Author Archives: orangebend

USA Select to visit Plymouth again.


USA Select to visit Plymouth again.

Team USA Select have been regular visitors to the Pavilions over the past few years, bringing a team of American players looking for professional contracts in Europe. In recent years, players from Team USA Select have been awarded contracts in the BBL (Steve LePore with the old Brighton Bears, Shawan Robinson with Newcastle Eagles last summer), France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and even Australia.

The organisation is run by Sean Kilmartin and David Lawrence, both former professional basketball players here in the UK. It’s designed to help players straight out of college in the USA to find professional contracts throughout Europe.

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Rocks Get Solid Workout versus USA Select.

Rocks Get Solid Workout versus USA Select.

More than 600 Rocks fans turned out to see Thorsten Leibenath’s new look squad take on the US Select team of Americans in a controlled practice game at Kelvin Hall.

In an exciting end-to-end contest the Americans took home the 80-78 victory on a controversial basket in the final seconds. However, Rocks fans have much to be upbeat about as there were impressive performances from several players.

The Rocks were led by Maurice Hampton and Moritz Wohlers each with 17 points. Rob Yanders added 15 and Gareth Murray chipped in 9. New signing Sterling Davis also fit in well and was an impressive force with 11 points before fouling out at the close of the 3rd quarter. Hugo Sterk was very active and youngsters Daniel Donnelly and Andy Pearson saw their first court time in a Rocks vest.

Good show, chap. Summers signs with King’s Lynn Fury of England

Good show, chap. Summers signs with King’s Lynn Fury of England

It didn’t take former Culpeper resident Lawrence “Puff” Summers long to get noticed. Summers, who attended Woodberry Forest and graduated from Davidson (N.C.) College last year, traveled to Europe Sept. 5 hoping to land a contract to play basketball overseas. After a nine-hour flight and a three-hour train ride, Summers immediately landed a tryout with the King’s Lynn Fury.

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Raiders Handed Extra Workout.

Raiders Handed Extra Workout.

Pre-season began with a longer-than-expected workout for Kularoos Raiders as they slumped to an over-time defeat to Team USA.
Raiders’ first match of 2006-07 was going to plan at half-time, as the visitors trailed by 11 points. But Team USA – a collection of former American college players hoping to earn pro contracts in Europe – rallied in the second half, to force overtime.

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Going Job Hunting.

Going Job Hunting.

The moment Lawrence “Puff” Summers walked into the gym in Raliegh, N.C., he stood out to USA Select Basketball general manager Sean Kilmartin. It wasn’t because Summers blocked out the sun. The Culpeper native stands just 5-feet-9-inches -” 5-10 on a good day,” “Puff” jokes. Summers stood out for another reason. It was what he was wearing. The 2005 graduate of Davidson College showed up for practice wearing a Davidson jersey, something that caused Kilmartin to laugh.

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Sean Kilmartin Leads TEAM USA SELECT BASKETBALL

Sean Kilmartin Leads TEAM USA SELECT BASKETBALL

Any basketball conversation in South Charlotte is bound to include the name Sean Kilmartin. The longtime Charlotte resident has been involved in every aspect of the game of basketball. Kilmartin has been on quite a basketball journey. After a successful high school career in the Triad area, Kilmartin played basketball for Appalachian State University. Following his time as a Mountaineer, Kilmartin played basketball overseas before returning home to North Carolina to start a family with his wife Jane. When not at work with his financial planning and investment business, R.M. Stark Co., Sean can be found coaching basketball in gyms across South Charlotte. Sean works with his two boys Ryan and Alex on various teams, but also lends a hand to many other teams and players.

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USA Select Gives Basketball Players a Chance to Play.

USA Select Gives Basketball Players a Chance to Play.

The reality about playing at the Division II level is that the NBA dream is just that – a dream. There have been only a few CIAA players who ever even got a sniff of the NBA. There are only so many Ben Wallaces or Ronald Murrays. As the men’s 60th CIAA Tournament begins today in Raleigh at the RBC Center, there aren’t a lot of prospects that NBA teams are scouting. But there is an alternative for players hoping to continue their careers and being paid to do so.

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Jets Clinch Final Four Spot

Jets Clinch Final Four Spot

Chester Jets are the first team to qualify for the BBL Trophy semi-finals at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle after the weekends games. The Trophy holders for the last four years secured their berth with a resounding 110-67 success over Leicester Riders on Sunday night. This was the case as Sheffield Sharks only beat the Riders by four points, 73-77 in a close game at the John Sandford the night before.

In Group South 1 London Towers are in the ascendancy after beating Milton Keynes Lions, a 94-95 overtime road win was secured on the buzzer with a Jerry Williams basket

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