Chester Jets have re-signed dynamic forward Shawn Myers ahead of the new season as they look to defend the BBL Championship.

Player/coach Billy Singleton is thrilled to have returned one of his key players and highlights the importance of familiarity and the successful partnership the pair have formed,

“Shawn is an excellent player and this is my third season playing with him”, said Singleton, “We had a Championship season up in Glasgow (2002-03) and we had a Championship season last year together.  Every time myself and Shawn Myers have been playing together it has been a successful situation so that was one of the main reasons for bringing him back”.

Myers has twice featured in the BBL All-Star team and has matched that feat elsewhere in his career including Iceland and Lithuania.  He has also tasted success in the BBL to the tune of a BBL Championship and Playoff trophy.

The Trinidad & Tobago native posted big numbers in the Jets Championship season as he scored 19.43 points (9th in BBL) and 7.33 rebounds per game in 
2004/05, he was also tenth in the league for steals with 1.83 per game, but Coach Singleton believes that the intangibles are just as important a part of his 
game,

“Shawn has been a consistent 20-point scorer, he has been posting 8-10 rebounds per game throughout his career.  But I think Shawn brings an intensity and energy to the game that is very important.  He is also a very versatile defensive player, at 6’7”, last year he was asked to guard some of the top guards in the league as well as some of the top post players, he’s very agile and very versatile”.

The capture of Myers’ signature represents the fourth player to return from last year’s league-topping team.  Player/coach Billy Singleton has also brought 
back captain Calvin Davis and point guard Anthony Martin,

“We have got the core of the team back and that’s what we were looking to do.  Continuity was my first priority and so far I’ve done that and I’m feeling really 
good about the fact that we have got most of our guys back”.
 

Sullivan stays on Tyneside

Newcastle Eagles have confirmed that Andrew Sullivan will be returning to Tyneside for a second season with the club. 

The England International was instrumental in helping the Eagles win two trophies during the last campaign and his signature represents a major boost for player/coach Fabulous Flournoy who has now secured the return of five key players. 

The Londoner ended the 2004/05 season on a high after scooping the MVP award in the Play-Off Final and has since carried his impressive form onto the International stage in recent months with the England team. 

He said “Once I decided that I was coming back to play in the BBL and would be focusing my efforts on the Commonwealth Games I was never going to go anywhere else. I feel comfortable in Newcastle both with the players, the staff and the club. Why wouldn't I want to be a part of what everyone is trying to achieve here?” 

He added: “The Commonwealth Games was one of the most important factors in my decision to stay with the Eagles and I can’t wait to be part of the England team who 
will be looking to make history. It is an important stage of my career and one that I am excited about. We have the opportunity as a group of players to put in a 
strong performance at the Games and that is what I fully expect us to do.” 

Flournoy has already snapped up rookie power forward Damien Argrett from Pfeiffer University in North Carolina.

The 6'8" New Yorker will replace Rocks-bound Frank Bennett on the Eagles' roster.

Flournoy told the Newcastle Chronicle: "Damien has a good pedigree and is sound in all of the fundamentals. His work ethic and defensive-minded attitude is just what I was looking for.

"He played 20 minutes in college and yet averaged 20 points and over five rebounds during that time. He is a solid guy that has been well coached and I knew after watching him for just 10 minutes he could be a fit for us."
 

Scots raid England for top talent

Scottish Rocks coach Steve Swanson underlined his plans to buy British this season by making Julius Joseph and Germayne Forbes his first captures of the summer. 

Sport England has provided funding for those players who will take part next March’s Commonwealth Games to ply their trade on home soil this term. And Swanson has exploited the policy and held off a rival bid from Sheffield Sharks to land the versatile forward.

“I love getting British talent and the fact that England Basketball have arranged for all their guys to get an extra stipend presents all BBL clubs with a chance to bring back the best homegrown players,” Swanson said. “The rules are set up for that this season and although we’re looking for four good imports, I want Scottish and English guys who can contribute and take us to the next level.

“The great irony is that although we’re the Scottish Rocks, I’ve probably coached more England internationals here over the last three years than anyone else. They want to come here because they know they’ll get a fair chance to play.”

Forbes played with Hungarian side Gunaras KC Dombóvár last year and averaged 19.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game but has been in stunning form for England this summer. 

Swanson added: "Germayne is a skilled player with European experience, and we hope he can have a major impact on our team this year. 

“He is a tremendous young talent who has been a very solid player with the England National Team this summer.”

Swanson is also holding talks with 6’6” American forward Jean Francois who has just left Georgia Southern University.
 

Bears re-sign vet duo

Brighton Bears have announced their first signings of the summer with the return of Andrew Alleyne and Ronnie Baker. 

