Abbotsford ( Dan Kinvig – UFV and Andrew Savory, Fraser Valley Bandits) – University of the Fraser Valley men’s basketball standout Sukhjot Bains will get a taste of the professional game this summer, after signing with the Fraser Valley Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
Bains, a rising fifth-year guard, is poised to make his debut with the Abbotsford-based franchise on Thursday, when the team faces the Saskatchewan Rattlers in Saskatoon (6 p.m. PT, CEBL.tv).
Bains, a 6’6” guard out of Tamanawis Secondary in Surrey, B.C., joined the Cascades in 2018-19 after spending his first three seasons of university eligibility south of the border, most recently at NCAA Div. I Wisconsin-Green Bay. He had an instant impact at UFV, starting 19 conference games and finishing second in team scoring (12.8 points per game). He also ranked second in rebounding (6.9) and third in assists (2.3), while establishing himself as one of the most versatile and effective defenders in Canada West. Bains helped the Cascades to a 13-7 regular-season record and a first-round playoff win over the UNBC Timberwolves, before falling 2-1 to the UBC Thunderbirds in the best-of-three Canada West quarter-finals.
The next home game for Bains and the Bandits (0-9) is Thursday, July 4, when they host the Guelph Nighthawks at Abbotsford Centre (7 p.m.).
Bains and the Cascades men’s basketball team begin the 2019-20 Canada West campaign Nov. 1-2 at the Winnipeg Wesmen, and home-opening weekend is Nov. 15-16 vs. the UBC Okanagan Heat.
