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MILTON KEYNES LIONS' PLAYER NEWS, 2008-09 |
14/11/08
Marshall MK Lions have strengthened their roster with the addition of shooting guard Jayson Obazuaye.
Born in San Jose California, of Nigerian parents, Jayson played for BiG Storage Cheshire Jets last season, was the second highest scorer in the BBL last season, with a total of 781 points, and his average of 23.67 per game was the third highest in the League.
As well as leading his team in points, Obazuaye played the most minutes of any player in the BBL - averaging an impressive 38 minutes 29 seconds per game. The 6'3" 210Ibs guard also averaged 2.7 assists, 1.75 steals and collected 5.6 rebounds per game as he appeared in all 33 BBL Championship games for the Jets.
Lions Head Coach, Vince Macaulay is delighted with his new signing, "It was clear we needed to add some punch to what we are doing this season and Jayson certainly brings this to us, he is strong, big for a guard and extremely aggressive on the basketball club, I am sure his style will compliment the teams ethos."
The 24-year-old guard had some success against Lions last season, top scoring with 22 points as Lions defeated the Cheshire side 89-75 and hitting 27 points when Jets gained revenge at Northgate Arena the following month.
Obazuaye, is a graduate of the Big 12 NCAA Division School, Colorado University where he was a mainstay for four years. An explosive guard with great quickness, jumping ability and acceleration whilst a solid shooter, his strength is in getting to the basket. At college at Colorado, Obazuaye averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds per game in 20 minutes of action whilst hitting 51% from the field.
Obazuaye has an extra week to get used to his new team-mates as Lions are without a game this weekend. he will make his debut on Friday November 21st when Worcester Wolves are the visitors to Bletchley Leisure Centre.
In a related move, summer signing Carl McNally has been released by the Lions.
17/09/08
Four youngsters join Lions
Four up and coming young players have been added to the Marshall MK Lions 2008-09 line up for Coach Vince Macaulay.
Eddie Morrison, Liam Cort, Greg Harvey and Simon Emmerson have all been put through their paces and after major minutes in the Lions mega three game weekend schedule will all wear the black and gold for the Lions. Cort, 21, is 6'3", and a guard, has come through the Lions junior ranks and his quickness and rebounding appear to give him a shot of increased minutes. "Liam had 5 rebounds in a tough game against Guildford on Sunday, he has all the necessary skills and has just been developing the mentality required at this level, I think he might just be at that point" commented Macaulay.
Eddie Morrisson, possessing lightning quick speed and excellent ball handling skills, is set to back up starting point guard, Terrell Brown. From Brent Cross in London, he played with the Hackney White Heat in EBL Division 3 last year whilst attending Hackney Community College, at 6'2" Coach Macaulay is thrilled with him, "What a sleeper, Nigel Lloyd had mentioned him to me and when I saw him at the Midnight Madness in Milton Keynes this summer, it was clear he could easily play at our level, he is a great example to youngsters out there that they can fulfil their wishes of pro basketball, in fact looking at the various GB point guards over the last two weeks he has a real shot of making it even further" Morrisson hit 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists against Team USA on Friday.
Greg Harvey, 18, attends the Lions Basketball Academy in partnership with the Milton Keynes College, he made his debut last season for the Lions hitting 5 points in two minutes against London Capital to inspire an unlikely Lions victory. "Greg is very heady, he comes on the floor and people take him lightly, that's just great as he always makes them pay" said Macaulay.
Simon Emmerson a 6'4" forward, hails from Southend and is 25. He attended Danville Community College in the States and had four years at University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. "An old friend of mine, Steve Pearl, alerted me to Simon, he is very strong, very fit and extremely keen. He has all the attributes and I love his attitude, he reminds me so much of a younger Dru Spinks" Macaulay added.
