PRE-SEASON REPORT: EAGLES 95-85 USA SELECT

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021
SIMON RUSHWORTH

Fans flooded into the Vertu Motors Arena for the first time in 18 months last night as new-look Newcastle Eagles edged a tough pre-season test.

A 1,000-strong crowd — a club record for a friendly — was rewarded with a typically frenetic affair against familiar foes.

And with the bulk of Ian MacLeod’s roster yet to touch down on Tyneside, the Geordie playcaller took plenty of positives from an entertaining clash.

Newcastle took on USA Select in a now traditional curtain-raiser missing the majority of their new signings.
Visa issues and red tape affecting BBL franchises across the UK meant none of the Eagles’ incoming imports were suited up ahead of tip-off.

But club officials are confident of making progress within the next 72 hours and expect the first of their close-season captures to begin arriving next week.

The absence of returning favourite Rahmon Fletcher et al did, however, open the door to Newcastle’s new breed of emerging talent.

And Eagles Academy products Themba Yabantu, named in the starting five, and Sauveur Kande made the most of early opportunities to impress.

Kyle Williams, the dual national guard back in the North East following spells in Iceland and Spain, looks set to be a popular returnee.

Kyle WIlliams starred on his return to Newcastle, finishing with 20 points. (Photo: Dave Moore)

And the pacey playmaker announced his Newcastle comeback with a towering three pointer to open the scoring.

But it was the USA Select’s scratch side of wannabe professionals who quickly took control of a free-flowing fixture midway through the first period.

And the hosts had to come back from a disarming double-figure deficit to take a hard-earned 29-26 lead into the second quarter.

Eagles new boys Daniel Johnson-Thompson and Corey Johnson offered MacLeod a constant threat in the paint alongside veteran Darius Defoe and Newcastle University’s lively Ronald Blaine.

But Newcastle always looked most dangerous from the perimeter and back-to-back triples from Johnson and Williams opened up a 39-31 lead midway through the second quarter.

If Louis Sayers was struggling to get in on the three-point act then the returning guard — and one of the breakout stars of the Eagles’ double-winning 2020/21 season — put in a relentless defensive shift.

And the hosts appeared to have put a shaky start behind them as MacLeod’s men took a deserved 51-41 lead into the locker room at the half.

USA Select trimmed the deficit to six points heading into the fourth quarter but Newcastle closed out a welcome win with room to spare.

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Wales Men v @USASelectBBall

Basketball Wales | Pêl-Fasged Cymru
@BasketballWales
Basketball is back…

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Elite Basketball tournament hosts USA Select teams in Malta

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021
Kurt Aquilina
Sports journalist for the Times of Malta

Elite Malta Basketball hosted a four-team international tournament over the weekend at the Ta’ Qali pavilion, with USA Select Basketball Red taking the honours after beating local sides Starlites BC and Depiro BC.

USA Select Basketball, an organization composed of athletes that have completed their college or NCAA eligibility and are looking for professional contracts internationally, brought to Malta two teams – Red and Blue – to compete.

Tournament coordinator Ruben Baldacchino told the Times of Malta that despite it being difficult to bring such teams to Malta due to costs and especially the COVID-19 restrictions, “When an opportunity like this happens, our teams are always looking forward to face stronger competition.”

“The idea behind the Elite Basketball Tournament is to help local clubs by attracting international teams to Malta. Definitely, due to the COVID situation it was not easy but thanks to the help of the Malta Basketball Association, Malta Tourism Authority and Depiro Basketball Club we managed to make this happen.

“This year, we kept it to four teams only but the aim is to give this opportunity to more teams in the future. Hopefully this will be an annual event that would act as an international preseason tournament for local clubs.”

Asked about this year’s event, Baldacchino was happy with the result and is looking forward to another edition next year.

“(The event) went smooth, and targets were reached. We gave youth an exposure to foreign coaches and local teams played against higher opposition. The only setback was that we could not let spectators in due to Covid restrictions,” he said.

The tournament opened with a USA Select Red 80-74 win over Starlites,as Depiro beat USA Select Blue 63-62.

Starlites redeemed themselves the next day against USA Select Blue with a 68-60 win as Depiro fell to eventual winners USA Select Red 100-57.

US Coaches hold training camp for young Maltese players
While the highlight was the tournament, youth basketball players from the ages of 12-18 got the opportunity to follow training camp on Thursday held by USA Select.

“The kids loved it!” Baldacchino said.

“With the event doing well, they’ve asked me to do it again next year, with three days (of camp) or more.”