Last season Alleyne, 36, had arguably his best season yet as the fans voted him Bears' Most Valuable Player and he was also MVP in Bears BBL Cup triumph.  The Barbadian international led the team in scoring with 19.69 points per game, which was seventh highest in the BBL, and also pulled down 7.81 rebounds per game.

The vastly experienced Baker, also 36, is the most capped player in English Basketball history and was voted Bears' Most Inspirational Player by supporters in the end of season awards.  Last season he scored 7.04 points and dished out 3 assists per game.

Bears' coach Nick Nurse said, "They are big-time fans favourites and they are reliable and consistent. It's nice to have that. I don't know if Ronnie will be going to the Commonwealth Games. England always seem to want to replace him and he always fights his way back. I hope he goes there and represents us." 

Point guard Baker took over from Ryan Huntley when he picked up a season-ending injury last term.  In response to news of Huntley's departure to join the Leicester Riders, Nurse added: "I probably didn't move quickly enough to get Ryan back. Maybe he didn't want to come back."
 

Plymouth have the Gall

Plymouth Kularoos Raiders’ Head Coach Gary Stronach is celebrating another success with the news that off guard Allister Gall has re-signed for the club.

Gall spent three years in America at college, played one season in Ireland and last season returned home to Plymouth to join Stronach as the Raiders moved into the BBL.  He enjoyed considerable success and was selected for try out with the England squad at the end of the season.

Despite lucrative offers from several clubs on the continent he was committed to the Raiders cause and eager to help the club establish themselves in the BBL.  He is likely to once again be a key component as the Raiders hunt for BBL success, last season he averaged 13.50 points per game. 

“Allister was a key member of our first BBL squad last season and I always wanted him back with us," said Stronach. "I feared that he may leave us for one of the offers he received but we were able to give him a little bit of the home town stability he wanted and I will value his involvement both on the court and out in the community."
 

Bullets Kash in

Birmingham Bullets have agreed to terms with 6’9” American forward Kashien Latham, a product of NCAA Division 1 college Georgia Southern, where he was a productive scorer and rebounder with 13.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per
game (2nd in Conference) in 2000-01 and 11.1ppg and 9.1rpg in 2001-02.

He is also an experienced professional after being drafted by the Kansas Cagerz of the USBL and the Greenville Groove of the NBDL.  He has also played for Al Ahili (Jordan - First League) where he put up an astonishing 24.2 points and 12.5 rebounds each outing.

Last season he was a solid performer for the Atlanta Vision of the ABA, posting 15.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.  In addition he has also been playing in the Mexican pro league (LNBP) previously this summer. 

Bullets new player/coach, Skouson Harker, said:  “He is the type of guy we need in order to compete in this league.  He is tough as nails yet has finesse and he can score and rebound with the best of them.”

Bullets also signed 6’7’’ small forward Jeff Bonds, formerly of California Poly Pomona University of the NCAA II.

Jeff had a stellar four-year career at Cal-Poly Pomona as he was named All-CCAA First Team and West Region MVP in 2002-03.  He was also an All-CCAA First Team and West Region First Team in 2003-04, 2004-05.
 

Leicester capture Bears

Leicester Riders have raided Brighton to secure the services of veteran forward Tony Holley and point guard Ryan Huntley ahead of the 2005/06 season.

The 37 year-old Holley has been a dominant force in the British game for almost 15 years and has also played in Ireland, Switzerland and Israel.

“Tony is a veteran guy who has been around the league and knows everything there is to know about the BBL”, said Coach Karl Brown, “he’ll bring some stability to us inside and I’m delighted to have him on board”.

“He is a proven player in this league but more importantly he is a proven winner, and that is the sort of mentality that I’m after”.
 
 
 

Blood ties to Lions

Milton Keynes Lions have re-signed 6’7” power forward Robert Youngblood.

The 34-year-old joined the Lions during last season following spells with BBL rivals London Leopards and more recently London Towers. The power forward has won the BBL Championship as well as the BBL Cup in his time in England, as well as spells in the German Bundesliga.

Youngblood averaged 11.3 points and 7.20 rebounds per game for the Milton Keynes side last season, and holds a career average in excess of 16pts per game. He played in 31 games for the Lions last term. Lions owner Vince Macaulay was delighted at the signing, 

“Robert brought a lot of veteran leadership to us last season and actually improved the game of a number of his team mates, he is the kind of guy you never want to se in opposition colours.”

Lions Head Coach, Nigel Lloyd, who is currently coaching the Barbados National team in Costa Rica, added: “You cannot quantify all the little things Robert brings to the table, if we aim to finish in the top four then he is vital to those plans.”