The UK Basketball Hub

This is the Glasgow Rocks BIG BBL PREVIEW! It was an interesting season last year with yet another final defeat and an impressive league season spearheaded by GB co-captain Kieron Achara. With solid additions the Rocks under Sterling Davis who exudes consistency north of the border. Speaking ahead of the new season Davis was keen to point out that finals are not enough. He said: "It's the second year in a row we've been in a final, but our aim is to win a trophy, I want to win a trophy. "We're not ready just yet (speaking yesterday) but we've got a few days just to finish off some things and we'll be good to go. "We've bought in a few new players and they all look good in training, we're looking forward to gameday." Davis is also expecting another unpredictable season across the league with a number of teams on the up. He continued: "The [LONDON] Lions were one of the favourites last season and it took them a lot lon...

Last season saw the Bristol Flyers make their bow in the BBL playing exciting basketball with a relatively young squad. The team reached the semi-finals of the BBL Cup and reached the play-offs in a season that would prove the league was right in promoting them into the top division. Coach Andreas Kapoulas picked up coach of the season as well as being only one of three coaches to win coach of the month outside of Newcastle. The new season is just around the corner and Kapoulas has recruited some top talent both Internationally and nationally including American Point Guard Cardell McFarland. McFarland says he is impressed with what he has seen so far. He said: "I'm expecting a successful season, I think we're coming along pretty good - I like what we're doing in preseason and the players that we have. "It's a long summer, so when you start to practice it gets fun! Practice should always be harder than the game. "We've been going at ea...

Guest blog post by Angela Loughlin: I n 2012 2 girls met at a Wheelchair Basketball Club they made a good friendship and became close, after a few months one girl left and they lost contact for a while, more months past and they started talking through Facebook again they arranged a meet in 2013 December  Jade and Chrissy the 2 girls met up before Xmas with their parents going along, they talked laughed and joked and dreamed of a Club of they're own after time slipped by that night they left and went home jades mum Angela sat and thought that night about the girls and they're dream and decided to go to work on creating the dream for these girls - within 2weeks Bristol Bisons was transformed from paper to reality in February 2014 Bristol Bisons Wheelchair Basketball Club was ready to start on March 8th 2014 we held our first Session which included Jade, Chrissy and Amber jades sister just 3 players within 19 months our dream has become larger than life we have 2 Division ...

Who will top the BBL ladder at the end of the season Newcastle Eagles Leicester Riders Cheshire Phoenix Sheffield Sharks London Lions Manchester Giants Leeds Force Surrey Scorchers Glasgow Rocks Bristol Flyers Plymouth Raiders Worcester Wolves Poll Maker

As the basketball world prepares for the start of the NBA season in late October, we look ahead to what fans across the world can expect from the 2015-2016 season. The anticipation has been steadily rising throughout the year, with a number of multimillion dollar free agent signings and a dramatic shift in coaching positions, it is a guarantee that teams will have a fresh new look in expectation of the new season. One of the major talking points of the 2015-2016 season is the return of Kevin Durant to the NBA. Having won the league’s MVP award, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s star had a disastrous season last year after being blighted with three foot injuries in six months. OKC were clearly missing their star player as they failed to make the playoffs for the first time since Durant’s second NBA season. So what are fans expecting from Durant as he makes his return? Many have taken to Twitter to predict the NBA awards for next season with Durant set to be crowned MVP once again, but wh...

Five days.  Only five days  left  f r om  the beginning of the Eurobasket 2015  which the defending champion France will be hosting  in  the city of Lille . The group stage will take place in four different European countries, one for each group (France, Croatia, Germany and L atvi a) from the 5 th  to the 11 th  of September and the final stage of the championship will be in Lille   from the 12 th  to the 20 th  of September . With   all  preparation games  finished and teams getting ready for the real competition,  “ only five days ”  seems like ages without basketball .  So  let’s   take a look back  and see how  the preparation games could affect the tournament. Coaches and players are always talking about how important is having a good preparation and  repeating  that preparation is key for a success in the championship .  Avoid injuries, impro...

