25/09/08 Gayle Completes the PictureThe final piece of the jigsaw that is this season's carefully constructed Jets roster was announced today when the club confirmed the signing of the 5'10'' guard Steven Gayle who has previously played for the Manchester Magic and Worthing in the EBL. Gayle who had linked up with the Jets in the close season signed after some impressive performances in the pre-season warm up games - notably against his old club last Wednesday when he was the only available guard and against the Sheffield Sharks last Sunday when he came of the bench in the final quarter and ran their tiring defence ragged to help seal an impressive win. Head Coach Paul Smith is delighted to have obtained Gayle's signature. "Steven is very much the up and coming young English guard, a product of the outstanding Manchester development programme, and it is a tribute to his desire to make a success of his career that he has agreed to join us at the Jets and to fight for his minutes on court, despite the quality of the guards we already have. “He has already demonstrated that he has a role to play in the squad and I am sure that he strive to make it even greater. He has been the outstanding guard in the EBL for a number of years, and with the quality and experience of the other guars with whom he will be training and playing, I am sure he will continue to make progress." 17/09/08 Happy returns for the Jets
A familiar face
will be amongst the new signings in Head coach Paul Smith's latest BiG Storage
Cheshire Jets squad, as Richard Murphy has signed up for his sixth season with
the club. He was appointed as the Jets Sports Development Officer last season and has been a major contributor to the success of the Jets' community programme. He will continue with this post for the coming year, with special responsibilities for overseeing the expansion of the "Hoops4Health" programme as it expands as it targets upwards of 10,000 local schoolchildren across Chester, Cheshire and North Wales. If that was not enough, he is also stepping up to become Paul Smith's assistant coach - a move which Smith sees as a mutually beneficial move. "Murph is a very experienced player who thinks a lot about the game - and he has undertaken a wide range of coaching duties in his community work over the past year", commented the Head Coach. "After six years as a member of the squad, he has a lot to offer - I made a similar move at the same stage in my career - so there is no reason why he should not be able to use the opportunity to both advance his own career and benefit the club." Peter Hawkins, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets Director was similarly enthusiastic. "Richard has provided invaluable assistance in the organisation and day-to- day running of the Hoops4health throughout the last year, and has, by his professional and enthusiastic attitude, succeeded in attracting and maintaining positive reactions from participating schools and their pupils. We are looking forward to him being part of the Jets continuing success, both on and off the court" Richard will be part of the squad competing in the final pre-season friendly of the warm up campaign, against perennial trans-pennine rivals Sheffield Sharks at the Northgate Arena, next Sunday 21st September , tip-off 5.30pm. Paul Smith, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets Head Coach has brought back a couple of familiar faces as he applies the finishing touches to his 2008-9 BBL squad. Donning the familiar black and gold again will be Alan Duppa and Phil Brandreth. Alan Duppa, a 6'7'' Welsh International centre joined the Jets from EBL side Newi Nets at the start of last season and impressed with his tough and uncompromising style in a number or unexpectedly lengthy appearances, due to the catastrophic run of injuries that dogged the jets season. "Alan has thoroughly earned his chance to represent the Jets again," said Jets Head Coach Paul Smith, "he did everything we asked of him and more last season and spent many more minutes on court than we expected. He never gave less than 100% and never looked out of place." Phil Brandreth, back in this country after spending time at Mount Aloysius College in Pennsylvania, has a long-time connection with the Jets. An ex -student at Whitby High School in Ellesmere Port, he attended the Jets summer camps while still at school, before becoming a bench player in the 2003 BBL squad. After more than two years in the States he has now returned to his local team, bigger, fitter, stronger and more confident and looking forward to making a contribution. "Phil represents exactly what we are trying to achieve at the Jets," remarked Peter Hawkins, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets Director, "a local lad who has played the game at school, became associated with the club - then went to the USA to further his education and improve his game. Now he has returned to the squad. All the thousands of school children who will enjoy basketball-related activities as part of our community-based programme this year can look at Phil and see what it is possible for them to achieve with application and ambition." News