TWITTER: @MY_BBALL WWW.MYERSCOUGHBASKETBALL.CO.UK INSTAGRAM; MYERSCOUGH_BASKETBALL myerscough newsletter IN REVIEW: 2018-19 1 respect earned 14 Myerscough reached the SuperFinal of the EYBL, earning the respect of its opponents in the process. bwb europe selects williams 12 Amari Williams will head to Riga, Latvia for the camp, which runs June 9-12. redemption 16 Myerscough captured the U18 National Championship in dramatic fashion. sco adds five trophies in 2018-19 24 Myerscough added five trophies, including a double three-peat in AoC Sport competitions. 4 | fast-break 10 | hoopsfix all-star classic 22 | fajana 26 | q&a: sam akano huddled up: Myerscough players share one last word at the National Basketball Performance Centre. myerscough college basketball academy programme director: Neal Hopkins email: [email protected] telephone: +44 1995 642222 address: St Michaels Road, Preston, PR3 0RY website: www.myerscoughbasketball.co.uk twitter: @My_bball instagram: myerscough_basketball fast-break year in review MYERSCOUGH TOOK ON BOARD numerous new challenges during the 2018-19 season, including its participation in the European Youth Basketball League and National League Division 2. The Academy ascended to the top of the Under-18 Men’s league and added three- peats in the AoC Sport Premier Cup and Knockout Cup competitions. PHOTOGRAPH BY ALLEN GUNN fast-break AFTER SUFFERING DISAPPOINTMENT in the Under-18 Men’s Final a year ago, Myerscough ran the table and finished the season undefeated before beating Haringey Sixth Form to win the championship at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester. PHOTOGRAPH BY KIERON NEVISON fast-break reaching new heights Jamie Gray (right), David Walsh (bottom left) and Kyra Smith (bottom right) all take off for the basket for Myerscough. The Academy spread its wings and ventured across Europe, making eight trips to the con- tinent, including six different countries. Myerscough capped off a busy year abroad with a trip to the European Youth Basketball League SuperFinal in Tallinn, Estonia. Photographs: Allen Gunn 8 strictly business Myerscough guard Bradley Kaboza poses for a photo ahead of Stage II of the EYBL season in Latvia. 9 Top: Troy Culley; Bottom: Mate Okros (Mansoor Ahmed/HoopsFix) (Mansoor Bottom: Mate Okros Culley; Troy Top: + all-star 8 hoopsfix all-star classic Lewis McGlasson line,” said McGlasson. stepped off the bench for Team Black, which Myerscough coach Troy saw its eight-point lead Culley, who led Team Black evaporate to 88-86 with 11 to victory in the Hoopsfix seconds left, got back on All-Star Classic Underclass- track when the Myerscough men Game, and turned in a guard hit a deep two to ice vintage performance down the game. an opportunity to showcase five at the offensive end. the stretch. The 90-86 victory that and I wanted to stay The forward added eight McGlasson stopped kick-started a great Day out of the way.” points and tied for a game- and popped in transition 2 at the Hoopsfix All-Star Mate Okros and Sam best 20 plus-minus when from three-point range to Classic for Myerscough. Keita followed that perfor- he was on the floor. break a 78-all tie with 1:54 McGlasson finished with mance up by capturing a Okros knocked down remaining, before hitting 15 points, including a trio hard-fought 67-62 win with his fourth 3-pointer of the another from the corner of threes, to go with five Team Black while team- game and sparked a 5-0 run just 34 seconds later. rebounds. Kaboza added 12 mate Callan Low watched for Team Black, which gave All Myerscough team- points and eight boards in on. it a 64-58 lead with under mate Bradley Kaboza could the win. Okros went 4-for-5 from five minutes remaining. do was hold his hands “It was a great experi- 3-point range — hitting Team White got no closer above his head and clap. ence to coach against some 54.5 percent of his shots for than four. “I just went out there to guys we’ve gone against the game — on his way to Okros said: “It’s a great have some fun and show this year,” said Culley. 16 points. feeling to get the win in everyone there watching “Hoopsfix gives them a Keita, meanwhile, con- one of my last games on what I could do and what great platform to show tinued to show his domi- home soil, going up against a better opportunity to do what they can do — I let nance on the glass pulling long-term friends and it when the game is on the them know that they had in 11 rebounds, including teammates.” + valuable Kingdom validates all the hard work I’ve put in,” he added. “I felt confident okros hoopsfix mvp going in and making the shots I put up.” Myerscough guard Mate Okros Okros was a fixture for Myerscough put in a Most Valuable Player perfor- in its debut season in European com- mance at