Competitive Carnegie await Top Flight Eagles

Leeds Carnegie Basketball will face a big pre-season challenge this Saturday (14 September) when they go up against BBL giants the Newcastle Eagles.

An always busy off season in British basketball has seen Leeds once again build a solid looking roster. Returning are Jack Stannard, Armand Anebo and Josh Metcalf who are joined by new faces Paul Holland, Josh McGinn (Mersey Tigers), Dwayne Camille, Ilija Ivankovic and Branimir Mikulic. Also joining the team is GB Under 20 international Rowell Graham, with the Carnegie squad completed by the addition of two of their junior players, Danny Evans and Rafi Saipe.

Coach Matt Newby is pleased with their progress this summer saying “The mood of the team is great and we have been working hard over the last two weeks to lay the foundations and develop a training culture that’s competitive and challenging. The player’s response has been great and the level of engagement exceptional. The key is for us to translate this onto the floor in games and for us to maintain a collective focus throughout what promises to be an exciting year.”

The visiting Esh Group Eagles Newcastle are the most successful team in British basketball history having won the League five times, the Playoffs five times, the Trophy five times and the Cup twice. They are coming off the back of a poor season by their standards, finishing second in the League and runners up in the Playoffs and Cup. Coach Fabulous Flournoy has worked hard off the court to bring a squad to Newcastle that he hopes will once again secure success. This includes retaining the services of BBL veterans Charles Smith and Darius Defoe as well as bringing in high profile American university players such as Scott Martin from basketball powerhouse Notre Dame.

The Eagles come to Leeds Metropolitan University Arena on the Headingley Campus for a 7:30pm tip-off.