Just a few days ahead of Kelowna Hoopfest, the Vancouver Bandits added some local talent for the rest of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.
On Thursday, May 28, the team announced the signing of 6’10” forward Grant Shephard for the rest of the year. He’s joining the team for the fourth time.
The Kelowna product spent 2019 with the Bandits as a developmental player and suited up for the team in 2023 and 2025. In his last stint, he played in six games, averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds on .833 shooting from the field.
Shephard has bounced around as he’s also had three stints in Europe, playing in Portugal, Estonia and Sweden and most recently for CSB Corona Brasov in Romania.
Back in 2016, Shephard attended Kelowna Secondary, where he helped the Owls to a B.C. AAAA provincial championship. He won MVP as a junior.
The 27-year-old started his collegiate career at the University of British Columbia before going to Carleton University, where he won back-to-back U SPORTS championships in 2022 and 2023.
He’s also suited up for his country internationally, representing Canada at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup, winning gold, and taking home silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Shephard and the Bandits will suit up at Prospera Place in Kelowna on Saturday, June 6, against the Saskatoon Mamba as part of the inaugural Kelowna Hoopfest.
Tickets are still available on the Bandits website.