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Player of the Week

Hewitt Taking His Game To The Next Level

8/29/2019 10:48:00 AM

For over 15 years, USA Select Basketball has developed and fostered contacts oversees for the purpose of helping generations of former collegiate players continue their careers by playing professionally in Europe. USA Select handpicks a group of individuals for their international tours and, this year, the 2019 edition will feature none other than former Whitman Blues sharpshooter Joey Hewitt.

Hewitt met his new teammates in North Carolina for an intense three days of practice and concluded the pre-tour training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 28. The squad is now in the midst of a 14-game, 21-day journey through England, Wales, Scotland and Norway.

Whitman coach Eric Bridgeland, Hewitt’s coach for four years, knows how well-deserving this opportunity is. “Joey is a pro, a special player. You don’t have the success our program has enjoyed without the special ones. Our whole family is excited for him.”

USA Select will play top-notch competition from the Welsh National Team to the three-time British Basketball League champion Leicester Raiders. But a Sept. 6 game at Loughborough University will have a special significance to Hewitt. Professional contracts are no guarantee, and should things not work out on the court, Hewitt has been accepted and will attend Loughborough in the fall of 2020 seeking his masters in sports psychology.

Hewitt had a sensational career at Whitman, suiting up for the Blues from 2015-19 and leaving as one of the program’s all-time greats. Hewitt was a three-time all-NWC selection and earned NABC and D3Hoops.com all-region honors as a junior and senior. He exited Whitman ranked in the top five in career points and three-pointers made.

It’s no rest for the weary for the young group of hopeful professionals. The tour tips off with the 2019 Howell Shield Elite Basketball Tournament, an eight-team tournament running from Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Fans can follow USA Select Basketball and the tour on Twitter (@usaselectbball), Instagram (#usaselectbasketball) and Facebook (USA Select Basketball).

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Team USA are back

By: DAVE RYAN
Aug 29, 2019

Tram USA Select are back in England.

The travelling band of American players looking for a job, or just a bit of an experience, are back in the UK.

After a series of trials the serious stuff started on Monday with the first of back-to-back days where they practice three times. They were up at 3am on Wednesday, and arrived in London at 8.55pm.

The madness starts at London Knights on Thursday were both their sides will get their first taste of British refereeing before one team visits Wodson Park, Ware for a a three-day tournament in memory of former ref Mick Howell. The tournament should have been at Oaklands, but some tool burned it down. Meanwhile their Blue team travel to Reading on Friday and Solent on Saturday before the highlight of their tour comes at the Brentwood Centre where thy face Leopards.

The madness wraps up with games in Scotland before they hammer down to London to play Greenhouse on September 11. The following day sees a tour of the Houses of Parliament where they could easily end up forming the next Government before they jump on a plane of Friday 13th (what could possibly go wrong?) for a three day tournament in Norwa

Obviously it you’re only going to do one pre-season game, it really should be at the Brentwood Centre to see the new-look Leopards. But for balance, and because this blog’s only reader lives in Newcastle, here’s their full schedule should fancy a bit of hoops.

Thursday August 29: All players London Knights
Friday August 30: Red to Howell Shield Tournament (games 12 and 2 pm) then to Reading , Blue Reading Rockets NBL Division 1
Saturday August 31: Red Howell Shield Tournament games 12 and then TBD Blue Southampton Solent NBL 1
Sunday September 1: Red Howell Shield Tournament 2 games TBD Blue Leopards
Monday September 2: Red / Blue Wales National Team .
Tuesday September 3: Red Blue Newcastle Eagles Arena Opening Ceremony games. Eagles (BBL) Northumbria (NBL)
Wednesday September 4: Red to Plymouth Raiders (BBL) Blue Mansfield Giants (NBL)
Thursday September 5: Red to Manchester Giants (BBL) Blue Liverpool
Friday September 6: Red Loughborough Blue Sheffield Arrows (NBL)
Saturday September 7: Red Leicester Riders Blue Hemel Storm (NBL)
Sunday September 8: Red Glasgow Rocks (Scotland) Clinic then game Blue Off Travel to Glasgow with Red host pre-match clinic
Monday September 9: Red Off rest Blue Falkirk Fury (Scotland)
Tuesday September 10: Red Edinburgh double header Blue Edinburgh Scotland Kings
Wednesday September 11: Red Greenhouse Pioneers (NBL D2) Blue TBD
Thursday September 12: Tour day, all teams off Sight see in London,
Friday September 13: Red / Blue to Oslo Norway for 3 day Tournament

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New Ground: Episode Two – Preparations

Check out the second look inside the Riders preparations ahead of opening night as the team took on USA Select at the Morningside Arena Leicester!

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Sean Kilmartin USA Select Interview

Plymouth Raiders 84 – 93 USA Select

05 SEP 2019

Last night saw Plymouth Raiders take on the touring USA Select in pre-season friendly. The event took place at Plymouth School Of Creative Arts in an exclusive season members only event.

