Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Friday, 28 May 2010
Under 16's Basketball Talent
England U16 Boys To Face Ireland at BBL Event
Tuesday, 11-Mar-2008In an exciting addition to the line-up at the BBL Finals Weekend, taking place at the National Indoor Arena on Saturday 3 / Sunday 4 May, the BBL, in partnership with England Basketball and Birmingham City Council, has announced that the England U16 Boys' National Team will face their Irish counterparts as part of the impressive schedule at the event.
The Finals Weekend is the showpiece event of the British basketball season and sees the semi-finals and the final of the BBL Championship Playoffs contested over one action-packed weekend.
The junior international will take place on the Saturday at 1.00pm and will be the curtain-raiser for the weekend. The game will be an integral part of the team's build-up to the FIBA Europe U16 Boys European Championship B Division, which sees England travel to Sarajevo, Bosnia, starting on August 15th. In the group stage of that tournament England will find themselves up against Slovenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, and Switzerland. Ireland also compete in the European B Division, and could be potential opponents for the English team in the later stages of the competition.
England U16 Head Coach, Simon Fisher, made the following comments,
"The England Cadet Team are continuing to build towards this year's European 'B' Championships and looking to build on the excellent 4th place finish last year.
"The opportunity for the players to experience playing in a big arena will be invaluable in preparation for the venues at the Europeans.
"As I grew up in Birmingham, represented Birmingham Schools, and played for the Birmingham Bullets' Junior programmes, it is an honour to be the Head Coach of an England team for an international at the NIA.
"I have a family history with basketball in Birmingham, and for me it will be emotional, but the exciting part is that I was inspired watching junior international basketball, and I just hope that the game against Ireland will inspire others to want to play and achieve in this fantastic sport, as a player, coach, official or volunteer."
Andy Webb, the BBL's Chief Operations Officer, added,
"The BBL is delighted to be staging this game at what promises to be a huge event for British basketball.
"As Britain's top professional league, we believe that the BBL has an integral part to play in basketball development and the presentation of a pathway for aspiring young players - in fact, many current BBL players have come through this system such as Richard Midgley, Olu Babalola, and Michael Gayle. Showcasing the elite level of junior basketball, and assisting the England team in their preparations for the Summer, is an important part of that.
"The Finals Weekend is an event that we all look forward to each season, and this fixture is an excellent addition to the exciting mixture of vital games and entertainment that make this event unmissable for UK sport fans."
Tickets for the BBL Finals Weekend are available from £18 for adults and £11 for children (daily rate) or £25 for adults and £18 for children (weekend rate). Tickets can be purchased online at www.theticketfactory.com or by calling 0870 909 4144. For further information on the event, and the latest progress of the BBL Championship competition, visit www.bbl.org.uk
England Olympic Team Melbourne 2006
MEDAL SUCCESS DOWN UNDER: England's basketball team claim bronze in Melbourne in 2006
The decision comes just two weeks after FIBA had written to Keith Mair, chief executive of England Basketball, to confirm that a men's tournament would be staged in the Indian capital.
The tournament was not directly connected with the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in India for the first time in October.
Although the scrapping of the tournament represents a set-back to the Indian organisers and those players hoping to compete, FIBA stressed that the cancellation had nothing to do with concerns about facilities, organisation or security - three issues which have blighted the build-up to the Delhi Games.
"The FIBA Commonwealth men's championship has been cancelled," a FIBA spokesman told national press agency Sportsbeat.
Basketball has only been included in the Commonwealth Games once, in Melbourne four years ago where teams from eight countries, including England and Scotland, competed in men's and women's tournaments.
Both gold medals were won by Australia, with England's men and women taking the bronze medals.
Although Australia are understood to have requested a postponement of the Commonwealth tournament until 2011, FIBA blamed a crowded international programme for its decision.
"The major national federations of the Commonwealth have experienced difficulty with the scheduling of the national team programmes as Australia, Canada and New Zealand have all qualified for the FIBA world championship in Turkey while England - as part of Great Britain - will compete in the European championships qualification series," said a spokesman.
But Mair expressed his disappointment at the scrapping of the tournament, which England Basketball had wanted to use for players not included in the Great Britain squad.
