East Kent Crusaders' head coach Jesse Sazant has made his ambitions for the forthcoming season clear, calling promotion to the second division a must for his team this season. Crusaders are able to field a much-improved side from the one that narrowly missed out on promotion last season with summer signings like 6’10 Canadian Walter Moyse and Great Britain police player Pete Adkins adding greater depth and physicality to the side. The team’s guard attack will once again be lead by Robbie Parker, MVP and top scorer last season scoring on average 22 points per game. Robbie will be joined by brother James Parker and 3 point shooting specialist James Harris, another summer signing. The team aims to play a more unpredictable up tempo style of basketball this season and Crusaders expect that the attacking abilities of players like Robbie Parker will help them to unhinge opposition defences. Crusaders will also be able to boast a formidable forward line this season with returning starters Paul Jessop and league leading rebounder Lee Butters lining up alongside new signings Moyse and Adkins. Jessop who was named Division 3 East player of the year last season has been named captain of the Crusaders for the 2005/2006 season. “I’m very pleased to be named captain,” said Jessop “we played really well last season but just missed out on promotion this year we are more determined than ever to achieve promotion this season.” Jessop said he relished the opportunity to play alongside new signings Moyse and Adkins. “Players like Pete and Walter will definitely add some genuine height to our defence, something we definitely lacked last season.” Junior player Ryan Richards has also been called up to the senior squad for the new season. Richards is a product of the Crusaders accredited youth system. Richards impressed greatly last season and has been included in the England Basketball teams junior programme. He also travelled to Estonia with the England team last December. Assistant head coach at Crusaders and joint head of the junior programme Nick Reed heaped praise on Richards; “Ryan is something else, he’s an England player already and he’s playing a year above his age for England. He is the brightest hope we have of producing an international player here in Kent. Already he’s touching 6’6 but aside from his height he has excellent natural abilities and great ability to learn if he keeps on training with us and with England I can see him being very successful in the future.” East Kent Crusaders Role in the development of youth basketball in Kent has been recognised by the England Basketball who awarded them three star accreditation. The club registered over 100 new members last season and has a large number of coaches, including new signing Mads Olsen from Denmark teaching the game to young people across Kent. Head coach of Crusaders Jesse Sazant said he was very excited about his team’s chances for the season; “I am really excited by our prospects this season. The new guys have fit in really well and the experience we gained last should pay off this year.” Crusaders play their first friendly of the season away at 1st Division side Worcester Wolves on the 4 of September followed up by a trip to Westside for the first round of the National Cup on Saturday 10th of September. The Crusaders first home game will be against Richmond College London United on the 1st of October at the Body and Mind Canterbury.
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