Hoopsfix All-Star Classic 2015 Programme

HASC 2015 - Programme.indd 1 21/05/2015 08:44

A message from Hoopsfix
elcome to the second
annual Hoopsfix All-
Star Classic!
The Hoopsfix All-Star Classic is
a one day showcase of British
basketball talent and culture,
aiming to recognise and
celebrate the country’s best
who spend so much of their
time flying under the radar.
I’d like to start by just thanking
you for taking the time from
your Bank holiday weekend to
come and support this event
and everything we’re trying to
do with Hoopsfix and British
basketball – it really wouldn’t
be possible without people
like yourself buying tickets and
showing up!
I also would like to thank:
• Molten
• 2tall.com
• Sportserve Ltd
• BasketballDirect.com
• Bigfoot Basketball
• Starting 5 Teamwear
• Reach & Teach
• 5or6
• Always Ballin’
• Let Me Play
• CocoPro
• Wilkie TV.
without whom none of this
would have taken place. It takes
a special kind of company to be
willing to invest in basketball
in the UK, and all of the above
partners have proven their
support in the growth of
basketball here – please, if you
get the chance in the future,
use their services wherever
possible to show it was a
worthwhile investment!
We’re incredibly proud to bring
the event to Brixton Recreation
Centre this weekend, the
place many consider to be
the unofficial home of British
basketball, with so much history
and tradition.
We’re also incredibly proud
of the level of players we have
taking to the floor this
afternoon – a collection of what
we think will be the best junior
talent on one court
at the same time this year. I
have no doubt they will put on
a show!
Be sure to use the hashtag
#HASC15 when talking about
the day on social media, and
follow Hoopsfix on all our social
media accounts for real time
updates with photos and videos
from the event.
Enjoy your day and let the
games begin!
Sam Neter
Owner, Hoopsfix
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HoopsfixAll-starClassic2015#HASC15

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The Hoopsfix Foundation
he Hoopsfix Foundation
Founded in 2014 it is
the not-for-profit arm
of British basketball website,
Hoopsfix.com.
Left reeling after a non-existent
legacy from the 2012 Olympics,
Hoopsfix launched the
foundation to ensure basketball
has some support to reach
its potential across the home
nations.
As a not-for-profit, its sole
mission is to grow and raise
the profile of basketball in the
United Kingdom, through a
focus on projects that have a
long term, sustainable impact.
This includes physical work,
such as renovating or improving
basketball facilities, funding
the Classic itself, and also
research-based white papers
to help form a picture of the
British basketball landscape,
identifying issues and providing
solutions.
Any profits from the 2015
Hoopsfix All-Star Classic will go
to the Foundation
T
5

u19 BlackTeam Coach James Vear
u19 White Team Coach Neal Hopkins
Currently studying towards a Master’s Degree in
Elite Coaching Practice Neal is the head coach of
the 2015 EABL Under-19 champions Myerscough
College.
Alongside his role at Myerscough, Neal has been
the assistant coach for the Manchester Giants in
the BBL for the past three seasons. Previously he
has worked under Coach Tony Garbelotto at the
Everton/Mersey Tigers. Neal is also embedded
into Basketball England’s performance pathway
holding various roles from Northwest RPC head
coach to being performance analyst with England
Under-18 men.
James started coaching at the age of 24 at youth
level with the Sevenoaks Suns boys team. He
stayed there for 4 years before moving onto
the Medway Park Crusaders where he was the
associate head coach of their academy and also
the semi-professional men’s team Head Coach.
In the 3 years at Medway he gained promotion to
the top division with the Men’s Team winning the
Division 2 playoffs in 2011.
James would then move to Canada to take up a
lead assistant role at Dalhousie University under
the tutelage of John Campbell, while also taking
up a lead assistant position with the Great Britain
under 20 Mens team, which he continues to do,
helping them gain promotion to Division A.
Vear then took his first professional coaching job
in Denmark for Aalborg Vikings, where in his first
year he managed a team record for wins and made
the playoffs for the first time, while picking up
Coach of the Year. He has since returned to coach
at GB Regional Institute, Barking Abbey.
7

