The UK Basketball Hub

Leicester Riders guard Deanne Hayward has been crowned Molten WBBL Player of the Month. The Scot was part of the Riders team that had a perfect November. Hayward has been on fire with 18 points per game returning 60% from the field and was second in the WBBL from behind the three-point line. She was also the best free-throw shooter and recorded 3.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. Riders’ coach Krumesh Patel was also named the Molten WBBL Coach of the Month.

London Lions' Mariusz Karol has been named Molten BBL Coach of the Month for November. The Lions have had a flawless run, going 3-0 throughout the month. Lions started off with an 86-70 victory against Glasgow Rocks at the Copper Box, following it up with a pair of road wins. The first came at Plymouth Raiders with a 75-70 success and they then picked up a tight 67-63 triumph at Bristol Flyers. Karol fought off stiff competition from Rob Paternostro of Leicester Riders who also went 3-0 during November. There were less games in the month due to GB fixtures taking place.

Worcester Wolves’ Managing Director Mick Donovan hopes the team can reward fans’ loyalty with a Final day out as he looks ahead to this week’s BBL Cup clash. The University of Worcester-owned side prepares to face Sheffield Sharks for a place in the final in Birmingham. Donovan said: "We are very proud and appreciative of our loyal fans and this season has seen record breaking home attendances compared to previous seasons. "The fans have a good understanding of the game and, regardless of results and performances, they continue to approach each game with a positive mindset and get behind the team.  "There is certainly a feeling of cup fever in the Worcester Wolves basketball camp this week.  Everyone at the Club would love to see Wolves make the prestigious final in Birmingham and the players in particular will be determined to reward the fans and club volunteers with a semi-final win that would bring a great Cup Final day out.  I am sure that i...

The British Basketball All-Stars Championship have announced Molten will be the official match ball for the tournament which will see the top eight BBL teams compete for a record-breaking £100,000 prize fund. Unicorn Products Ltd acquired the UK and Ireland distribution of Molten Sports in 2012. Unicorn have worked with Matchroom Sport over the year, developing the long-standing partnership as the PDC’s official darts board, and sponsor of the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour. Edward Lowy Managing Director of Unicorn Products Ltd said: “It’s wonderful to be involved in this hugely entertaining sport at a time when its popularity is at an unprecedented high, and to work with Matchroom and the BBL, both with whom we have a time-honoured affiliation”. Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to welcome Molten as the official ball of the British Basketball All-Stars Championship. “Molten are undoubtedly the world’s leading manufacturer of basketballs and we are...

A statement by Basketball England has shocked the sport to it's core with the revelation that the current professional league the BBL could be stripped of that right as a review takes place. Basketball England said: " A licence review committee has been set up to consider all options including but not limited to a competitive tender process and negotiation with the existing licensee of the professional basketball league, with a view to renewing existing arrangements." Add onto the fact we've seen a MASSIVE drop in participation and we've got a bit of a crisis on our hands. It seems bad news and basketball go hand in hand recently with the funding removal (although kind of in a better place), men's Eurobasket qualification failure and now this! But what therefore are the options for Basketball England? Well to be frank they seem quite limited; while the NBA mentioned potentially setting up a European league while they were over here earlier i...

Portland Trailblazers' forward Joel Freeland has committed to the Great Britain national team and is hoping to make a return to international duty sooner rather than later. Freeland held a conference call with various members of the British basketball media in the midst of a reasonably successful start to the season for him personally. He said: "I'm always committed to helping the national squad, I only took time off last season for personal reasons, from here on out I'm fully committed, I just hope I can continue as I am at the moment to be involved with the team." "Last year I struggled a lot as I thought I had to play in the same way I played in Europe but this league is completely different, I took the summer and realised who I was in this league and who I wanted to be.' ​'There is always going to be a responsibility to promote British basketball, during the summer I am interested in promoting the game, people have been tryin...

This is an EXCLUSIVE short radio package created featuring the Head of Performance for Team GB Warwick Cann and Simeon Esprit and young GB hopeful who has moved to America. Cann speaks about why he thinks Basketball in this country is not as popular as other sports whilst Esprit explains how he first got involved in the sport.

Friday 15th February (7:30pm Tip Off) Sheffield Sharks v Manchester Giants (EIS Sheffield) Newcastle Eagles v Cheshire Pheonix (Sport Central) Worcester Wolves v Mersey Tigers (Worcester University) Saturday 16th February (7:30pm Tip Off Unless Stated) Worcester Wolves v London Lions (7pm, Worcester University) Leicester Riders v Manchester Giants (John Sandford Centre) Plymouth Raiders v Surrey Heat (Plymouth Pavilions) Sunday 17th February (4:00pm Tip Off Unless Stated) Durham Wildcats v Glasgow Rocks (Durham University Sport) Plymouth Raiders v Newcastle Eagles (Plymouth Pavilions) Cheshire Pheonix v Leicester Riders (5:30pm, Northgate Arena) (Stadiums/Locations in brackets)

The Newcastle Eagles and Leicester Riders lead the way in the British Basketball League with 34 points and only four defeats between them. Both teams have played 19 games and Newcastle averaging a better scoring record. Leicester have beaten the Eagles twice this season once in the BBL and once in the Cup final to take the first silverware of the season. Glasgow Rocks represent Scotland in the BBL and they are third in the division four points off of the two leaders. They are closely followed by Surrey Heat and the Plymouth Raiders who both have games in hand on the Rocks. The Final three play-off spots (the top eight teams) are taken currently (15th Feb) by Worcester Wolves, London Lions and Sheffield Sharks. The Sharks are level on points with the Manchester Giants, Cheshire Pheonix and the Durham Wildcats  but have played two games less than them three teams. Mersey Tigers prop-up the BBL with no victories thus far losing 22 of the 22 they have played. You can view ...