Few people can claim to have had the resumes in topflight British basketball that Ant Rowe, Drew Lasker and Mike Tuck have amassed, which is why they were the perfect trio to sit down with and preview the inaugural Super League Basketball season.
Ant, Drew and Mike gave their thoughts on a bunch of topics, which we’re excited to share with you ahead of the season start on Friday night, but we’re tipping off with the most controversial – the end-of-season standings!
The guys went bold with their selections, so read on to find out more about where they think your favourite team might finish the season.
Ant Rowe:
1st – Caledonia Gladiators
Gareth Murray and his team have been building in the right direction for some time, and they’ve been able to retain key players for this inaugural Super League Basketball campaign with an abundance of experience which include; Fahro Alihodzic, Patrick Whelan, Ian DuBose, Prince Onwas, and Fraser Malcolm which are key ingredients for a championship team. It will be another challenge this season for Caledonia, along with the other clubs in the Super League that are also competing in Europe, however I think the Caledonia organisation will be better equipped this year with the demands of domestic and European fixtures. They have been building in the right way, and they could reap all the rewards this season!
2nd – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
This is the most excited I’ve been about a Sharks roster in a long time and it’s all about experience! Atiba Lyons is one of the most experienced coaches in the league and has recruited a talented roster. Historically when you look at successful teams in topflight British basketball they have retained players and have a wealth of experience. This roster has both! Bennett Koch, Jordan Ratinho, Rodney Glasgow Jr and Prentiss Nixon all return while they’ve added addition proven players in Jamell Anderson, and Mike Ochereobia. If they can get energy and production from their rookies then this is a championship calibre team.
3rd – Leicester Riders
The Riders’ expectation will be high for this historic season and directed back towards challenging for the Championship. It’s another new roster, so there’s a lot of inexperience there, but if you’ve watched British basketball for over the last decade, then you’ll know that Rob Paternostro is one of the best recruiters of basketball players to have grace these shores. Having played for him and won titles with him, I’ll never bet against Rob Paternostro. The loss of Kimbal Mackenzie will be tough to replace but the return of a proven star like Zach Jackson could be key to their success. If individuals on the team can emerge as leaders, then this could be one of the teams to beat this year.
4th – London Lions
It’s been a turbulent summer for London so this is a new-look team, but there’s enough talent from the new faces in the group alongside elite returning players for them still to be feared! It will be fascinating watching Coach Petar Bozic lead a new team. The likes of Jordan Taylor, Ovie Soko and Aaryn Rai will be HUGE in determining the fortune of this group. Sean Flood and Jaiden Delaire look like exciting new additions and the Lions will need bigger contributions from their British core in Kareen Queeley, Ciaran Sandy, Remy Udeh and Matt Goodwin.
5. Cheshire Phoenix
6. Bristol Flyers
7. Newcastle Eagles
8. Surrey 89ers
9. Manchester Basketball
Drew Lasker:
1st – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
Who’s ready for jeopardy? This will be most wide-open Championship race in recent British basketball history. Our franchises start this new era with incredible parity and you could easily make the case for many teams to finish top of the tree, but in an era in which teams are prioritizing offense, the Sharks defence will finally earn them a first Championship title in the top flight of British Basketball since 2003! Coach Lyons’ team have an undeniable energy about them as they continue to build on this new era with a shiny new investor to go along with their recently opened arena and fresh roster as the new blood they’ve added promises to help evolve and reinvigorate their core! It’s all set up perfectly for Atiba at the Tank!
2nd – Caledonia Gladiators
The Gladiators should be in line to dominate Super League Basketball as they are one of the most stable ad ambitious franchises in the league. They will be very hard to beat this season as they have everything they could possibly need on that roster to compete on all four fronts: inside presence, tough defenders, scorers and Coach Murray has installed some solid options at the point guard position to tip off this new campaign. If not for Europe, I’d say they’d be the favourites in this Championship race, but I think that schedule and the gruelling demands of competing in EuroCup will see them take their eyes off the prize back home at crucial moments.
3rd – Bristol Flyers
The Bristol Flyers have transitioned from a monster with three guards to redressing the balance of this group and giving the keys back to sophomore floor general Keddy Johnson. They have much more firepower from all scoring levels this year than they did previously, but the question will be whether they can convert that talent and potential into scoring – they can rescue any misses on the boards as well as anybody, but if the Flyers are locked in offensively from early then they’re going to be a big problem for teams. They have some young athletes that look incredibly hungry and if they can avoid the injury bug that plagued them in previous European campaigns, Coach Kapoulas’ side will be ready to make some serious noise!
4th – Newcastle Eagles
Redemption has been the word thrown around when describing the Eagles roster this season. The imports have a lot to prove as they all have their own underdog story, and there’s a different feel to this group as last year the majority of the players had considerable British basketball experience, but this year half of the group is completely new to these shores. They have a lot of continuity in the front court which is going to serve them well, and that should give the guards plenty of time to find their feet and show their talent as the season progresses, meaning the Eagles compete at the top of the table once again.
5th – Cheshire Phoenix
6th – London Lions
7th – Leicester Riders
8th – Surrey 89ers
9th – Manchester Basketball
Mike Tuck
1st – London Lions
The London Lions remain strong contenders this season, despite a chaotic summer behind the scenes. Backed by new investment from Tesonet, major shareholder of Zalgiris Kaunas, this will see the Lions form a valuable partnership with an experienced investor. Key figures such as Head Coach Peter Bozic and veteran guard Jordan Taylor have stayed on board, providing some stability and leadership. Some exciting additions, including Aaron Rai, Ovie Soko and Jaiden Delaire, set the stage for another competitive year at the Copper Box.
2nd – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
With new investor Vaughn Millette bringing fresh energy and a strong desire for success in his inaugural season, the Sheffield Sharks may be poised for a return to silverware in South Yorkshire. The team has maintained a solid core with key players like Rodney Glasgow Jr, Prentiss Nixon, Bennett Koch, and Jordan Ratinho, while also adding exciting new talents such as Jake Groves, Makhi Mitchell, and the experienced Jamell Anderson. This blend of stability and new firepower provides Head Coach Atiba Lyons with the tools to compete effectively on both ends of the court.
3rd – Caledonia Gladiators
Head Coach, Gareth Muarry and the Caledonia Gladiators appear to have levelled up this season, focusing on size and athleticism. Entering their second consecutive European campaign, the team looks for success both internationally and domestically. Key returning players like Ian DuBose, Patrick Whelan, and Fahro Alihodzic, combined with new additions such as Isaiah Hill, Tanner Stockman, and high-flying Toto Fagbenle, round out a formidable roster, looking like a well-balanced squad capable of competing on multiple fronts and make an impact.
4th – Newcastle Eagles
Head Coach Marc Steutel is once again in pursuit of silverware as the Newcastle Eagles gear up for the new season. The team retains key figures like Josh Ward-Hibbert, Malcolm Delpeche, and league veteran Darius Defoe, who enters an incredible 21st season. Steutel has opted to rebuild on the import side of the squad bringing in a handful of new additions, Jaelin Llewellyn, Seneca Knight, and Cole Long have already shown promise during preseason, adding more depth to the squad. With a blend of experience and new energy, the Eagles look to challenge for top four spot this season.
5th – Cheshire Phoenix
6th – Leicester Riders
7th – Bristol Flyers
8th – Manchester Basketball
9th – Surrey 89ers