Black
Jules Dang Akodo
02/05/1996 (19)
6’2”
82kg
Fraport Skyliners (Germany)
One of the top junior guards in the country, Dang Akodo has plyed his trade
in Europe the past few seasons after following a spell in Slovenia with the last
part of this season in Germany. The 19-year-old played for Frankfurt Skyliners
in Pro-B, and scored a season-high of 29 points during the playoffs. He has
also represented England in European Championships since 2012.
#10
Black
Liam Carpenter
07/02/1996 (19)
6’1”
86kg
Team Basket Munich Nord (Germany)
The former Reading Rockets guard spent the past season overseas in
Germany, and is set to return for another year in Europe. Carpenter has
represented England at every youth level from under-15’s upwards and
competed at the U16 European Championships in 2012.
#7
Black
Shaquille Walters
19/10/1997 (17)
6’4”
79kg
Peckham Pride
The second youngest competitor in the under-19 game, Walters claimed the
MVP award to help his team win the U17 National Schools Championship.
He was an England under-17 last year and is currently a part of the under-18
squad.
#6
Black Sedale Hanson-Young
19/11/1996 (18)
6’1”
82kg
Team Birmingham
Hanson-Young competed at the European Championships with the England
under-18’s last summer, and also represented his country at U16 level. He also
hit a clutch 3-pointer in the 2014 Under-18 National Cup Final as Birmingham
A’s claimed victory.
#5
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u19 BlackTeam RosterHoopsfixAll-starClassic2015#HASC15

Black
Hamad Ali
26/12/1997 (17)
6’5”
85kg
Manchester Magic
The youngest competitor in the under-19 game, Ali was the MVP in this year’s
U18’s SureShot National Cup after an impressive display of 24 points, 12
rebounds and 7 steals. The 17-year-old was also part of the Division 1 Mens
squad, which claimed two pieces of silverware with National Cup and National
Trophy victories.
#19
Black
Cameron King
17/01/1996 (19)
6’8”
90 kg
Preston College
King helped lead Preston to the final fours in the EABL this season, and led
the league in blocked shots with 3 per game. The 6’8” forward/centre was also
named as North ConferenceDefensive Player of the Year, as he looks for his
first call up to the GB U20s this summer.
#13
Black
Kyle Carey
03/01/1997 (18)
6’6”
85kg
Preston College
The 6’6” forward represented England under-18’s at the 2014 Haris
Tournament in December, and led Preston to the EABL Final Fours, where
they narrowly lostout to SGS College. Carey averaged 20.1 points per game
during the EABL regular season.
#11
Under 19s
Black
Earl Russell
01/01/1996 (19)
6’7”
102kg
Myerscough College
The 6’7” forward helped Myerscough College to the EABL Championship title
this season, and has committed to Gillette College next season, where fellow
Brit Kavell Bigby-Williams just finished his first season. Russell has also played
for England under-17’s.
#15
9

Black
Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye
23/03/1996 (19)
6’3”
79kg
Bristol Flyers
Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye impressed in his debut season in the BBL with
Bristol Flyers, and will be heading to NCAA D1 school Bradley Braves next
season. The 6’3” guard has represented England at international level for the
past three summers with consecutive appearances at the Under-18 European
Championships. He also led SGS College to three finals in a row in the EABL.
#23
Black
Nathan Smith
28/03/1996 (19)
7’1”
104kg
Kent Crusaders
Another member of Kent’s NBL Division 1 playoff winning squad, Smith has
been part of Barking Abbey’s academy since 2013. The 7-footer won the EABL
Championship in 2014, and represented England under-17’s the previous
year.
#22
Black
Myles Laurent-Smart
20/05/1996 (19)
5’10”
69kg
West Oaks Academy
Laurent-Smart has spent the past season playing in the States at West Oaks
High School, in Orlando. The 5’10” guard won the EABL Championship with
Haris Academy Beckenham in 2013, and led the league in assists the following
season.
#21
10 Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye Earl Russell

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u19 White Team Roster
Denzel Ubiaro
18/03/1997 (18)
6’2”
84kg
Westminster Warriors
The 6’2” guard played for England under-18’s at the annual Haris Tournament
in 2014 having also played for his country at U16 & U17 level. Ubiaro has been
playing in the National League with Westminster.
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#2
Sam Newman
22/01/1996 (19)
6’3”
81kg
Ipswich
The 19-year-old was named as the 2014-15 EABL regular season MVP, and
finished as the top scorer with an average of 30.2 points per game. Newman
has signed with Cal State LA in NCAA Division 2 for next season, ending his
long-term stay with Ipswich.
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#4
AkwasiYeboah
15/06/1997 (17)
6’6”
95kg
Kent Crusaders
Akwasi Yeboah was one of the shining young players in the NBL Division 1
this season, and played a key role in helping Kent Crusaders to the playoffs
title. The 17-year-old scored 20 points in the final against Essex. He has also
represented England at under-18 level.
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#6
OlaAyodele
30/12/1996 (18)
6’4”
86kg
Captained London Greenhouse Pioneers to the U18 National Championship
for the first time - claiming the MVP award in the process with 11 points, 8
rebounds and 8 assists.
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#8