"We always knew we wouldn't have access to the Great Britain players," said Mair.
"Four years ago, using squads of similar construction, we went to the Commonwealth Games and won two bronze medals.
"So we were hoping that the Commonwealth championships would be on.
"Clearly, FIBA wanted a tournament with the top players in it."
There are no plans for the sport to be contested at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where hockey (men and women), netball (women) and rugby sevens (men) will be the team sports.
News
LONDON 2012 BASKETBALL STADIUM GOING TO BRAZIL!
Former Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell confirmed today that talks have already been held with officials from Brazil about the 12,000 seat arena being used as part of their 2016 Games.
She told BBC London: "I had a meeting with the mayor of Sao Paolo who expressed interest in buying our temporary basketball arena after the Games are over.
"Those commercial negotiations are now underway between the city of Sao Paolo and the contractors, so the London 2012 basketball arena may well - when the Games are over - have a second life in Sao Paolo."
"It's a very good expression of the determination by host cities to keep costs down, and to move beyond the requirement that everything has to be iconic, permanent and possibly, in the long term, unused."
She said it would save London "several million" pounds.
RYAN RICHARDS GETS RATINGS!!
Ryan Richards is the name on everyone's lips after smashing it on day one of the NBA Combine trials in Chicago.
The well-respected Bleacher Report writes:
Richards came to Chicago without much fanfare as he wasn't considered one of the better international prospects like Dontas Motiejunas of Lithuania.
From what was shown, the 6'10 235 pound lefty looked impressive in the drills and was able to keep pace with many of the top collegiate talents that were competing. He looked smooth and showed off good athleticism for his size.
If he keeps showing solid skills in future individual workouts like he was able to do today, it would seem very likely for a team to take a flyer on him in the second round of this year's draft.
It only takes one team to fall in love with a player, especially is the case with foreign guys so it's definitely possible for Richards to become a bit of a workout warrior type of player and sneak his way into the end of the first round depending on how the next month goes.
Ryan Richards is the finest young basketball player that Kent has produced in recent years and is Kent’s best chance for representation in both the elite NBA and the GB Basketball team at the 2012 Olympics.
Ryan, who first played elite basketball with the Kent Crusaders, now plays his basketball full time with Spain’s Gran Canaria where he has quickly become a key member of their under 16 and 18 squads. Last season, while still only 14, Ryan regularly featured for the Crusaders men’s teams quickly earning his teammates and opponents respect.
Basketball is a much bigger sport in Spain than it is in Britain, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona fielding professional basketball sides. Richards has shown a huge improvement already after accepting the scholarship to Gran Canria’s academy. Recently he top scored with 33 points heling the Gran Canria regional team to a national championship.
Ryan, now 15 and originally from Sittingbourne, came back to Britain recently and we took the opportunity to talk to him first time about life in Spain:
How does playing in Spain compare to playing in England?
I’ve been in Spain for about six months now and it’s been great. Things are a lot different over here and it’s a whole different culture. We train here everyday and at first I struggled a bit with it. There’s a lot of lifting weights and I’ve improved a lot physically and my game has come on a lot. Living on my own in a different country has been good for me and I feel I’ve improved both as a player and as a person.
What’s it been like getting used to life in Spain – have you learned the language?
I’m still learning the language but Canaria has loads of guys from all over the world, from places like the Czech Republic and Somalia and most of them speak pretty good English so it’s been alright so far.
And the food?
The food’s alright, most of the time we’re on a special diet to help us put on weight but on Sundays we get to eat traditional food like Paella.
What do you hope to do next?
Well I want to go North and get a contract with one of the big clubs like Barcelona or Real Madrid, they have the same badge and everything as the football clubs. Then I want to go to America to one of the colleges and finally to the NBA!
Good luck with that!
Thanks
What’s it like being back in the UK?
Cold! It feels very cold over here. I’ve been training with the guys (Kent Crusaders) and it felt good to be back, although all the plays have changed and I didn’t really know what was going on.
What are the coaches like in Spain?
