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PLYMOUTH RAIDERS' PLAYER NEWS, 2008-09 |
19/08/08
Airwaves Raiders Announce Final Signing
The Airwaves Plymouth Raiders have finished recruiting their team for the 2008/09 season, with the exciting announcement that 6'8" Kwbana Beckles will be joining the team at the end of August, in time for the team's pre season training to begin.
Beckles comes to the Raiders with a very impressive CV which has seen him twice work out with NBA teams (Atlanta Hawks in 2005 and the Toronto Raptors this past summer), and play for some very good teams in Europe.
Beckles played last season in the Swiss premier league with Lausanne, where he averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds a game. He has a reputation as being a very talented offensive player with both an array of moves close to the basket, and the shooting range to be a reliable 3 point shooter. He also shoots a very high percentage from the free throw line, making a huge difference to the Raiders in tight games. However, it's not just what he can do on the offensive end of the basketball court that impressed Raiders coach Gary Stronach. He's a very tough defender, strong rebounder and he blocks more than his fair share of shots as well.
Originally from Hamilton in Ontario, Beckles has a joint British and Canadian passport which fits perfectly with Raiders needs for the coming season. He's the power forward that Raiders' Head Coach Gary Stronach has been looking for, and chasing for a large proportion of the summer. "I'm absolutely over the moon to have got Kwbana for the coming season," said Stronach.
"He's a very talented player and he'll be a huge hit in the BBL and with the Plymouth fans. He's got a pretty impressive European pedigree and comes with a great reputation. I've watched a lot of game tape and spoken to a lot of people about him, and heard nothing but good things. He's a great athlete, extremely competitive and he's going to make a huge impact on the team this year."
The 235lb 27 year old forward will fill out a very strong front line for the Raiders, who have already re-signed forwards Terrence Durham, Gaylon Moore, DeAntoine Beasley, James Noel and Pat Fitzpatrick.
"It's going to be the best team we've ever put onto the floor here in Plymouth," added Stronach. "Practice is going to be better than ever before with 10 strong players going against each other every day. I'm very excited about the coming season and I hope the Raiders fans are too. Its been a great summer, with the sponsorship announcements last week and the news about Kwbana this week."
15/07/08
Two Moore years
The Plymouth Raiders have announced that Gaylon Moore is back with the club, and has signed a 2 year contract. Moore has been with the Raiders for the last three years, after previous spells with the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks and the Worthing Thunder.
The 6'7" Moore was a key contributor for the Raiders last season, particularly after Christmas, averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds per game. As with Drew Lasker, the Raiders faced a monumental fight with teams from Europe to capture the signature of the Tennessee native who holds a British passport.
"It was vital for us to get Gaylon on a 2 year deal," said Head Coach Gary Stronach. "He's vitally important for us, with his experience and drive to win more championships together with his status as a naturalised player; he's someone that a lot of teams would love to have on board. We had to fight hard to get him this summer, with offers on the table from Spain and Iceland to name but a few. We're delighted to have him back, and it just gives us one more spot to fill now.
"Gaylon was fantastic for us last year," added Stronach, "and I'm going to be looking for even more from him again this season. Everyone looks at him as being one of the team's senior players now, one of the leaders. He can't wait to come back and get started, and help push us to become one of the toughest and most consistent teams in the league."
Moore graduated from Union University, Tennessee in 2000 and right away joined the Rocks. He then went on to sign for BBL new boys Worthing, where he stayed for 4 years before joining Raiders in 2005.
Moore has averaged 14.56 points and 9.21 rebounds in 107 BBL Championship games over his career so far and was part of the Plymouth squad that won the BBL Trophy in 2006/07 - he had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the biggest game in the club's history.