Josh Steel
14/01/1997 (18)
6’4”
88kg
Kent Crusaders
One of the best juniors of his generation, Steel is heading to the NCAA
Division 1 next season after signing with Duquesne. The 18-year-old guard
claimed the MVP award in the NBL D1 playoffs final with Kent Crusaders in
April, just as he did when guiding Barking Abbey to the EABL title in 2014.
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#12
Joe Swindells
10/09/1996 (18)
6’3”
95kg
Manchester Magic
One of the most decorated players in junior basketball with National
Championships from under-12’s upwards to his name. Swindells was part of
the D1 Mens team that won the double this season, and has also played for the
England under-16’s.
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#9
Calvin Nevill-Kintu
05/03/1997 (18)
5’11”
84kg
Kent Crusaders
The 5’11 guard has signed for one of the top JUCO colleges next season,
in Vincennes, having been a mainstay at Barking Abbey. Nevill-Kintu has
represented his country at U16 & U18 level and was an EABL champion in
2014.
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#10
Deane Williams
23/09/1996 (18)
6’7”
93kg
Bristol Flyers
Williams was particularly dominant at the U18 National Final Fours with
Bristol Academy Flyers, after finishing with a monster 26 points and 16
rebounds in the semi-finals. The 6’7” forward played for England under-18’s at
last summer’s European Championships.
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#13
13
Under 19s

Josh Steel Emmanuel Kabengele
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Karolis Kundrotas
05/11/1996 (18)
6’11”
108kg
Kent Crusaders
The 6’11” forward is one of the top ‘96 born big men in the country, and has
signed to play at Elon in the US next season. Kundrotas was a part of the Kent
Crusaders playoff winning roster, and has previously been included in an initial
U18 Lithuanian roster.
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#14
Alex Roberts
23/11/1997 (17)
6’3”
79kg
Myerscough College
Another EABL Championship winner with Myerscough College, Roberts is a
current England under-18 international having also represented his country
at U16 & U17 level.
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#28
Emmanuel Kabengele
04/04/1996 (19)
6’5”
96kg
Myerscough College
Kabengele was named as the MVP in the 2015 EABL Final as Myerscough
College claimed the Championship title. The hard nosed forward has been
under the radar for a while as his hustling style goes under-appreciated.
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#31

2TALL.COMtallmensclothes|bigshoesinsize13+

u17 BlackTeam Coach Junior williams
u17 White Team Coach Ronnie baker
England’s most-capped player and Brixton legend
Ronnie Baker has recently retired from playing
basketball at the age of 45, as he will now focus
on his coaching career where he heads up DENG
Academy at Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton.
Baker captained the England squad that achieved
a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth
Games and earned a total of 156 caps during his
international career. `It all started at Brixton, 30
years ago, and Baker bows out having won the
Division 1 league title with Essex Leopards this
season.
Baker also played in 540 games in the top-flight
and won eight trophies during his BBL career with
four league titles with Crystal Palace (1996/97);
Manchester Giants (1999/2000) and London
Towers (2000-02).
Former Brixton point guard Junior Williams had
a successful pro career after attending Oklahoma
City University for four years.
The former England international coached the
Westminster Warriors, the first club he started
playing for aged 9, from D3 to D1 in four years,
earning a Coach of the Year award in the process,
and was at the helm of the London Regional team
for 7 years, winning multiple titles.
He’s also been an assistant coach with the GB
U20s, and coached at the Jordan Brand Classic
International Tour. He hung up his boots for the
last time this season.
Photo credit Paul Phillips
16