The training in Spain is really good, I’m stronger a lot faster and my fundamentals have improved a lot
Does your new coach shout as much as Jesse? (Jesse Sazant, Kent’s head coach)
(Laughs) No, no one shouts as much as him!
Standard Life is proud to support British Basketball and Team GB on the journey to London 2012
Basketball originated in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in December 1891 when Dr. James Naismith tossed a ball into a peach basket. Today in the UK it has risen to become the third largest participative team sport after football and cricket.
Standard Life is proud to support British Basketball and Team GB on the journey to London 2012. We will be with Team GB every second, every shot, every pass, every block of the way to help them achieve their potential.
The road to London 2012 begins at ‘Game On At The O2’. Visit the 'Game On' website for a full schedule of events and join us with your support for the teams.
Standard Life is proud to support British Basketball and Team GB on the journey to London 2012. We will be with Team GB every second, every shot, every pass, every block of the way to help them achieve their potential.
The road to London 2012 begins at ‘Game On At The O2’. Visit the 'Game On' website for a full schedule of events and join us with your support for the teams.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
British Basketball News
7 Reasons to be excited about British Basketball in 2010
OK so it’s February now and most people do these kinda things in the first week of January, but for whatever reason I’ve been held up and am doing it now! 2009 was perhaps one of the most exiting years for British basketball in a long time and I think will go down as a pivotal point in British basketball history. So what has 2010 got in store? Here are 7 reasons you should be excited!
There are exciting times ahead for Luol Deng and Team GB
1) Team GB
Coming off what most consider their most successful year ever, things should only get better for Team GB. Despite missing out on a place at the World Championships it will be great to watch them in the run up to Eurobasket 2011 and hopefully continue their ascent of Division A.
2) Young Talent in the UK
I had no idea of the ridiculous amount of talent at U18 level we had in this country until spending my Summer following Midnight Madness around and attending other events up and down the country. For the likes of Leon Bennett Harris, and Co, the future is bright and should only get better in 2010.
Justin Robinson has been making waves in the NCAA this year
3) Brits in the NCAA
We not only have British ballers playing for some of the top basketball institutions in the states (see Matthew Bryan Amaning at Washington) but also British ballers are actually contributing as opposed to riding the pine. Justin Robinson is leading his conference in 3p % and is 17th in the nation in FT%, Eric Boateng of Arizona State is leading the Pac-10 in field goal percentage (at an impressive 63.8%), and Junior guard Ogo Adegboye has recently landed the starting sport at St Bonaventures.
4) Brits in the NBA
Granted, Pops may have recently relocated to Moscow from Toronto, but Luol Deng is still shining bright for the Bulls (whilst playing injured) and should only get better this year. Some may put Ben Gordon under this bracket as well, but I still hold reservations about that…
Chris Finch and Team GB are hoping for a place at 2012
5) The Run up to London 2012
In 2009 I felt there was a growing buzz about British basketball with the run up to the Olympics in 2012. As we expect the result of whether Team GB are successful in their bid for a place at the London Olympics in 2010, I expect this buzz to only get bigger.
6) The BBL is becoming more…British!
Hackney born Newcastle Eagles big man Darius Defoe has recently been called one of the top 3 centres in the league, we have a couple of teams (Essex Piratesand Everton Tigers) that are made up almost entirely of young British talent, and BBL teams that are creating basketball academys to nurture our British basketball youth. Though there is still progress to be made, gone are the days of seeing our British ballers stuck at the end of the bench whilst watching Americans play 5 on 5.
7) More Events than Ever Before
2010 has a lot in store for British basketball as a select few continue to try and improve the UK basketball scene. Midnight Madness 2010 should be bigger and better than ever before thanks to Nhamo, Jackson, Junior and co, we will see the launch of Mike Baptiste’s 2ksports sponsored Elite 10 Hoops Tour, plus we have all the other regular Summer events to look forward to-Future Stars, NBA Adidas 5 United and so on. That’s without even mentioning the Euroleague coming to Barking Academy! Gonna be a big year..(keep your eyes peel for a potential Hoopsfix event as well!)
So there you have it…
7 reasons for you to be excited about British basketball in 2010! Is there anything I’ve missed? What are you looking forward to on the British basketball scene this year?
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