The Lions defeated Team USA on Friday then beat Team Meresta from Lithuania on Saturday before suffering a narrow 2 point defeat at Guildford in the first leg of the Cup Winners Cup on Sunday. The second leg takes place this Friday at Bletchley tip off 7.30pm and the Lions first League game of the season is also at home on the 26th when they host Cheshire Jets. Season Tickets and game tickets are available now on www.mklions.com with great savings if they are bought in advance.
10/09/08
Yorick returns
Great Britain International, Yorick Williams is back in the Black and Gold of the Marshall MK Lions for the coming season.
The colourful Manchester-born player, known as, the Boss from Moss Side, led the Lions in scoring with 15.3 points per game whilst only playing 14 minutes, whilst also shooting 43% from the floor.
Lions Chief, Vince Macaulay commented "Yorick matured really well with us last season, he loved being here and we loved having him here, he is simply the most exciting player in the BBL and one of a handful of players fans actually pay good money to watch".
Williams, a 6'4" shooting guard, is a previous BBL Championship and BBL Cup winner, winning that again last season with the Lions, he also featured for Chris Finch's GB squad last summer. the leading scorer on that team. Apart from the 2001-02 season, when he played for ARIS Thessaloniki in Greece, Williams has spent the entirety of his thirteen-year professional career in the BBL, and each year bringing significant impact to his teams. "Yorick gelled well with the whole squad" added Macaulay, "I expect him to take an even greater role this term, Yorick is already a legend to British players and leads the youngsters in letting them know how far they can go in their basketball so I am glad to have him here".
Williams joins up with returnees, Dru Spinks, Mike New, Terrell Brown and Robert Youngblood. "I am glad to be able to bring back the five that started the Championship Final" continued Macaulay, "With Carl McNally joining us for the first time, and a couple more new faces to announce I have tried to blend the old with the new".
The Lions enter their first action of the new season as Team USA Select visit Milton Keynes this Friday the 12th and then they move to Leicester to face Team Meresta of Lithuania and then the first Leg of the Cup Winners Cup in Guildford on Sunday the 14th. The second leg of that competition will take place at the Bletchley Leisure Centre on Friday the 19th and the season proper opens up on the 26th of September when the Cheshire Jets are the visitors.
Tommie to gun for glory with Lions
Tommie Eddie has become Vince Macaulay's sixth addition to his Milton Keynes Lions roster ahead of the 2008/09 season.
The 6'7"American comes highly recommended following a stellar season last year in Portugal where he averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds on the way to winning the Portugese Cup.
Eddie, 25, is a graduate of Mississippi University in the South East Conference one of the toughest College divisions in the United States. The 245Ib player averaged 11 points and 4.5 rebounds in college before having stints in Ireland, the USBL and finally in Portugal.
Lions' Head Coach Vince Macaulay commented, "I think Tommie will fit in very well with what we are trying to do, he had an extremely successful time in Portugal last year, he bangs in and around the paint whilst also having a deft touch outside for such a big man".
In Portugal Eddie's team Vittoria, playing in the Pro Liga, the second division defeated two Pro A teams on the way to the finals and shocked the experts as they defeated FC Porto in front of a full house, Eddie exploding for 27 points and 11 rebounds. In College the center shot 61% from the field and 60% from the three point line but it was his inside play that attracted Macaulay, "Eddie is a 75% free throw shooter, he bangs inside very well and I watched him take two ex NBA centers apart in that Portugese final both of them had 4 inches on him, I just have this inkling he is going to enjoy himself with Yorick, Robert and the rest of the guys"
Eddie joins Robert Youngblood, Mike New, Carl McNally, Yorick Williams, Terrell Brown and Dru Spinks on this year's team with another new face to be added this week.
The Lion's are in action this Friday against Team US Select at Bletchley before travelling to Leicester in a friendly the following day. The first BBL home game of the season will be on Friday the 26th of September when they face the Cheshire Jets.
26/08/08
Captain Spinks is back for his
twelfth season
Marshall MK Lions have returned their Captain Dru Spinks to the Lions roster ahead of the 2008/09 season.
The 6'5" England International is coming off his best season ever alongside captaining the team in the capture of the BBL Cup.
