BBL 2013/14 Preview: Surrey United

Summer 2013 has been all change for the Surrey based club. Having gone through financial difficulties a few seasons back, a change of ownership took place and a change of name soon followed.

Yet, only a year after this change, an even bigger one has taken place. The rebranded Surrey United is a joint venture between Surrey Sports Park and London United Harefield Academy, headed by Coach Jack Majewski – seeing the departure of coaching team trio of Raftopoulos, Purvey, and Adams.

Despite this, Majewski is adamant that they will “not be the Mersey Tigers” – making reference to the only winless season witnessed in the BBL, achieved by the Liverpudlian club.

Despite this statement, I am sure that they will live up to this expectation following the signings of young GB guard Elvisi Dusha, Americans George Williams and Fleming, and guards Tamayo and Sijanas.

For a number of years, Surrey has had regular returnees in the form of Mike Martin, Chad McKnight, and more recently Julius Joseph, Albert Margai and Tayo Ogedengbe. However, this year will see a new-look side and so I think it will be a tough ask for the new outfit to replicate the successes of the 2011/12 season.

Although it has been a shame to witness the removal of Coach Creon Raftopoulos, and his team, a change in management may bring back the successes that were once witnessed under the coaching strategies of Paul James.

With the addition of a hard working academy also filtering into the BBL team, I think that great things can be expected. These initial signings are just part of the full picture which will be built up in preparation for the start of the season, and come the back end of Christmas, I believe that they will be working and playing together as a team.

Surrey United Roster (as of 22nd September vs Cheshire Phoenix):

Signed: Elvisi Dusha, Andy Tamayo, Ignas Sijanas, George Williams, Kevin Fleming

Academy players: Chad Forbes, Reuben Tatham Nunn, Stephen Robinson, Joel Henry, Dijon Joseph, Wesley Bezuidenhout, Sebastian Ferenc, Ralph Pemberton

Predictions for Surrey United:

BBL Championship: 7th
BBL Playoffs: 1st Round/Quarter-finals
BBL Trophy: 1st Round
BBL Cup: 2nd Round