Upon securing this signing, the Raiders have returned the entirety of their starting five from last season. New to the team this season is 6'5" forward Patrick Fitzpatrick, and in a move sure to excite the team's fans, Coach Stronach also went on to disclose that he is still looking at a number of very exciting prospects for his 10th and final signing of the summer, "Things are starting to look up in that area," announced Stronach. "There are a few players on the radar and I'm still just as busy talking to players, agents and other coaches, gathering information to put together the strongest squad Plymouth has ever seen. We'll be legitimately 10 players deep this year, and everyone will have their roles and jobs to do."
09/07/08
Raiders beat off Continental interest to retain Lasker
The Kularoos Plymouth Raiders are delighted to announce a major coup in the re-signing of star guard Drew Lasker. Lasker returns to the team for his fourth consecutive year and rounds out Raiders’ foreign player contingent. The Raiders were up against teams from across Europe and the BBL in an effort to secure Lasker’s signature for 2008/09, and are over the moon to have finally got their man.
“This is a
massive signing for us,” said Raiders coach Gary Stronach. “European teams went
after him hard in the off season, Several teams were very interested in him. But
he’s decided to return to Plymouth and I couldn’t be happier. We’re now just a
couple of players away from completing the roster. A lot of other teams haven’t
even announced their first player and we virtually have our team in place. I’m
very excited about this season already.”
Lasker returns to Plymouth after having had his best season in the BBL to date. “Drew had a great year last year and he will be coming back to Plymouth having worked on his game a lot over the course of the summer,” added Stronach. “Teams were very aware of the threat he posed last season, afterall he finished 3rd in the Coaches Player of the Year voting, so he’s well known around the league. He was still able to increase his numbers in virtually every statistical category despite attracting a lot more attention from teams on defense, and that shows the kind of player he is.”
It’s not just at the offensive end of the floor where Lasker proved his worth to the team last season. He’s probably the team’s best individual man to man defender as well. At one point last season, James Life traveled to the Pavilions with his Worcester team mates on the back of some fantastic performances, and Lasker held him to one of his lowest scores of the season – just 15 points - nearly half of his season average.
“His value to the team can’t be overstated,” said Raiders Chief Executive Dave Briggs. “We were waiting for his contract to come through on the fax machine, and there’s been a lot of smiles around the office since it came through yesterday.”
Lasker hails originally from Houston in Texas, and it was widely thought by many that when he played in the 3rd/4th playoff game at the BBL Playoff weekend in Birmingham, he had played his last game in the green of the Raiders. Raiders’ coach Gary Stronach however, didn’t give up and has spoken to Lasker a couple of times a week since.
Each team in the BBL are permitted a maximum of 3 foreign players. Raiders trio this year have all been re-signed early, with DeAntoinne Beasley and Terrence Durham committing to the team and now being joined by Lasker.
Drew Lasker’s Stats for 2007/08
31 Games Played
3pt – 34%
Free Throws - 71%
Floor Shooting – 53%
Rebounds – 5.6 per game
Steals 1.8 per game
Assists – 1.7 per game
Points – 19 per game
Minutes – 31 per game
08/07/08
Gall is another returnee for Raiders
Gary Stronach, Head Coach of the Plymouth Raiders, has announced that native guard Allister Gall has re- signed for his fifth season in the BBL with his hometown club.
6'4" Gall has played in more BBL Championship games for the Raiders than any other player, having featured in 144 games over their four previous seasons in the top flight, closely followed by fellow returnee DeAntoine Beasley on 141. He averaged 7.17 points per game last season in 18:31 minutes per outing.
The 28-year-old is used as a sixth man by the Raiders, providing a three-point shooting threat from the bench. He scored more triples in the league than any of his team mates last season with 47 on a shooting percentage of 31.33%.
"It's great to have Allister back on the team again," said Raiders' coach Gary Stronach. "He's really important to us, he's a great outside shooter but more than that, a real competitor. Allister had a great year for us last year, but I've told him I don't want him to be content with that. I want him to keep improving and contributing in a big way to the team's successes."
Gall attended college in the United States, at Franklin Pierce, before playing a year professionally in Ireland and subsequently making his debut for the Raiders against the Marshall MK Lions in October 2004.
