Hoopsfix All Star Classic Under-26 Rosters Released

By Sam Neter on June 10, 2014

The Hoopsfix All Star Classic has unveiled the rosters for the inaugural Under-26 all star game on Sunday 15th June at Brunel University.

With no less than six players across both teams that have Great Britain Senior teams experience, the Black Team will be headlined by Dan Clark, who was most recently with ACB side Laboral Kutxa before returning to the UK to rehab from an injury. Clark is back to full fitness and will be putting his incredible skill set on display in front of the now confirmed sell out crowd at Brunel.

Along with Clark on the Black Team, former GB Senior and now Cheshire Phoenix point guard Devan Bailey will be donning a Hoopsfix All Star Classic jersey, athletic GB forwards Jamell Anderson from Leicester Riders and Orlan Jackman from German side Iserlohn Kangaroos and likely future GB Senior player Robert Gilchrist, who has just completed his college career at Florida State will be suiting up.

Electrifying 5’8″ point guard Caylin Raftopoulos from the Worcester Wolves and Leicester Riders’ Levi Noel will be completing the guard spots, London Greenhouse Pioneers’ and former GB U20 Will Hall will provide firepower in the forward spot, and the athletic Alex Scotland-Williamson, who has just returned from NCAA Division 1 school University of Alabama at Birmingham, and 7’0″ Zak Wells, who was part of the GB U20s Division A promotion winning team last summer, will bolster up the front line.

The squad will be rounded out by Joe Junior Mvuezolo, the youngest player in the game at just 18 years old after being a surprise omission from the England Under-18s this summer. Mvuezolo plays above the rim for Barking Abbey, and will be heading to JUCO Miami Dade College next season.

The Black Team will be coached by Northumbria’s rising star Marc Steutel, who was an assistant with the aforementioned U20 side, and won multiple Coach of the Year awards with his North East based team. Assistant coach will be Lloyd Gardner, from GB Regional Institute of Basketball, Barking Abbey, where he has helped head up arguably the top junior development programme in the country.

The White Team will be headlined by GB forwards Myles Hesson, a starter with GB’s Eurobasket squad last summer, and Matthew Bryan-Amaning, long one of the most exciting players in the UK game, who has just completed a successful season in France.

Hemel Storm’s Bode Adeluola, Division 1 men’s runner up for Player of the Year award, Reading Rockets Lewis Champion, part of the Silver medal winning GB u20 squad last summer, and Surrey United’s Elvisi Dusha, the youngest captain in BBL history, will alternate running the guard spots, with Plymouth Raiders’ Louis Sayers, a former GB U20 himself, providing support on the wing, and Hull Wasps’ John Stewart, also a part of the U20s squad who gained promotion last year, alternating between the 3 and 4 spots.

In the paint, the duo of Allie Fullah, who’s just graduated from Charleston Southern, and 7’0″ Leigh Greenan from Ipswich Basketball club, will provide some muscle, with Worcester Wolves’ Kalil Irving, and Raheem May-Thompson, who has just had a season dominating in Division 4 with undefeated and championship winning team, Liverpool, providing back up.

The White Team will be coached by London Lions’ assistant coach Junior Williams, recognised amongst the best point guards England has produced before moving to the sidelines. Assistant coach to Junior will be Gary Maitland, who runs Harrow High School basketball academy, and is Head Coach for London Greenhouse Pioneers’ Under-16 National League side.

“I’m looking forward to getting out there on Sunday,” said Clark, who left the UK aged 14 to pursue a pro basketball career. “There are bragging rights on the line, and also I can’t wait to finally get a chance to run the point!”

“It’s a good opportunity for young British players,” added Matthew Bryan-Amaning. “It’s rare for us all to be out on the floor together at the same time so I’m excited and I’ve got no doubt we’ll put on a show.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the rosters we’ve been able to put together for the U26 game, especially seeing as it’s in its first year,” said Sam Neter, owner of Hoopsfix.com.

“There is no doubt in my mind that these guys are some of the best we have, and to have so many high profile players committed to the game shows just how many people who come through the British system want to give back, despite the likely barriers and difficulties they faced on their own journey.”

Hoopsfix All Star Classic Under-26 Rosters

*Players listed with their most recent team, many are currently free agents.

Black Team

Head Coach: Marc Steutel
Assistant Coach: Lloyd Gardner
Jamell Anderson, 6’7″, F, Leicester Riders
Devan Bailey, 6’2, G, Cheshire Phoenix
Dan Clark, 6’11”, F, Laboral Kutxa
Rob Gilchrist, 6’9″, F, Florida State University
Will Hall, 6’7″, F, London Greenhouse Pioneers
Orlan Jackman, 6’7″, F, Iserlohn Kangaroos
Joe Junior Mvuezolo, 6’4″, G, Barking Abbey
Levi Noel, 6’5″, G, Leicester Riders
Caylin Raftopolous, 5’8″ G, Worcester Wolves
Alex Scotland-Williamson, 6’9″, F/C, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Zak Wells, 7’0″, C, Hemel Storm

White Team

Head Coach: Junior Williams
Assistant Coach: Gary Maitland
Bode Adeluola, 5’10”, G, Hemel Storm
Matthew Bryan-Amaning, 6’9″, F, Antibes
Lewis Champion, 6’1″, G, Reading Rockets
Elvisi Dusha, 6’2″, G, Surrey United
Allie Fullah, 6’8″, F/C, Charleston Southern University
Leigh Greenan, 7’0″, C, Ipswich Basketball
Myles Hesson, 6’6″, F, Giessen 46ers
Kalil Irving, 6’6″, F, Worcester Wolves
Raheem May-Thompson, 6’6″, G/F, Liverpool
Louis Sayers, 6’6″, G, Plymouth Raiders
John Stewart, 6’5″, F, Hull Wasps

Sports Therapist Nick McCarthy will be on hand to provide medical and physio support to the players, assisted by Alex Hodgson.

The Hoopsfix All Star Classic will be a one day fundraiser celebration of British talent and culture taking place at Brunel University this coming weekend, raising funds for the Hoopsfix Foundation, and selling out in under two weeks.

Proud supporters of the Hoopsfix All Star Classic include ESPN Player, 2tall.com, Molten, Amaechi Performance Systems, Reach & Teach, Sportserve, 5or6, Always Ballin’, Let Me Play, Wilkie TV and Nando’s.

For more information visit HoopsfixAllStarClassic.com, Like Hoopsfix on Facebook, and follow Hoopsfix on Twitter @Hoopsfix. There will more announcements in the coming days.

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