Men's basketball student-athletes
Brandt Lenz and
Dante Dyck have earned an opportunity to compete to play pro ball this summer in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The pair of guards are set to participate in the inaugural Vancouver Bandits university combine, taking place from April 25-26, 2026 at Langley Events Centre. It's the first of its kind hosted by a CEBL team.
The invite-only combine will feature nearly 40 student-athletes from post-secondary men's basketball programs across BC and North America. The goal of the combine is for Bandits coaching staff to identify players to invite to training camp, where they can compete for a roster spot for the 2026 CEBL season.
"It is exciting to see these two guys get a chance to show their skills and get a taste of the pro game," said Bisons head coach
Kirby Schepp.
"I have heard great things about the environment that coach Julius and the Bandits have created in Vancouver. At the U of M, a big focus of ours is to create a program that gets athletes ready to be pros, and we know both Brandt and Dante will be ready to show out, impress and represent the Herd."
Lenz is one of two fifth-year seniors returning to Manitoba's roster for the 2026-27 campaign. A veteran of 86 career games (regular season and playoffs), including 34 starts, the Chilliwack, BC native has been a consistent contributor at the point guard position on both ends of the floor.
Steady and reliable, Lenz led Canada West in three point percentage in 2023-24, at 47.7 percent with 21 makes. In his career, Lenz has recorded 379 points, 116 assists, 68 three-pointers and 31 steals.
Dyck is widely regarded as one of the cornerstone pieces of Manitoba's roster moving forward. A redshirt last season, the 6'3" guard saw time in the pre-season for Manitoba, offering a glimpse into the future with six points, two assists and two rebounds in 13 combined minutes against UBCO and Lakehead.
Prior to his commitment to the team in 2025-26, Dyck spent a year overseas playing professionally with Olimpia Kings in Paraguay's National Basketball League. He scored in double figures numerous times, including 19 points against San Jose in November of 2024.
A proven scorer, Dyck averaged 30.1 points per game in his senior year in Manitoba in 2024 with Garden Valley, and was named AAA Male Player of the Year. He also holds Garden Valley's school record for points in a game, sinking 56 in February of 2024 during the Sturgeon Heights HIT Tournament.
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