10 Observations from GB Training Camp

On Monday was GB Senior Men’s media day, where members of the media were given access to the last half an hour of practice at training camp and then players and coaching staff for interviews. We have a full video feature coming soon, but for now, here are 10 quick observations from camp.

1) Team Morale is High

The mood in camp is really really high. Everyone I spoke to, both coaches and players were really happy and seem to be enjoying camp a whole lot.

Some players pointed to last year being stressful at times, and many are fond of head coach Joe Prunty’s laid back approach. Everybody is upbeat, and think the camp will remain that way until the end of Eurobasket.

“Obviously with the changes it has breathed a breath of fresh air into the programme,” said GB veteran Drew Sullivan. “I mean guys are back here who haven’t been around like Flo (Larkai), and then you got younger guys who are back and then the vets; everyone is coming in and working extremely hard, but there’s a smile on everyone’s face and a closeness in the group, and that obviously comes from Joe (Prunty).”

2) Pops Mensah-Bonsu & Matthew Bryan-Amaning Are Absent

Pops Mensah-Bonsu is not at camp and it was confirmed on Tuesday by GB Basketball and himself on Twitter he will not be playing this summer.

“Hurts my heart that I am not playing but I have my reasons! Trust me,” he tweeted to some fans engaging in a conversation about his absence last night.

Matthew Bryan-Amaning, as first pointed out by Hoopsfix when the squad was announced, is not at camp due to professional commitments after signing with a team in Korea. However, it is understood Prunty remains in in conversations with the 6’9″ forward and hoping to still bring him in.

3) Everyone is Really Happy with the Coaching Staff

The biggest surprise of the day was how happy all the players (I spoke to) were with Head coach Prunty and his team of Guy Goodes and Nate Reinking. Drew Sullivan described Prunty as “top draw”, Achara said he was “a great guy who really knows his stuff” and Dan Clark said that “everyone is really happy with the coaching staff”.

A lot of people pointed to the nice blend between Prunty’s American style, Guy Goodes covering the international side of things, whilst Nate Reinking providing the familiar face and continuity from previous teams.

Despite the criticism the appointments received, they are going down extremely well with the players (but ultimately – results are all that matter).

4) It’s Still Early Days

Bear in mind they are only three days into camp. There really wasn’t that much to talk about – everyone is still feeling everything out and the coaching staff are still looking at players and working out what style of basketball they want to play.

This made interviews a little substance-less at times as so much is still up in the air. I think there will be more to gain when they arrive in London this weekend for their games against Puerto Rico – by the end of which I believe Prunty will be looking to make cuts.

5) St George’s Park Facilities Are *Really* Nice

St George’s Park is just crazy (also in the middle of nowhere, but that is a conversation for a different day!). There will be no qualms about the players not being provided with the best at the £100million+ National Football Centre with luxury hotel on site (right next door). Ranging from the purpose laid wooden floor to create the two courts in the multi-use hall (see image above), to the swimming pool room that has an underwater treadmill (!) to the altitude chamber in the sport science facilities – there is literally everything any elite sport programme could want (can’t have been cheap…).

The players are extremely happy with it judging by tweets and pictures being posted on social media.

You can get a little look in this (badly filmed) video I took during the tour (in all my wisdom I failed to film full shots of the basketball courts!):

6) Team Roles Are Being Carved Out

It was hard to tell too much from the short scrimmaging we were able to watch – the teams didn’t seem to be split into a clear first and second unit.

On the Blue team were Devon van Oostrum, Ogo Adegboye, Kyle Johnson, Orlan Jackman, Kieron Achara, Eric Boateng, Ali Fraser and Myles Hesson.

On the White team were Justin Robinson, Andrew Lawrence,  Alex Marcotullio, Gareth Murray, Jamell Anderson, Drew Sullivan, Dzaflo Larkai and Liam Potter.

Meanwhile, for the positional drills, in the guard spots were Devon van Oostrum, Andrew Lawrence, Justin Robinson and Ogo Adegboye. In the wing drills you had Kyle Johnson, Orlan Jackman, Myles Hesson, Alex Marcotullio, Gareth Murray and Jamell Anderson, whilst with the big men were Kieron Archara, Eric Boateng, Ali Fraser, Drew Sullivan, Dzaflor Larkai and Liam Potter.

The only real surprise there is it looks as though they’ll be playing Drew at the four. I also wondered whether they’d be trying to play Myles or Jamell inside (not their natural position, but have been known to play there before) but looks as though they’ll be on the wing.

7) This Team Has a Chip On Their Shoulder

As if being a Great Britain basketball team is bad enough in terms of not getting the respect you feel you deserve, this group in particular is well aware of the fact everybody is counting them out already.

“I’ve seen so much written about…just shot down our chances before we’ve played a friendly,” said Sullivan, almost in disbelief. “I think that’s absolutely ridiculous, and to be honest with you, for lack of a better word, is pretty ignorant. Give the guys a chance to compete, let’s make a decision about what we did at the END of the summer.”

His veteran teammate Achara added:

“I think we’re going into Eurobasket, people are going to be doubting us, as usual – we’re Britain, but we’re definitely ready for the challenge and I really think we’re going to do well.”

A lot of the fresh faces at camp seem hungry and eager to prove themselves.

8) Dan Clark is Battling Injury

When we were allowed in the gym for the last half an hour or so of practice, Dan Clark was on the far court shooting with an assistant alone. His ankle still seems to be an issue and he is fighting hard to get fit to re-join the team as soon as possible.

The loss of Clark would be another huge blow for the team, so here’s to hoping he can get healthy in time.

9) Media Presence Wasn’t Huge

Just a side note as it’s of personal interest for me – there weren’t a whole lot of media there. There were some outlets who opted to do phone interviews, but there present aside from me, were BBC East Midlands, Ian Whittell and 5 or 6 (Leicester’s marketing company covering Jamell Anderson and Andrew Sullivan. GB had Andy Turner (Olympic hurdler) there doing interviews for their own stuff.

Basketball just seems to be such a tough sell. Would love to sit down with the sports editors of all the papers and find out what their view is on it – is it simply that it just doesn’t get enough interest/readers don’t want to see it?

10) A Few Videos to Keep You Going

I have a full video feature on the camp coming out as soon as possible, which will include interviews and scrimmage footage, but for now have got these online of the player drills that they took part in after scrimmages at the end of practice.

Guard drills:

Wing drills:

Big man drills:

Also the only two real highlights from the scrimmages; Devon van Oostrum finding Boateng and Fraser for throwdowns:

What do you think of the team so far? Thoughts on everything?