British Ballers in College: Pre Season

The 2011/12 US college season is fast approaching! There were a number of British basketball players who stood out for their college teams in the pre-season, including Great Britain Under-20 Alasdair Fraser as well as GB Senior ballers Andrew Lawrence and Ashley Hamilton.

Find out how they all got on below (this is all the players’ games I could find, others may have played but no record/stats of their exhibition games seem to have been published online).

British Basketball Players in College: Pre-Season

Alasdair Fraser (Sophomore, University of Maine)
More is expected of Fraser this coming season after a solid freshman year and some nice performances with the GB U20s this summer. He produced in Maine’s last exhibition against Ottawa. Playing 36 minutes starting in the front court, Fraser went 9/14 from the field for 21 points, adding 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Box score.

Against Fisher in their first game, he went 4/7 for 8 points, adding 4 rebounds, 1 block and a steal in 18 minutes. Box score.

Andrew Lawrence (Junior, College of Charleston)
College of Charleston’s coaching staff have already said they expect a lot from Lawrence this season, especially after his surprise call up the GB Senior team this summer. In CoC’s first exhibition against Queens, Lawrence started finishing with 18 points on 6/7 shooting (4/5 from three) whilst adding 3 assists in just 20 minutes. Box score.

He did not dress for the team’s final exhibition against Limestone as a precaution due to twisted ankle.

Ovie Soko & Alexander Scotland-Williamson (University of Alabama Birmingham)
Soko, a breakout player last summer for the GB U20s, did not represent internationally this summer due to school commitments. Instead he chose to hone his game in the states, and had an extremely productive first exhibition game. UAB held off the Florida Tech Panthers, 75-67, led by Soko’s double-double, 17 points and 10 boards and 2 assists, while sinking 5-of-8 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the charity stripe.

Scotland-Williamson, playing his first year of NCAA Division 1 ball after transferring from JUCO, had 2 rebounds, and a steal in 4 minutes. Box score. UAB will play their second exhibition this Saturday against Auburn Montgomery.

Adam Thoseby (Freshman, Utah State)
Thoseby, fresh off a summer with the GB U20s, was rumoured to have the starting spot locked up after solid performances in scrimmages, however it wasn’t meant to be. Not starting had little effect however, as Thoseby went 4/7 from the field for 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks in 25 minutes as USU beat UC San Diego 74-42 in their first exhibition. Box score.

He struggled with his shot in the second game, where USU beat D2 Adams State 73-62, finishing with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 16 minutes off the bench, going 1/6 from the field. Box score.

Shane Walker (Senior, Loyola Maryland)
Walker, who had one of the better seasons last year out of all British ballers in Division 1, goes into his senior looking to best it. The Greyhounds got an 83-71 victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania with Walker finishing one board short of a double double; 11 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block in 23 minutes going 2/7 from the field bu 6/6 at the line. Box score.

Simeon Esprit (Freshman, Pennsylvania)
England Under-18 Esprit had a solid start to his college career, finishing with 6 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists on 2/3 shooting in 12 minutes as Penn beat Canadian side Carleton 74-72. Box score.

Grant Fiorentinos (Freshman, Tulane)
Former England-U18 Fiorentinos got a surprise start for Tulane as they beat Loyola 70-68. In 19 minutes went 1/2 from the floor for 2 points, adding 7 rebounds and an assist. Box score.

Lee Goldsbrough (Sophomore, Providence)
After a freshman year which saw Goldsbrough play limited minutes, a summer with the GB U20s should do him good going into this season. Against Assumption in Providence’s first exhibition, he went 0/1 to remain scoreless but grabbed 3 rebounds in 7 minutes off the bench as Providence won 64-51. Box score.

In a 1 point victory over Umass-Lowell, Goldsbrough started and had 3 points and 6 rebounds on 1/4 shooting in 18 foul-plagued minutes. Box score.

Teddy Okereafor (Freshman, Virginia Commonwealth University)
Teddy, who was called up to the GB U20s this summer but chose not to participate due to commitments in the States, will look to make his mark on one of last year’s final four participants VCU. VCU got by California, 71-48 in their exhibition with Okereafor getting 10 minutes off the bench, finishing with 1 assist and not attempting a field goal. Box score.

Mikey Manghum (Junior, Oral Roberts)
In a 78-45 rout over Rogers State, went 0/2 to remain scoreless, adding 1 rebound and 1 assist in 6 minutes. Box score.

Had 11 minutes as ORU beat Northeastern State 65-59, went 0/1 to remain scoreless. Box score.

Abodunrin Gabe Olaseni (Freshman, Iowa)
Iowa downs Northwest Missouri State, 79-59. Gabe had 2 points and 1 rebound in 5 minutes of action. Box score.

Ali Mackay (Freshman, Davidson)
After redshirting his freshman year, Mackay will be eager to get on the court after a summer with the Great Britain Under-20s. The Scot played 5 minutes finishing with an empty statline as Davidson beat Lenoir-Rhyne 81-44. Box score.

Ryan Kilmartin (Sophomore, Tennessee)
Played 1 stat-less minute for Tennessee in a 73-52 win. Box score. Second exhibition tonight.

Tom Pereira (Sophomore, Rider)
Pereira faces his first season without British teammate Justin Robinson, who has graduated and now playing pro in Greece. Rider defeated Division II East Stroudsburg 74-61, however it appears Pereira registered a DNP. Box score.

Vince Van Nes (Freshman, Fairfield)
After a more than solid high school career, big man Van Nes now joins the collegiate ranks with Fairfield. They posted a 97-70 win over Bridgeport in their exhibition game, however, Vince was not suited up as he rehabs from surgery. Is expected back on the court in December/Jan time. Box score.

Alex Marcotullio (Junior, Northwestern)
Great Britain Under-20 and Senior call-up Marcotullio will be looking to have a good Junior season with Northwestern after an impressive summer. Northwestern beat Robert Morris comfortable in their exhibition but Marcotullio sat out.

Will update this post as other exhibitions are played. Who will you be following this year? Who will be the best Brit in D1 basketball?