of a final signing for Paul Smith's squad and a preview of the first weekend of the new BBL season will be available early next week. 04/09/08 Big Storage Cheshire Jets have taken another step towards the completion of their 2008/9 Roster with the signature of Shuan Stegall, a 6'7", 15st 10lb forward. Shuan, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, played for the Kennesaw State Owls in America's "Atlantic Sun" Conference, where he finished last season ranked second in the Conference in both offensive and defensive rebounds as well as overall rebounds per game. He also led the team in total points, blocked shots, field goal attempts, rebounds and field goals made - all in all he managed 13 double-doubles during the season. Paul Smith, Jets' Head Coach, was understandably delighted to have captured Shuan's signature, and he commented "We are all really looking forward to seeing Shuan in a Jets uniform this year and his all- round game will add a extra dimension to our squad. He led his team last season in every major statistical category (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots) at least once during last season and he scored in every game, averaging more than fourteen points per game." Shuan will fly into England over the next few days, and hopefully Jets fans will get a chance to see him during the pre season programme of friendly games, the first of which is against local National League side Wirral Hornets at Woodchurch High School next Sunday 7th September , tip-off at 3pm. Peter Hawkins, Big Storage Cheshire Jets Director added, "Due to the continued support of our principal sponsor, Paul [Smith] has had greater leeway this pre- season in his recruitment, and the jigsaw is virtually complete. There are still a few last minute negotiations with players to finalise, but we are sure that the squad that we have put together will be very competitive in the league, and we can't wait to get the season under way!" 20/08/08 Myers back at Jets again (external link) 12/07/08 Virgil returns to the Jets The BiG Storage Cheshire Jets have confirmed that they have secured the signature of Alto Virgil, who will rejoin the Jets after a season with rivals Sheffield Sharks. Virgil, a 6'2" guard, made his debut for the Jets on October 6 2006 in a home game against the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks. The score finished 89-86 to the Jets, and Virgil claimed instant recognition and became a firm favourite with the Northgate faithful as the game-high scorer with 29 points. He played in all 36 league games during the 2006-07 season, averaging more than 36 minutes per game, and an impressive 18.36 points per game, becoming the club's second top scorer and the league's sixth highest scorer. He was also ranked fifth in the league in assists, with 4.58 per game, and tenth in free-throw shooting, with 78.30 percent. At the end of that season it was announced that Virgil had been called up to train with the Great Britain team, in preparation for the Eurobasket 2009 qualifiers throughout the summer. Last season, with the Sharks, Virgil averaged 11.06 points, 3.88 rebounds, and 2.79 assists per game, whilst shooting 35% from three-point range. BiG Storage Cheshire Jets' Head Coach Paul Smith commented, "We are really pleased that Alto will be part of our squad for next year. All Jets fans will know exactly what to expect - 100% commitment at all times with the ability to make others play with his passing, and a sweet outside shot. "He is also strong enough to take the ball inside when necessary, so he is always difficult to defend. If he can put up the sort of numbers that he did the last time he was here then we should see some impressive results!" Alto himself is very enthusiastic about his return to the Jets, "It is a real pleasure to come back to the club that launched my professional career and above all I can't wait to play in front of the Northgate crowd that always gave me such great support. It will be good to play there again as a home player. I am truly confident that I can play my part in making the Jets a force to be reckoned with again in the BBL" Peter Hawkins, Director of BiG Storage Cheshire Jets agreed, "The Head Coach has made another shrewd signing. Combining Alto with Chuck Evans in the backcourt should pose plenty of problems for the other teams in the league. We now have four squad members announced [Virgil, Evans, James Hamilton, and Calvin Davis] and not one permit spot used!" He also added, "we are still in talks with a number of players and would expect to be making announcements relating to further additions to the squad in the near future." 