"Allister is still only 28, but has achieved so much in basketball," added Stronach. "He's a great player to have on the team, because I know he'll do anything that I ask of him, and he'll do it with 100% commitment. He's probably one of the fittest players on the team already and I know he's looking forward to the new season coming around."
This is another signing that provides the Raiders with the much needed continuity sought by Coach Stronach. This season, along with a few new players, the majority of last year's team, which achieved the club's highest ever league finish of third, will return. The benefits of continuity were plain for everyone to see in 06/07 when the Raiders squad from 05/06 returned en masse and the team won the BBL Trophy.
"It was really important for us to get Allister back this year," said Chief Executive Dave Briggs. "Gary wants at least 2 players for each position, and Allister's one of the best and purest shooters in the league. I know he's as excited about the coming season as everyone else around the club is. Hopefully we can stay healthy and get our hands on some more silverware."
24/06/08
New face joins Raiders
The Plymouth Raiders have signed free agent forward Patrick Fitzpatrick from the Irish Superleague's Neptune Basketball Club.
Fitzpatrick, a 6'5" small forward, spent just one year with Neptune and averaged 14.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 52% from the field, 84% from the free-throw line, and 44% on three- pointers.
Neptune, eleven-time Irish champions, finished third in the Irish Superleague Southern Conference in 2007/08 and reached the playoff semi-finals before falling to eventual winners Tralee Tigers.
The 29-year-old comes to the Raiders as a Bosman player, as he has American nationality but also holds an Irish passport through family relations.
After speaking to Fitzpatrick's agent last week, watching game tape, and speaking to contacts in Ireland, Coach Gary Stronach moved quickly to secure his signature on a one year contract.
"Hopefully he's going to be a good addition for us and will make some significant contributions from the bench," said Stronach. "He's a small forward so will be coming in as a back up to DeAntoine Beasley. It will be good to have him on board."
"Its an incredible opportunity," enthused Fitzpatrick from the USA, where he is spending the summer. "The BBL is an exciting league with great players. I'm ready to bring the full package and make the championship ours."
20/06/08
Beasley’s Back!
The Plymouth Raiders’ fifth signing of the summer is sure to surprise a few people. DeAntoine Beasley is coming back! After weeks of speculation, Raiders crowd favourite Beasley has opted to return to his adopted city for another year, and will be returning with a new title. For 2008/09, Beasley will now be known as the Raiders Assistant Coach, as well as one of the best and toughest players in the league.
“I'm
really glad to becoming back for my 7th Season!” said Beasley from his home in
Georgia, USA. “It’s even more exciting this time because I'm coming back as the
Assistant Coach. It was a really hard decision to return because I had a really
good job opportunity in the coaching field and I was all set to stop playing and
begin the next phase of my life.
"I kept in contact with the club as usual and they expressed that they would like to have me back and not only as a player but as the Assistant Coach to Gary Stronach. I didn't expect that type of offer and was obviously intrigued and flattered. The move seemed like a natural progression for me and I still feel that I can play so it’s really the best of both worlds.”
“Coach Stronach and I have always talked over game plans and strategies together so there won't be a huge difference, only now I have an official title! Ultimately the final decisions are his but hopefully two heads are better than one. It’s always great to come back to Plymouth because the fans have embraced me as their own, so its like coming back home. I'm not sure what changes will be made to the roster yet, if any but I look forward to getting back and starting the new season.”
Over the last six seasons, DeAntoine has just got better and better, and in keeping with this, last season was his best to date. He contributed his highest ever scoring average of 15.1 per game, along with 5.3 rebounds, 3 assists and nearly 2 steals per game. Beasley also finished in 10th place in the league in free throw percentage, with a healthy 79%. He has a reputation for being an intense competitor on the court and of being a true leader. He’s often referred to as being the ‘glue of the team’, but despite this is still vastly underrated by the rest of the league.