(This is a guest blog from David Wooldridge who will be commentating on the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships) I know people say don’t have regrets, but one of the biggest regrets in my career so far, was missing the boat on the London 2012 hype. The time when it seems from looking at other people’s careers, there were LOADS of presenting, announcing and commentary opportunities. Well luckily for me I’ll be having my ‘2012 moment’ soon. As somehow I’ve been selected as part of the commentary team for the upcoming European Wheelchair Basketball Championships, which acts as a qualifier for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, so yeah A BIG DEAL. This huge event also happens to be where I spend most of my Friday nights between September & April, “The University of Worcester Areennnnaaaaa!” Which makes it a little bit more special for me, as it’s in my home town and in a venue I owe a lot of my career to. I may not be living out 10 year old me’s dream of being the 2 nd  e...

GB's new look line-up suffered a heavy defeat to New Zealand at a packed Copper Box Arena. Hesson in action for Great Britain After a disappointing summer for GB's women and youth teams as well as the notable absence of the GB men's team from the Eurobasket tournament, it continued the recent trend of poor form for GB. An 84-63 defeat on the Olympic Park marred a milestone for GB captain Drew Sullivan who was making his landmark 100th appearance for his country. Myles Hesson top scored for GB in a strong performance from the German-based player with 14 points and a great all-round effort. It leaves Joe Prunty with a lot of choices and a lot to think about with a number of young players involved, who will continue to move forward with GB and who needs to be cut adrift - if money is even there to continue the program. A funding reprieve from Sport England will surely keep the team going but without being able to afford big names - such as Luol Deng, recent NBA-...

Following on from Azania Stewart's interview with BBC Sport's Chris Mitchell - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/32843015 - The UK Basketball Hub have decided to run an ambitious Go Fund Me campaign which will try and raise £100,000 for the sport's GB Basketball. This fundraising is aiming to take £100,000 but should we take anywhere near our target it will prove that there is support for the sport, while also raising a bit for the sport in the UK. All money raised will be sent to GB Basketball - whether it's £5 or £5000 every little helps! Tell you friends and family to support the cause! LINK:  http://www.gofundme.com/vamapg

My experience with Great Britain Women’s Basketball can only be described as a roller coaster ride to say the least.  When I was first asked to write this blog I was hesitant because I feel its not about me, an individual player. Basketball is a team sport, but then I thought to myself that a team is made up of individuals who need to individually perform and add their our significant touch to the team. Basketball to some extent is my life and it’s been a part of me since I was young. It's definitely one of the few constant things in my life, jobs, friends, etc come and go but I have always had basketball in my life to turn to. I can remember my first time being selected for GB in 2010 and I was so proud and so excited. It’s been a fun yet nerve wracking journey but all the hard work, dedication, blood, sweat, tears, sore body, aching joints have been well worth it and has finally paid off. Not many people can say they were cut from a team several times and now I am on ...

We've made a podcast of you first show with Vince Macauly, Evelyn Adebayo and Luke Hatfield plus Kieron Achara on the phone: The UK Basketball Hubcast by Uk Bb Hub on Mixcloud

The University of Worcester and the Worcester Wolves welcomed one of Europe’s most respected coaches to the city last week, to discuss an innovative potential future partnership. Chechu Mulero, the Sporting Director of Euroleague outfit Valencia Basketball Club, visited Worcester for discussions which focused on establishing a link between the Spanish giants and the Worcester Wolves, who are now a subsidiary company of the University. Any such partnership could include training camps and friendly fixtures for Valencia’s senior team in Worcester, collaborative coaching clinics and player development schemes, for the benefit of both parties. During his visit, Mr Mulero, who met with senior figures from the University and players and coaches from the Wolves, said: “I had heard a great deal about the Basketball program and the international reputation of Worcester before my visit. “Having now been able to see for myself that, together with excellent facilities, the University has...