26/06/08 The BiG Storage Cheshire Jets have captured the signature of Chuck Evans, from the Worcester Wolves, ahead of the 2008/09 BBL Championship season. The 5'11" point guard holds dual nationality (American / German) and is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Last season was the first in the BBL for the 13-year professional, who has previously won the Russian league title with last season's Euroleague winners CSKA Moscow. Evans has also featured for Bayer Leverkusen and ALBA Berlin in Germany, the latter were opponents of the Guildford Heat in last season's ULEB Cup, and has won the German league title and been an All-Star in Poland. Last season, playing for the Wolves, he finished up third in the league for assists, averaging 5.5 per game, and also seventh overall in three point shooting with a 42% success rate. The do-it-all point guard shot to notoriety in the BBL in March last season with unprecedented back-to-back triple-doubles of 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists against the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks, and 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Everton Tigers. Jets' Head Coach Paul Smith commented, "I have been really keen on Chuck and the way he plays since the first time we played Worcester last season and it is really great news that he has agreed to put pen to paper. He is a genuine point guard, with many years' experience in the top European leagues and he will lead the team we are assembling on the court. He is well aware of the role we want him to play - simply make the rest of the team look great as he did to the Wolves last season, and they ended up with the league's top two scorers! I am confident that he can bring the same approach to the Jets." Pete Hawkins, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets Director, added, "Chuck is a proven player who will provide the creative backbone of next season's squad, but just as importantly, he is a great person and he will be playing a major part in our expanded community programme which will bring healthy eating and living messages as well as basketball training to thousands of young people in Chester, Cheshire and North Wales." Andrew Donaldson, owner of the club's main sponsor, BiG Storage, also enthused, "With the help of BiG Storage's sponsorship Paul is starting to assemble a team that will, I'm sure, be very competitive next season - we look forward to hearing about further recruits." 10/06/08 The BiG Storage Cheshire Jets have announced that veteran forward James Hamilton has put pen to paper for another season at the club with whom he has spent seven of his ten seasons in the BBL. The 36-year-old will take on a dual role, combining his playing duties with those of "club ambassador" - promoting the ever-increasing community and charity work of the club. The 6'7" Michigan native and Iowa State University graduate has averaged 15.48 points and 7.59 rebounds over a ten-year BBL career that has also seen him win six trophies and make three appearances on the BBL All-Star team - all-but-one of those accolades have come during his time with the Jets. His current total points tally stands at 4,444 points in 287 BBL Championship games. In 2007/08, hampered by injury, he posted 11.96 points and 8.70 rebounds in an average of 28:32 minutes per game. Chief coach Paul Smith commented, "we are all genuinely delighted that James has decided to commit to the Jets for next year - as he is surely one of the club's genuine greats. He captained the team in the historic "Jetwash" [winning all four domestic trophies in 2001/02] season and provided much needed stability in what was a real up and down campaign last season. It is no coincidence that the team's best performances came when James was fully fit. In addition, he acts as a tremendous role model for the younger members of the squad, and is always happy to impart his vast knowledge and experience of the game to all our players both on and off the court." Pete Hawkins, director of BiG Storage Cheshire Jets, was also keen to emphasise James' role in furthering the wider aims of the club. " With our plans to roll out the Hoops4Health programme to more than 12,000 young people in Cheshire and North Wales and the planned formation of eight youth basketball clubs with 100+ members each, the presence of James Hamilton at the Jets is a major step forward. In a similar role last season, he made a major impact when he visited participating schools, and we confidently expect he will do the same in 2008-9. His help in publicising and promoting our community programmes will be invaluable." These sentiments were echoed by Andrew Donaldson from principal sponsors of the Jets, BiG Storage. He commented, "James is a well known and respected local personality, who is exactly the right person to be associated with the promotion of the community programme which the Jets have instituted across the city, the county and surrounding areas." Further announcements related to both team recruitment and community activities are expected in the very near future. 