Spinks, 28, made his debut in 1996 when the team was in Hemel Hempstead and has only ever played for the Milton Keynes club, he is in fact the most loyal player in the BBL having played 11 years at the same club and is entering his fifth year as the team's captain.
Lions' Head Coach Vince Macaulay commented, "Dru is a guy you always want alongside you in the trench. He is fiercely competitive and is always prepared; I think last year he showed how much more there is to come, his 22 points in the Championship Final a case in point".
Last season, Spinks put up some good numbers for his team whilst leading them defensively. He averaged 6.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game whilst shooting 60% from the floor, 35% from the three point line and 73% from the free throw line.
Spinks joins Terrell Brown, Mike New, and Robert Youngblood as returnees from last season alongside new signing Carl McNally, with more faces to be added this week.
Lions fans can meet the players on the 12th of September when the team hosts Team USA select, at the Bletchley Leisure Centre in Milton Keynes. The team then travel to Leicester on the 13th to face Lithuanian team, Joniskis Delikatesas and then on the 14th travel to Guildford for the first leg of the Cup Winners Cup.
The Lion's first BBL game of the new season sees them entertain the Cheshire Jets in Milton Keynes on the 26th of September, Tickets for all these games are available on the Lions website.
13/08/08
Youngblood Good for Lions
Marshall Milton Keynes Lions today announced the re- signing of 6'7" power forward, Robert Youngblood.
The 39-year-old enters his fifth season with the Lions having contributed massively in the capture of the club's first ever title last season and a stellar display as the Lions rode the Playoffs right to the Championship game.
Youngblood averaged 9pts and 6 rebounds for the Lions, in the team's rotation system, but it was his all- round game that pleased Lions' owner and Head Coach, Vince Macaulay, "Robert is a warrior through and through, you always want him on your side, he is great around the basket, he is even better further away and he brings a nice level of competitive spirit to the team, I look forward to him welcoming the new forwards in the League to competitive BBL basketball!"
The Alabama native will be competing in his fourteenth BBL Championship campaign, and in that time he has picked up three league titles and two Cup titles; he was also on the BBL All-Star Team as far back as 1994-95.
Youngblood missed the start of last season due to an Achilles injury, and slowly recovered from that to be playing some tough basketball towards the end of the season averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds over the three Playoff games.
"Robert has 'rehabbed' his leg very well this summer," continued Macaulay, " I feel we will see an even more energised version of himself come the start of the season, I am excited."
As well as his experience of British basketball, the power forward also played throughout Europe, including spells in Portugal and the German Bundesliga. He began his career in 1991 becoming the Number One Draft pick in the CBA in the United States, after graduating from Southern University.
Youngblood joins fellow returnees Terrell Brown and Mike New as well as rookie Carl McNally. The Lions expect to make another player announcement later this week.
Lions are in action in pre-season friendlies in early September starting with Team USA on the 12th at the Bletchley Leisure Centre.
29/07/08
Milton Keynes Lions today announced the re-signing of former BBL All-Star Mike New.
The 6'9" power forward / centre, will enter his third year and second spell with the Lions after playing in Milton Keynes during the 2002-03 Basketball season. In total it will be his thirteenth campaign in the BBL, having previously turned out for Newcastle, Leicester, and Scottish Rocks amongst others, and, at 40 years- of-age, he was the league's oldest player last season.
Lions' Head Coach Vince Macaulay is ecstatic about the acquisition of a player whose influence extends far from the basketball court.
"Mike is a work horse" said Macaulay, "he only knows how to give 100%. As our Academy Director he is the perfect man to influence the young men and women who enter in the MK College Basketball Academy, whilst on court he lets the rest of the team know that they will have to give of their best"
New had a dual role as Assistant Coach with the Lions last season then added the role of Academy Director. He averaged 13.5 points and 7 rebounds per game, shooting 77% from the free throw line and 54% from the field.