WILSON JUMA has thanked Hoops Aid for putting his name on the map and helping his basketball career take off. The 22-year-old point guard earned a place at the University of Maine Machias after starring in the Hoops Aid 2013 All-Star Game. Now he hopes similar exposure at Hoops Aid 2015 at the O2 Arena will help earn him a pro contract in the British Basketball League. Juma, who was born in Zimbabwe but raised in the UK, said: “Hoops Aid set the stage for me. It got my name out there. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that exposure. “I’m really excited about the plans for the 2015 event and to participate in it would be beautiful. “I’ve enjoyed my time in the US but I want to come home and play pro basketball in the BBL now, so I’m hoping to impress some BBL coaches this time!” Zuma came through the LEAP Academy in Walton-on-Thames before flying to the US to try and earn a place in the US college system. But a summer of try-outs led to disappointment until he went ...

As national team U16 head coach I have a strong interest in the youth development in the UK.  Each year we observe players and coaches in action particularly in the Regional Development tournaments held in various venues throughout the UK. The one thing that is very reassuring is the style of game, the level of performance and the coaching seems to be improving year to year. The Regional Development system has reaped the benefits of the Regional Performance Centres (RPC) that involves one session each month for 6 months  10am-4pm  in all regions throughout the country. Here the invited kids (sent through their clubs) learn and develop the fundamentals of the game. From footwork to off ball defence to movement off the ball to shooting, the RPC player gains a great opportunity to develop the key skills necessary to grow their game. The RPC has also been great in term of identifying talent for future national teams and gives us the perfect opportunity to monito...

Over the last few weeks of hosting The UK Basketball Hub on Sports Tonight Live, we've seen a range of discussions of what people in the media, what BBL players/coaches/commentators and outsiders from the BBL would like to see in order to propel the league and while they may not all be to your fancy we thought we'd list them and set up the debate! IDEA 1: Stadia and Infrastructure:  Put forward by BBLTV commentator Daniel Routledge: BBL Teams need their own facilities in order to have power over tickets, finances and as well as that training and playing time. Pro(s) - Allows the franchises to prosper from a financial point of view and have control of the venues. - Allows players to train and play when it suits rather than when Badminton is not on the court! - Means they don't have to pay an external party Con(s): -  Expensive to implement - Could take a lot of time to introduce IDEA 2: BBL Magazine: Put forward by Sportsbeat's Will Piper  The BBL sho...

Where it all began..... I had first been introduced to US sports when Channel 4 in the UK started showing American Football and I saw my first of 30 Super Bowls in January 1986 when the Chicago Bears blew out the New England Patriots (Patriots are a far cry from that team back then). Then I was channel surfing on a Saturday one night a few years later and came across Basketball on BBC 1. This wasn't the British League but a professional league in the United States. You have to remember this was a time when you didn't have the various means to keep up with sports like we can today so I wasn't even aware of such a league. The BBC showed a weekly programme from memory of the NBA Playoffs and I became hooked. I didn't pick a team to root for straight away but I began to really enjoy watching the likes of Magic (Johnson), (Larry) Bird and Michael (Jordan). There was something about MJ and it became a natural thing for me to root for the team he played for much like...

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it I’m Daniel  Routledge and for as long as I can remember I’ve been watching British basketball .  I’m n ot quite as old as the league, but its close enough we could be siblings . We pretty much grew up together,  I’ve seen the highs and the lows, the false dawns and the unnoticed successes.  Much has been made in recent days about the future of the game in this country, so much so it’s  got  me think ing  about the past. Whatever your views about the road from here, allow me ten minutes of your time to re-live how we got here. In the beginning The first national league of basketball was formed in 1972, in those early days it was a largely amateur pursuit, played out in small sports halls. It was before I was born, but I’ve seen minutes of AGMs where players were reprimanded for not  personally  selling enough tickets! By the end of the decade, the  s...