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18
u17 BlackTeam Roster
Black
Dom Scott-Robinson
01/01/1998 (17)
6’5”
84kg
Oaklands Wolves
The 17-year-old played at last year’s Hoopsfix All-Star Classic, and makes his
second appearance at the event. Scott-Robinson represented England U16s as
they claimed bronze in Macedonia last summer, and played for the under-18’s
at the Haris Tournament.
#8
Black Thai Segwai-Lodge
15/11/1998 (16)
6’0”
75kg
Peckham Pride
The 16-year-old guard featured in last summer’s England U16s squad that
earned promotion, shooting above 40% from 3-point range. Segwai was part
of the Peckham side that won the 2014 National Cup, and also participated in
last year’s HASC.
#1
Black
Kemar Hawes
06/02/1998 (17)
5’11”
72kg
Peckham Pride
The lightning quick point guard achieved promotion with England’s under-16s
last summer, and is returning for his second HASC. Hawes claimed the MVP
award in the 2014 U16 National Cup, and helped Peckham finish third at the
recent under-18 final fours.
#6
Black
Evan Walshe
05/04/1998 (17)
6’4”
80kg
Oaklands Wolves
The 6’4” guard is another returning player set for his second Hoopsfix All-Star
Classic, and Walshe also represented England U17s at the recent Cherbourg
tournament.
#7

Black
Zion Tordoff
11/05/1999 (16)
6’6”
88kg
Bradford Dragons
The Bradford Dragons junior was part of the England under-15 development
squad that went to Copenhagen last year. Tordoff represented the U16
national side at the annual Haris Tournament in December.
#23
Black
Kaiyem Cleary
08/03/1999 (16)
6’3”
66kg
Manchester Magic
Cleary picked up the MVP award after leading Manchester to victory in
the U16 National Championship Final after finishing with 26 points and 9
rebounds. The 6’3” shooting guard represented England under-16’s in their
tournament in Slovakia earlier this year.
#9
Black
RJ Eytle-Rock
26/11/1998 (16)
6’3”
95kg
London Greenhouse Pioneers
RJ Eytle-Rock returns for his second HASC, having recently helped London
Greenhouse Pioneers to their first junior national title with victory in the U18
final. The 6’3” was another member of the promotion-winning England U16
squad from last summer, and is now a current U18 international.
#10
Black
AshleyBriggs
14/04/1999 (16)
6’7”
87 kg
Solent Kestrels
Briggs was part of the 12-man England U16 squad that headed to Slovakia for
a tournament over Easter. The 6’7” forward/centre has enjoyed success with
Noadswood Academy over the past few seasons.
#15
19
Under 17s

Kaiyem Cleary Zion Tordoff
20
Black
Sam Van Oostrum
14/12/1998 (16)
65kg
Van Oostrum is a familiar name, with his two brothers, Nigel & Devon, both
being involved with various junior and senior National Team programmes for
many years. Sam can play too - recently suiting up for the England Under-17s
in Cherbourg, while leading his Sheffield Junior Saints side to the Final Fours
for three years running.
#30
Black
JonnyHall
02/10/1998 (16)
6’10”
99kg
Ipswich
The Cardiff-born centre has been with Ipswich for a few years, and helped
them to a third place finish in the U16 Final Fours as well as National Cup
runners-up in the 2013-14 season.
#55

22
u17 White Team Roster
Micah Savery-Richards
04/07/1999 (15)
6’3
76 kg
Leeds Force
One of three 15-year-olds competing in the U17 game, Savery-Richards
recently represented England at under-16 level as they travelled to Slovakia
for a tournament over Easter. He also plays for Leeds Force’s junior side.
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#8
Caleb Fuller
08/03/1999 (16)
6’4”
80kg
Ipswich
Fuller was part of the Ipswich side that claimed a third-place finish at last
year’s U16 Final Fours. The 6’4” guard was another member of the recent
England under-16 squad in Slovakia and is highly rated.
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#10 Jacob Iwowo
26/08/1999 (15)
6’5”
71kg
Lewisham Thunder
Iwowo makes his second appearance at the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic. The
6’5” wing was the only returning player from last summer’s England U16s
promotion-winning squad at their recent tournament over Easter, and has also
received an invite to attend camp at the Jordan Brand Classic.
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#2
Luke Mitchell
23/01/1998 (17)
6’0”
83kg
Nottingham Hoods
Mitchell was part of England’s promotion-winning squad at last summer’s
U16 European Championship, in what was his second year with the national
team. The 6’0” guard played for the under-18’s at the Haris Tournament in
December, and has previously scored 83 points in a game. This is his second
HASC.
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#6