“You quite often don’t see everything that DeAntoine does for the team,” said Raiders coach Gary Stronach. “He contributes so much to the team that isn’t incorporated in the stats that are kept. So a lot of what he does goes unnoticed by other teams. He’s one of the best players in the league, and he’s got a wealth of experience to go with it. He’s a consummate professional, and I’m over the moon to have him back for another year, this is huge for the Raiders and a massive boost to the recruiting efforts.”
“This will be his seventh season in Plymouth, it’s virtually unheard of for a foreign player to stay with a team that long, and really proves how much players respect and want to play for the Raiders. Cat turned down a phenomenal offer this summer to return to the USA and start his coaching career there; the lure of returning to the Raiders and pushing us on to even more success was just too much for him to turn down.”
6’7” Beasley went to university at Tennessee Tech in the states and first signed for the Raiders in 2002. Strangely, Coach Gary Stronach was the only coach interested in signing him at the time, and he’s gone on to prove what a valuable asset he is to any team. After living in Plymouth for 6 years, he considers himself almost a local, and basketball fans in the city will be delighted to hear of his signing.
Raiders now have five players signed for the 2008/09 season, and the club hopes to be in a position to announce more in the coming weeks. “Gary really is working day and night to put this team together,” said Raiders Chief Executive. “He’s up until 2, 3 and sometimes 4am each night, talking to agents, getting feedback on players he is looking at. He’ll leave no stone unturned in an effort to get the team he wants. With Cat, that now makes five players for next season. He joins Terrence Durham, James Noel, Anthony Martin, and Gavin Love all of whom have signed contracts with us for next year.”
19/06/08
Guard
Martin Returns to the Raiders
The Plymouth Raiders have announced their third player to return to the team for 2008/09 is Anthony Martin. The popular point guard has signed a one year contract and will spearhead Coach Gary Stronach’s assault on the BBL Championship.
“Anthony surprised a lot of people around the league last season,” said Stronach. “He was a big find for us, and really helped us progress as a team. He also quickly became a real crowd favourite at the Pavilions and I’m sure his signing will help to attract more crowds again this coming season.”
Martin came to the team’s rescue in September 2007 when it was discovered that Gavin Love’s rehab from ankle surgery was going to take longer than expected. He flew in, spent a couple of days getting used to Plymouth and the other team members and got on with the job of pushing the Raiders towards the top of the BBL.
Stronach added, “We’re delighted to have him back for his second season with the Raiders. He brings high energy, high octane offense to the table for us as well as continuing to fit in with my philosophy. Like all players for the upcoming season, Im expecting an improvement in his game and that can only help us as a team surpass last year’s tremendous season.”
Martin lead the team with 4 assists per game, as well as contributing 8.3 points, and 3.5 rebounds per outing. Teamed with Drew Lasker in the Raiders’ back court, together they formed one of the quickest and most potent fast break combos in the BBL and the Raiders are hoping that with a year of experience in Plymouth under his belt, Martin will return even more hungry and eager to win a title.
“I want to win a championship. That’s why I’m coming back to Plymouth,” said Martin from the USA. “I have great belief in what the Raiders are doing, and I want to help them get to the finals and come away with some silverware.”
Love
Returns to the Raiders
The Plymouth Raiders have announced their fourth signing of the closed season, and it sees point guard Gavin Love return to the team for the 2008/09 season. Gavin first broke into the team 13 seasons ago after coming through the Raiders development programme, and he’s been with the team ever since.
“Its great to have Gavin back again,” said Raiders Head Coach Gary Stronach. “He’s a big part of the Raiders, and been with us for a long time. Last season he broke the club record for the number of games he’s played, and if you cut him, he’d bleed green. Gavin still has a little way to go to recover fully from his injury and by the time the season starts he should be there or thereabouts. With Gavin and Anthony at point guard, we have a real contrast in styles which will really help the team.”
