Geno Crandall wins BBL Player of the Year

Leicester Riders’ Geno Crandall has been named the Molten BBL Player of the Year award for 2020-21, as voted on by BBL coaches.

Crandall won the vote by 10 clear points ahead of DeAndre Liggins of London Lions in second place, voted in first by seven of the ten BBL Head Coaches, and in one of the top three spots by all of them.

“I’m honoured to have been chosen as the MVP of the league. I want to thank Coach Rob (Paternostro) and the Riders staff for the opportunity they’ve given me this year,” commented Geno, whose side were eliminated from the playoffs in the semi-finals this week.

“Thank you to my teammates for believing in me, supporting me, picking me up every step of the way. Thank you to everyone behind the scenes with the league for doing everything they could to ensure we were able to play this season safely. Also thank you to all of the coaches who voted me into this position.

“I don’t play the game for personal recognition, I play because I love it and the fact that that passion leads to individual success I hope inspires others to chase their own passions with the same fervour.

“Our season didn’t end on a high note and I would have much preferred to win the final, however you never know what the future holds.”

The 6’4″, 24-year-old , Minneapolis-native joined Leicester in the summer after a season in the Czech Republic, and finished the season ninth in the BBL in scoring with 15.9 points per game, second in the league in assists (7.8), and fourth in steals (1.9), leading the Riders to the league title while putting on a highlight show.

Crandall adds the award to his BBL Team of the Year and BJA BBL Player of the Year award earlier this week.

It is the first time in seven seasons that a Leicester player has received the award, following Drew Sullivan in 2012-13 as the only two Riders to have ever won it in 33 BBL seasons.

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