Jelani Watson-Gayle
09/09/1998 (16)
6’0”
76kg
NewhamYoungbloods
Jelani Watson-Gayle returns for his second Hoopsfix All-Star Classic having
earned MVP honours in the U16 game last year. The 6’0” guard showed
out at the recent under-16 National Final Fours where he helped Newham
Youngbloods reach the final. He also represented England U17s in the
Cherbourg Tournament over Easter this year.
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#11
Henri Langton
03/07/1998 (16)
6’10”
101kg
Loughborough Riders
The Leicester-born big was another player to win bronze with the England
U16s in Macedonia last year. Langton is also making the step up with the
under-18s with the 6’10” forward/centre named to the preliminary squad list
before playing in the Haris Tournament. Another HASC returnee.
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#14
Josh Edwards
10/05/1999 (16)
6’3”
70kg
Lewisham Thunder
Edwards was part of the England U15 Development squad last year, and has
gone on to represent the under-16 national side most recently in Slovakia.
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#15
Gedi Juozapaitis
13/09/1998 (16)
6’3”
81kg
Peckham Pride
The 16-year-old only started playing basketball two years ago and has stayed
with Peckham Pride during that time. Recently, Juozapaitis was part of the
squad that claimed third place at the U18 Final Fours.
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#13
Under 17s 23

Jacob Iwowo Henri Langton
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Tariq BaloguN
19/11/1999 (15)
6’9”
86kg
Croydon Elite
The youngest competitor in this year’s U17 Hoopsfix All-Star Classic game,
Balogun was named on the initial list for England’s under-16 squad for the
2014-15 season. The 6’9” forward/centre is set to switch to the Southwark
Legends next season.
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#23
Ryan Murunge
20/04/1999 (16)
6’7”
83kg
London Westside
Murunge was also part of the 12-man England U16 roster that competed in
Slovakia. The 6’7” forward currently plays for London Westside.
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#35

In partnership with:
PERFORMANCE CAMP 2015
Recommended for players on the performance
pathway or playing national league
2ND August - 7TH August 2015
Ages 14 - 25 • £289 Residential • £199 Non-Residential
Venues at Myerscough College, Lancashire, UK
& University of Central Lancashire, UK
For further information contact:
Myerscough Performance Basketball Camp
Myerscough College, St Michaels Road, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire PR3 0RY
Email: nhopkins@myerscough.ac.uk
www.myerscoughbasketball.co.uk

Reach & Teach, the official development
partner of the Hoopsfix All Star Classic,
was founded by Nhamo Shire in 2005.
Shire had started Midnight Madness,
a community basketball initiative to
keep kids off the street in 1999 in
Harlesden, West London, and experienced
overwhelming success.
Midnight Madness grew from strength to
strength, but at the same time Nhamo felt
it was losing what it had originally set out
to do which was engage with at-risk youth
using basketball as a tool to develop life
skills. This is where Reach & Teach evolved
from.
Since its inception, Reach & Teach has
grown to become the leading grassroots
basketball provider in the country, with
its primary programme being the London
School of Basketball.
Within a year of the London School of
Basketball launching, it had become the
largest membership basketball club in the
UK, engaging over 7,000 young people
from across the nation’s capital, while
being supported by the London Mayor’s
Office, Nike, and now, Sport England.
The overarching umbrella is the
Community Basketball League (CBL),
which provides weekly organised
competitions for all of the satellite clubs
and developing players that have been
produced the London School of Basketball,
from under-12s through to under-25s,
boys and girls.
A number of players in the Hoopsfix All
Star Classic Under-16 game have come
through the CBL, including Samuel Japhet-
Mathias, Kemar Hawes and Thai Lodge.
“We’re incredibly proud of what Reach &
Teach has achieved in its short existence,”
said Shire, who will be overseeing the kids
clinic taking place in the morning of the
Hoopsfix All Star Classic.
“We’ve always believed in partnering
up with like-minded organizations and
individuals and the Hoopsfix All Star
Classic is a natural fit for what we are
trying to do.
“I know this will be the beginning of a
long lasting relationship which I hope will
continue to blossom over the years.”
Using the LSB model, Reach & Teach, are
looking to expand nationwide, working
in key cities across the country, providing
more opportunities for kids to play
basketball and removing the numerous
barriers to entry that exist for any young
aspiring basketball player.
For more information on Reach & Teach
and its programmes, visit
www.reachandteach.co.uk.
27

Hoopsfix All-Star Classic 2015 Programme

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