Team USA Select arrive in the UK – Part 1 – 2017
AUGUST 31, 2017
It sounds crazy – three squads of players travelling throughout Europe playing 64 games in 18 days. But Team USA Select are here for their annual trip.
The majority of the games are in England, though they also visit Scotland, Ireland and Norway. The trip gives players fresh out of college the chance to show their skills and hopefully get a club in Europe. Although immigration rules make it tougher for import players to succeed in the UK now, they’ve had their successes with big man Greg Hernandez helping Leopards win the National Trophy in 2013.
The tours are now entering their second decade and are the brainchild of Sean Kilmartin, and Leopards are one of the many teams who’ve met them many occasions – playing in as diverse places as Brentwood, Crystal Palace, Neasdon and a horrible school gym in Romford, Friday’s game at Oaklands will certainly be an upgrade on that!
The madness started on Thursday evening with the White team facing Division One side Solent Kestrels before they move on to Oaklands to face Leopards the following day, Friday also sees the White team make their bow with the first of back-to-back games at Leicester Riders, while the Blues visit Stockport Falcons.
Whites are also in Leicester on Saturday, facing both Loughbrough and Charnwood Riders, with the Blues traveling to Hemel Storm.
Sunday sees Leopards hosting the Blues at Brentwood, with the Reds playing their third BBL opponents in as many days at Manchester Giants, and the Whites visiting Warwickshire Hawks.
The Reds face other BBL opposition in Bristol Flyers, Newcastle Eagles and Glasgow Rocks, as well as Division One sides Hemel, Reading and Worthing.
Full schedule:
Thursday August 31: Arrive London Heathrow early , travel to Feltham Travelodge rest (Blue/White until Monday, Red team one night only) Red off; Blue off White play Southampton Solent
Friday September 1: Red to Leicester Riders 7pm (BBL) for 2 days, (oldest club in British basketball history, gym is already sold out!!!) Blue Stockport Falcons White to London Leopards
Saturday September 2: Red Leicester Riders 4pm clinic, game at 6. Blue Hemel Storrm White travel to Leicester early for double header (do youth clinic then Loughborough and Charnwowod)
Sunday September 3: Red to Manchester Giants 6pm (BBL). (sold out gym last year) Blue London Leopards White Warwickshire Hawks
Monday September 4: Red 8pm Manchester Magic (NBL) Blue Loughborough and Charnwood (back to back) White Travel to Coventry, do youth clinic then play Coventry Tornados (NBL)
Tuesday September 5: Red to Reading Rockets (NBL) Blue to Manchester Giants (BBL) closed door White Travel to Edinburgh Scotland to play Edinburgh City Kings
Wednesday September 6: Red to Worthing Thunder 8 PM (EBL) Blue Mansfield Giants 7-8 clinic, 8pm match White Southampton Solent
Thursday September 7: Red to Bristol Flyers (BBL) (sold out every year for 10 straight). White travel to London Stansted airport hotel for early flight next day to Shannon, Ireland. Blue play Bradford Dragons. (clinic / match)
Friday September 8: Red Newcastle Eagles ( BBL!) White U Limerick for Stuart Robbins Memorial Tournament, Ireland for best preseason tournament in Ireland! Covered by top league! Blue Sheffield Arrows (NBL) long time USA Select partner
Saturday September 9: Red Hemel Storm (NBL)/ White Stuart Robbins Memorial Tournament (Super league teams in Ireland) ) Blue World Club Invitational, Bexhill England. Multi country event!
Sunday September 10: Red Glasgow Rocks (Scotland) Clinic then game White Stuart Robbins Memorial Tournament Ireland. Blue World Club Invitational, Bexhill England
Monday September 11: Red off / rest Blue London Greenhouse Pioneers Reading Rockets White Return from Ireland , scrimmage Reading Rockets 8pm off / rest
Tuesday September 12: Red Swansea (Wales) Storm Blue Liverpool Basketball Club / White Derbyshire Arrows (NBL)
Wednesday September 13: Red Mansfield Giants (Clinic / game) (NBL) White Worthing Thunder (NBL) Blue Kingston Panthers Clinic / Game
Thursday September 14: Tour day, all teams off Sight see in London, Private Tour of Houses of Parliament
Friday September 15: Red / Blue to Oslo Norway for 2 day Tournament. (each will play 6 games) White open for now London Greenhouse Pioneers
Saturday September 16: Red Norway 13:00 –vs Eidsvoll , 14:30 – vs Asker, 17:30 – vs Ammerud Blue TBD White Ipswich (NBL)
Sunday September 17: Red Norway 13:00vs Frøya, 18:00s Kongsberg. Blue TBD White Leeds Force 4 pm (BBL )
Monday September 18: Red / Blue return from Norway White travel to London Heathrow
Roster:
1 Thomas Marshall III 5’10 175 Coker College / Southern University
2 Chase Morgan 5’11” 175 Bluefield State Col / Fairmont St Un
3 Renard Green, Jr 6’0″ 175 Langston University (OK)
4 Brian McNair 6’0″ 175 Barton College
5 Tyler Birch 6’4″ 200 Univ. Of Alabama
6 Darcell Hanley 6’6″ 215 Semi Pro Savannah Wildcats
7 Aerris Smith II 6’7″ 230 Wofford College
8 BJ Shelton 6’7″ 210 Bluefield College
15 Tyrin Wade 6’7″ 265 Lindenwood University Belleville
16 Kevin Hickson 6’7″ 225 Wofford College / UNC Wilmington
17 Daniel Clark 6’8″ 210 Bluefield College
18 Olalekan Ajayi 7’0″ 250 Eastern Michigan U / Cal State Northridge
20 Carnell Gray 5’11” 175 Fullerton College (CA)/ USC Aiken)
21 Quincy Adams 6’0″ 182 Schreiner Univ.
22 Jonathan Coles 6’0″ 175 Emory University
23 Isaac Lyerly- Pina 6’0″ 185 Sandhill’s Community College
24 Iyoha Agho 6’1″ 190 New York University
25 Christian Council 6’3″ 195 NCSU (track)
26 Richard Kelly 6’4″ 180 Maryville College
27 Chris Dobbins 6’4″ 205 New River Community College
28 Jonathan Lohr 6’6″ 205 N/A