LANGLEY, B.C. - The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that the club has signed UBCO Heat all-time leading scorer and assist leader Jalen Shirley to its roster for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.
 
A six-foot guard from Brampton, Ont., Shirley was invited to participate in the inaugural Bandits University Combine, hosted by the club to identify players to invite to training camp and add to its roster for the upcoming 2026 season. Shirley was one of 40 student-athletes from local universities, earning a spot on the Bandits 2026 training camp roster, beginning on May 5.

"Jalen has been working towards an opportunity like this for the last several years," said Heat head coach Clay Pottinger. "The Bandits organization is easily one of the best in the Canadian professional basketball landscape. All his B.C. fans will love to continue watching his star rise."
 
"At our combine, Jalen stood out for not getting sped up and playing with control," said Vancouver head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. "We are thrilled to bring him in and give him the platform to develop into a top-tier professional as he transitions from university to the next level."
 
He averaged 20.8 points per game in his final season (2025-26), which ranked second in the Canada West conference, as well as 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 34.4 minutes played per game across 23 games and starts. His play earned him Canada West Third Team All-Star honours. Shirley finished his five-year university career as the UBCO Heat's all-time leader in points and assists, while ranking second all-time in steals, and received the school's men's Graduating Athlete of the Year award.
 
"Jalen is an elite U SPORTS point guard who plays the game with solid poise and pace. In pick-and-roll situations, he plays with flow and gets to his spots," added Julius.
 
The Bandits open the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14 on the road in Saskatoon before coming home for its Home Opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. A full game schedule can be viewed here.

- with files from the Vancouver Bandits