The state side team travelled to Plymouth on the back of a 1 point win over fellow BBL rivals Newcastle Eagles, Raiders were their second leg in their BBL journey as they travel around the UK.

Coach James had a full team for this game with newbie Kostas Jonuška flying in the evening before the game, also including in the game day roster were a number of Marjon University students as Raiders look to build a basketball programme at the Uni and within the city.

The game started off quick with Kostas taking the ball straight from tip off and giving his new side the first two points of the game. There were lots of rotations in the first quarter a theme which spread throughout the whole game, giving all players and students a chance to fight for a place in the starting five once the BBL season comes around. The first quarter ended 26-17 and Raiders seemed to have a strong hold on the game.

The second quarter seemed to go the same way with Raiders in complete control of the game with everyone getting minutes on the court and added worth to the side. The second 10 minutes ended slightly closer 40-36, showing a slight increase of pace from the visiting side.

During the third quarter the USA Select side showed their game experience and fitness as they started to really turn up the heat on the Raiders hitting 3 pointer after 3 pointer. The lead changed hands a few time throughout this 10 minutes but it was the USA who came out on top going into the final quarter leading 63-71.

The USA didn’t hold back in their final minutes in Plymouth as they continued to boss the court from the 3 point line hitting shot after shot. This is an area Coach James highlighted in his Post Game interview saying “ We could have defended the 3 ball a little bit better”.

The final score of the game was 84-93 with the USA Select taking their second win of their UK tour. They now move onto games against Manchester Giants and Leicester Riders.

Despite the loss, Coach James was still very positive about his team and how their pre season preparations were going saying “We wanted someone to challenge us a bit, so I could see the reaction of the players.

“It was a good challenge, I thought the USA Select played a pretty good game, they shot the ball very well and played a brand of basketball we struggled to deal with, it was a good learning ground, thats what pre season games are all about.

“I certainly learnt a lot from the team tonight and from individuals as well”.

Raiders now have a week of practice before their final pre-season game at the Plymouth Pavilions against Thames Valley Cavaliers, tickets for this game can be purchased at https://bit.ly/2zB2qP7.

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PRE-SEASON REPORT: EAGLES 83-84 USA SELECT

SIMON RUSHWORTH
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

Results
TEAM 1 2 3 4 T RESULT
Eagles 17 24 23 19 83 Loss
USA Select 27 14 25 18 84 Win

The first fixture of the post-Fabulous Flournoy era tipped off against a backdrop of mixed emotions following the 6pm announcement that the BBL’s most decorated coach had accepted an assistant’s role in the NBA with reigning champions Toronto Raptors.

And Newcastle’s players – who were told of their coach’s decision at a team meeting the previous day – always looked like their minds were elsewhere during a match the short-handed hosts were never able to dominate.

A last-second basket by the USA was enough to seal a famous victory for the jubilant visitors while home supporters were left to consider a future without their talismanic figurehead.

Neither John Mitchell nor Mike Morsell had arrived on Tyneside in time to make their Eagles’ debuts in what has become a traditional curtain raiser to the new campaign.

But coach Ian Macleod – stepping up in Flournoy’s absence – handed first starts to a trio of new recruits.

And they joined veteran Newcastle duo Rahmon Fletcher and Darius Defoe in a starting five that found the visitors’ lightning start too hot to handle.

Rahmon Fletcher in action against USA Select

A 10-point first quarter deficit – and a worrying knock to Hussein’s right knee that floored the Frenchman – was hardly the perfect introduction to pre-season.

But the hosts swiftly found their stride following the restart with Fletcher and Glasgow forging an instant understanding in the backcourt.

Macleod’s men had levelled the scores at the half but a typically youthful USA Select side– stacked with raw talent fresh out of college – was far from finished.

Boasting a slew of determined players desperate to land a first professional contract, the American outfit was back in front midway through the third quarter.

And Sean Kilmartin’s men took a fully deserved 66-64 lead into the fourth period to put pressure on the tiring Eagles.

But for Macleod this match was as much about blooding new talent as it was bagging a win and the second half appearance of Academy product Sauveur Kande drew warm applause from a noisy crowd.

The Gateshead College student enjoyed an encouraging cameo before Newcastle’s BBL veterans – Kai Williams and Drew Lasker joining Defoe and Fletcher on court – went in search of a last-gasp victory.

Ultimately it was too little, too late for a team that returns to pre-season action against Worcester Wolves at the ECA on Friday with both Mitchell and Morsell expected to figure.

Tickets for the two more pre-season games as well as the first game of the BBL season are all on sale now from the Newcastle Eagles Box Office.

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