Last season, Gavin started the season on the injured list, rehabilitating his ankle after a nightmare ankle injury in the playoffs at the end of the 2006/07 season. He finally made his return to the team on December 9th 2007 against London Capital.
“I want to spend the summer getting myself in shape,” said Gavin. “I want to prove that players can come back from injuries like mine, and make a meaningful contribution to teams.”
Despite playing in a position dominated throughout the league by American players, Love is known as a fierce competitor and last season turned in some excellent performances, most notably away at Birmingham where he hit 9 three pointers on his way to 34 points. Raiders will be looking to his leadership and competitive nature to lead them on a charge for silverware in 2008/09.
10/06/08
The Plymouth Raiders are delighted to announce the return of James Noel to the team's roster for the 2008/09 season. Noel becomes the second player to return from last year's team (after Terrence Durham), and more are expected in the coming days.
Noel joined Raiders last summer from BBL rivals Worcester Wolves, and the 6'7" Londoner had a great first year, being named Plymouth Raiders' Player of the Month for April while contributing 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. His performances towards the end of the season showed just how much he had developed across the year as he provided a huge spark from the bench and made an impressive impact when asked to replace injured DeAntoinne Beasley in the starting line up.
"Getting James' signature on a contract for next season was really important for us," said head coach Gary Stronach. "James came to us after an impressive first season in the BBL with Worcester. It takes time for a player to adapt to new surroundings and team mates, but James surprised us all with how quickly he integrated himself into the team and by the end of the season, he was playing like he had been a Raider his whole life. This will be a big year for him, and I'm looking for continued progression from him."
It is thought that several other BBL teams had sounded Noel out about opportunities for next season, but when offered the chance to return to the Raiders, he jumped at it and is determined to make an even bigger contribution next season.
"James is delighted to be returning to Plymouth next season," said Chief Executive Dave Briggs. "The club are over the moon and I'm sure that the fans will give him a huge welcome back in September at our first home game. I don't think anyone could fail to have been impressed with his performances towards the end of the season, especially at home against Milton Keynes when he had one of his best games of the season.
"We are working hard behind the scenes to return as many of last year's team as possible and look forward to making more announcements as the weeks go by."
21/05/08
Terrence Durham Re-Signs With Plymouth Raiders
The Kularoos Plymouth Raiders are delighted to announce that they have secured the signature of Terrence Durham for next season’s BBL campaign. The 6’9” Durham will be signing for his fifth season with the Raiders, and will form a key part of the Raiders assault on silverware next season.
“I’m delighted to make Terrence the team’s first signing,” said Raiders Head Coach Gary Stronach. “We know exactly what he brings to the table for us, and I still think there’s a couple of areas that I can help Terrence to improve on, as does Terrence himself. I know the fans will be delighted to have him back, after much speculation over the last couple of weeks about him leaving to join other teams.”
Durham suffered badly from injuries last season, with a knee injury and then a fractured hand that almost ruled him out of the playoffs and is now only starting to show signs of healing. Despite this, he still finished 2nd in the BBL in rebounding (10.5 per game).
Durham came to Raiders last season after playing 2 years in France. Before that, he was an important member of the Raiders team in their first season in the BBL and developed a formidable reputation as one of the best rebounders in the country. By then, however, he had already played 2 years for the Raiders, broken by a spell in Portugal for Sampaense. He’s no stranger to success in Plymouth, having helped the club lift the EBL League and Playoff titles in 2000/01 and the League again and National Cup in 2003/04.
“He’s a big favourite with the fans,” said Raiders Chief Executive Dave Briggs. “On court though, he’s a really tough player for other teams to match up with. He’s quick, but very strong. Defensively he gives the team a very strong presence, and this combined with his rebounding helps to fuel the fast breaks that we used so much last season. It’ll be great to see him back in the Raiders green for another season.”
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to play for the Raiders for another season,” said Durham, “and hopefully win one or more trophies. The Raiders have come a long way from my first year with them, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the team’s success next year.”