27/05/08 Jets Land Captain Calvin Davis The BiG Storage Cheshire Jets have landed what could be one of the signings of the summer as they lured Calvin Davis back to the club after a three-year absence. He joins after just one season with the Everton Tigers, their closest rivals from across the Mersey, even though the Liverpool based team are said to have made a substantially improved contract offer. The 6'8" Texan-born forward is a three-time BBL All- Star, and his previous time with the Jets coincided with both his and the club's most successful performances. He made his BBL debut at the start of the 2001-02 season, and was a driving force in the team that achieved the "Jetwash" [a clean sweep of all four domestic competitions]. He also featured in the BBL championship winning side of 2004-05. In his Jets career he has previously averaged 20.26 points and 9.72 rebounds per game, across five seasons; last season he posted 14.27 points and 8.23 boards per game, leading the Tigers in the latter category. "Calvin was the first player I signed in both of my previous full seasons of coaching The Jets, both of which ended in success", enthused Head Coach Paul Smith, "he is one of a very small number of forwards in the BBL who is capable of producing performances of the highest calibre on a consistent basis. In addition, he is a model professional on and off the court and for these reasons, I have already decided to make him team captain, as I know he will lead the squad effectively." BiG Storage Cheshire Jets' director Pete Hawkins was equally enthusiastic, "Calvin is a real Jets favourite, and this announcement will send an unequivocal message to our fans and the rest of the league that we intend to be competitive at the highest level this season. But it is not only on court that he is going to be invaluable - he is a true role model for the young people of Cheshire and will play a large part in our community programme next season, which will reach over 10,000 young people in Cheshire, North Wales and The Wirral." Andrew Donaldson, owner of BiG Storage, the club's principal sponsor added his endorsement, "Congratulations to Paul Smith on securing such a significant signing so early in the summer. The fact that he has been successful in prising him away from Everton should add some extra spice to next season's local derbies. As principal sponsor I look forward to helping the team deliver as much success on the court as they did off the court last season." The club is in an advanced stages in other contract negotiations and hope to be in a position to make further announcements around other significant signings over the next few weeks. 15/05/08 SMITH TAKES THE HELM AGAIN BiG Storage Cheshire Jets are delighted to be able to confirm the appointment of Paul Smith as Chief Coach for the 2008/9 season. He will carry out his coaching duties in addition to those of Director of Basketball, a position he has held since the new structure of the club was established during summer 2007. Paul has served the club for a number of years, firstly as a player [including the famous Jetwash season] and latterly as both Chief Coach [leading the Jets to the BBL Trophy in 2204 and to the BBL league Championship in season 2004/5. He has also acted as assistant coach to Robbie Peers Mike Burton and Billy Singleton, who described him as “a master basketball strategist”. He took over the coaching reins in January of this Year when the Jets and TJ Walker parted company and managed to build a great team spirit in a squad decimated by a series of serious injuries. Paul commented “I am very much enjoying being back in the driving seat and I really relish the challenge ahead. Experience tells me that Trophies are won or lost in the summer recruitment campaign and we’re already in the midst of constructing a plan for next season. We are working hard to retain some of last year’s players, talking very seriously to some previous Jets’ favourites and also aim to introduce some new players to the team. I can report, on all fronts that matters are progressing very well and I am hopeful of being able to make a few significant announcements in the not too distant future. As a result of ha ving a significantly higher budget than least year we should be able to put a very competitive squad on the court with a mixture of youth and experience. In addition we will be building the coaching team up to ensure we are able to create the right environment for the players to succeed. Director Peter Hawkins observed, “ I have no doubt that Paul is the best coach in the BBL, and am absolutely certain that given the right support he will be able to build and lead the team successfully. We always expected that our fist season would be more about setting a solid foundation for the club for the future and we consider that that has been done. The extensive community programme that we have put in place that will reach over 12,000 young people in Cheshire and North Wales during next year is in the process of being finalized and will be a major driver in raising the profile of The Jets and ensuring that the club continues to contribute successfully to the local community. Andrew Donaldson, Director of the clubs name sponsors BiG Storage, added, “The 4 year partnership with BiG Storage has hopefully given the club some much needed stability and a chance to plan for the long term. Like Peter, I am sure we have the right man in Paul Smith to lead the team to success and I am confidently anticipating greater success on the court in 2008/9 after a first year of building in 07/08. News of any new signings and other important announcements relating to the club will be circulated as soon as they become available. |
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