Macaulay added, "Mike is a true professional, he has helped us in many areas of preparation and the players follow his lead from a fitness and preparation point of view, also it's always nice to have someone nearer my age to talk to rather than listen to ipod tunes by people I've never heard of!"
The Lions have already announced the return of point guard, Terrell Brown and rookie, Carl McNally, more players will be announced at the end of the week as well as details of the pre-season schedule and meet the player events for the supporters to help launch the season. Season tickets are now on sale and take up has been large following the success of the Lions Of The Caribbean promotion. Details are available online at mklions.com.
The new BBL season starts for the Lions on September the 26th when the Cheshire Jets visit Bletchley Leisure Centre, fans are advised to take advantage of buying in advance for the best deals.
23/07/08
Terrell Brown has become Vince Macaulay's second addition to his Milton Keynes Lions roster ahead of the 2008/09 season, returning for his third season with the club.
The 5'10" American guided the Lions to their first ever trophy last season, leading from the point guard position as they captured the BBL Cup at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena.
Brown, 23, is a graduate of Charleston Southern University where he was the starting point guard for three years. An explosive point guard with great quickness and acceleration, whilst a solid shooter , his strength is in ball-handling and defensive quickness.
Lions' Head Coach Vince Macaulay commented, "Terrell is just what we need, he has matured so much over the last two seasons, for me he now claims the title of the best point guard in the BBL. He shows up in the big games and runs the team with drive and energy".
Last season Brown averaged 12points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game, his speed and quickness mesmerising opposition defenders as the Lions had a stellar year - also finishing in their highest ever league position (fourth) and reaching the BBL Championship Playoff final. "I am glad to have Terrell here," continued Macaulay, "this young man is so fundamentally sound and is a joy to watch on the court, he is balanced, he cares about the team and he also wants to get better."
Brown joins rookie Carl McNally on this year's team with another new face to be added this week.
The Lions' first game of the new season sees them entertain the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets on Friday 26th September (tip-off 7.30pm), but there will be a plethora of friendly games prior to that.
03/07/08
Marshall Milton Keynes Lions today announced their first signing of the season, 6’4” American guard/forward, Carl McNally.
The 22-year-old joins the Lions from Florida Tech in the United States where he has been playing for former BBL Champion coach, Billy Mims, and led his team to a 20-8 record this season as Captain.
McNally has been stunning in his career at Florida Tech, he was the leading scorer in his Conference, the Sunshine State Conference, averaging 21 points per game and across his last six games a whopping 27 points a game. McNally was voted to the All Conference First Team whilst also leading his team in steals.
“I am delighted to get Carl,” said Lions’ Owner and Head Coach, Vince Macaulay, “ He comes recommended not only by Billy but also by Jim Brandon, a previous BBL Championship winner, one thing those two have is a good eye for a player.”
McNally averages 61% from the field, 83% from the free throw line and 46% from the three point line. Macaulay added, “Carl’s field goal percentage alerted me and when we saw tapes of him I was staggered, his rate from the floor was 19th in all of College basketball last year, I think he will fit into the different style of basketball we will be playing this season.”
The youngster from Florida was also excited about coming to England and getting his pro career on the move, ““It feels good to finally know where I'm going and I feel very grateful for this opportunity,” said McNally. “This is a good place for me to start my professional career. Now that I have a pro deal it’s my responsibility to advance to higher levels. I have no excuses or distractions. I will have so much free time from College to focus on my game, learn new things and continue to improve. I'm excited.”
Coach Mims added, “'Having spent 10 years coaching in the BBL myself, I know first hand just how fantastic an opportunity this is for Carl,” said Mims. “Besides being a great place to start a promising international basketball career, it will be an unbelievable opportunity to experience a foreign culture and gain a better understanding of what it's like to live and work in a modern European environment.”
Lions are in action in pre-season when they face a touring US team at the Bletchley Leisure Centre on the 12th of September and then enter a two legged series in the Cup Winners’ Cup against the Guildford Heat, before the season starts.
Information on all Lions’ home games available on www.mklions.com