the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic, petition, leading the team and ranking knocking down four 3-pointers en in the top 10 in the league in scoring. route to a game-high 16 points at the He was named to the EYBL All-Star annual showcase event at Brixton Five on three-straight occasions, in- Recreation Centre. cluding at the SuperFinal. “Getting the MVP award was a The guard added to his list of in- really big honour and it came in what can.” dividual accolades when he received will likely be one of my last big games Okros, who committed to Drexel All-First Team honours in the EABL. in England for a while,” he said. “It was University in October, has maintained “Seeing my team have success — a great opportunity to go out there his No. 1 overall ranking in the DENG whenever we get a big win or have and take all that confidence I built Top 50 throughout the season. a great tournament — is such a big throughout the season in Division 2 “Being able to compete with the motivational tool. It makes me want to and the EYBL and do what I know I best players from around the United keep on working hard.” 10 + rewarded smith hails classic experience KYRA SMITH FEATURED JUST NINE MINUTES, but hailed the impact made by the inaugural “Women’s Hoopsfix All-Star Classic Women’s Game. “It means a lot to see women’s basketball being basketball in given opportunities to showcase its talent,” said Smith. “Women’s basketball has been overlooked Britain is going to and now its receiving the respect it deserves.” Smith started the game won 54-50 by Team go up from here White and record two points — coming after she stripped her opponent of the ball — and two re- thanks to the bounds before exiting the game with an injury. But that didn’t stop the Tallahassee Community exposure from College commit from soaking in the experience at a packed Brixton Recreation Centre in London. HoopsFix and has “Having gone through it, it’s even more special to have been part of the first women’s game,” she hopefully opened said. “I really believe we’ve started something spe- cial for the next generation.” more doors.” 11 + making a mark basketball without borders selects williams MYERSCOUGH FORWARD AMARI WILLIAMS has life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership been selected to attend Basketball Without Borders and communication. (BWB) Europe, which will be held June 9-12 at the The 18th edition will be led by NBA coach Rick Elektrum Olympic Centre in Riga Latvia. Carlisle (Dallas Mavericks) and NBA assistant BWB Europe brings together the top 64 male and coaches Jamahl Mosley (Dallas Mavericks) and Pab- female players ages 17 and under from throughout lo Prigioni (Brooklyn Nets) along with NBA player Europe to learn directly from current and former development coaches Cameron Hodges (San Anto- National Basketball Association (NBA) and In- nio Spurs) and Michael Ruffin (New Orleans Peli- ternational Basketball Federation (FIBA) players, cans). coaches and legends and to take part in variety of Williams is the second Myerscough student-ath- activities on and off the court, including movement lete to be selected for BWB Europe following Class efficiency, skill development stations, shooting of 2019 Mate Okros’ participation at the 2018 camp and skills competitions, 5-on-5 games, and daily in Belgrade, Serbia. Okros has since committed to 12 Drexel University in the United States. game from professional coaches and players at the “It means a lot to be selected for Basketball camp, which will benefit me next season.” Without Borders and just having the opportunity Prior to his arrival at the Preston-based Acade- to go to such a great camp is a great accomplish- my, Williams represented Great Britain at the U16 ment,” said Williams. “To be included as one of the European Championships Division B in Sarajevo. top junior players in Europe is crazy, but it’s also He pulled in 6.5 rebounds per game, which ranked rewarding that that’s the level people see me at.” second on the team, and chipped in 5.6 points and The 6-foot-10 forward gained experience in 2.3 assists. his first year at Myerscough with the Europe- Williams, who reached double-digit rebounds an Youth Basketball three times, had a League (EYBL), Nation- tournament best 16 al League 2, Under-18 boards against eventu- Men’s and Elite Acad- “To be included al champions Russia. emy Basketball League BWB Europe 2019 teams in 2018-19. He will feature a number helped clinch the U18 as one of the top of current and former National Champion- NBA and WNBA play- ship by averaging a ers including Latvian double-double — 10.6 junior players in players Dairis Bertāns points and 11.2 re- (New Orleans Pelicans), bounds — in the play- Dāvis Bertāns (San An- offs.