels like home," he said. "It's a dream to play for any CEBL team, but for (my hometown team) ... I couldn't ask for anything more."
The 6-11 Connor Platz is a defensive force. He averages 12.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, and nearly had the first quadruple-double in Canada West history on Feb. 7, 2024 when he racked up 13 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and seven blocks.
Kelowna's Mason Bourcier is another local product who has taken the pro experience to blossom. He played portions of three years with UBC before eventually landing at Trinity Western University, where he finished a two-year stint averaging a near-triple double. (18.2 pig, 7.7 apg, 7.8 rpg, 2.4 spg). He was drafted by three CEBL teams — Vancouver, Calgary and Newfoundland — and after spending this winter with the Manchester Giants of the BBL — will suit up for the Winnipeg Sea Bears this summer. That was three seasons of pro experience before leaving school, for those counting.
Julius is hoping to see the same progression from Olsen, Platz and Palma as they begin their own pro prologues.
"I'm really excited about the opportunity to work with all three of our draft picks this summer. The goal for our organization is to grow the game from the grassroots level and up," said Julius. "We want to help produce more professional players from B.C., and drafting talented local players is fundamental in the process."
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