Reggie Bratton Leads BBL in Scoring

USA Select Basketball General Manager, Sean Kilmartin was pleased to se Reggie Bratton (Lenoir Rhyne College) is leading the British Basketball League in scoring averaging nearly 33 points an outing.

Playing for the Worthing Thunder, the 6’5” swingman is enjoying his rookie year under the guidance of the well decorated coaching of Dave Titmuss. Reggie is a product of the USA Select Basketball 2009 European Tour Camp held in June. Sean Kilmartin placed Reggie in the UK top league at the beginning of the season.

Fenny Falmagne and Banks Estridge Join the Reading Rockets

USA Select General Manager, Sean Kilmartin was quite pleased to announce the first professional signings of Fenny Falmagne and Banks Estridge with the Reading Rockets of the England Basketball League (EBL) Division 1. The Reading Rockets are run by the well respected and very close friends; Gary Johnson & Family. They have been consistently among the league leaders each year! Last year, the team completed its’ first ever undefeated season under the leadership of USA Select player Terrell Smith.

Fenny Falmagne, a 6’2” lock down defender whose has a Belgian passport was signed to add depth at the guard spot. Fenny was a participant in the USA Select Basketball 2009 European Tour Camp and played on the USA Select Basketball “Red” team on tour in September. He is a highly athletic player who will work hard.

Banks Estridge is a 6’3” combo guard from Truman State University, participated in the USA Select Basketball 2009 European Tour Camp held in June and was a member and key contributor on the USA Select Basketball “Blue” team. According to Kilmartin, Banks was one of the fiercest competitors we have ever had in a USA Select uniform. He was a leader on and off the court and was among the team leaders in nearly all statistics.

From the Rockets website:

New American Arrives – Rockets are thrilled that their new American player, Banks Estridge, 23, landed in England yesterday (Monday) morning and will make his debut at Rivermead this coming weekend. Welcome, Banks.

New Belgian Signing – Rockets Chairman, Gary Johnson was pleased to be able to add a new point guard to Rockets roster this week. Johnson signed the young Belgian, Fenny Falmagne, and Fenny goes straight into action this weekend when Rockets play London Leopards in the National Trophy at Rivermead on Saturday.Fenny flew in from the States where he has completed the last 6 years of his education having spent 3 previous years at the European School, Culham, Oxon. With Jon May out for another 3 / 4 weeks after having surgery on his broken cheekbone, Rockets Head Coach Sasa Punosevac was also extremely pleased to strengthen his squad.
This was the first professional contact for both players and Sean Kilmartin was very excited to arrange the contracts.

Davis Bowne and Douglas McLaughlin-Williams are teammates once again!

Sean Kilmartin, USA Select Head Coach and General Manager is pleased to announce that The Bristol Academy Flyers of the England Basketball League Division 1 have signed 6’8” swingman, Douglas McLaughlin-Williams and 6’8” power forward, Davis Bowne. Both McLaughlin-Williams and Bowne shared successful collegiate careers at NCAA Division 1 Appalachian State University.

McLaughlin-Williams has 2 full season of professional basketball under his belt (one in the UK where he was the league leader is scoring, followed by a highly successful season in Australia). Bowne, the son of one of North Carolina high school’s top coach’s (Gary Bowne) is enjoying his first professional contract. The players follow a long line of Appalachian State University players who have played professionally in the UK over the recent years.

From the Bristol Flyers website:

Flyers Announce new signings: Big Tall Order Bristol Academy Flyers, Bristol’s first professional basketball team have announced their first 2 new signings ahead of the 2009/10 season.

The Flyers who compete in England Basketball’s Senior National League Division I begin the new season with a pre season friendly against the Team USA Select team on Thursday September the 17th. Flyers who currently play in the 500 seat WISE Arena have been buoyed by the fact that on October the 24th the Arena will unveil 600 additional seats installed ready for the new season making the venue a 1,000 seat Arena for game days. Flyers averaged crowds of 400 plus spectators last year and this season will see the home court Capacity grow ahead of the new season.

Flyers will be hoping to fill the arena with a flurry of new signings ahead of the season. Flyers can now confirm that their two American imports have signed contracts and have received work permits. The 2 players will fly in to join the team on Friday September 11th.

Doug Mclaughlin Williams a 6”8 guard joins the flyers after a stand out college career at NCAA Division I Appalachian State University, he comes with professional experience having played with Sheffield last year where he was selected for the Leagues All star starting 5. “Doug brings the team added experience and at 6”8 he adds some more height at the guard position, Doug is a proven scorer who will be a valuable asset to the club this season” Quotes Head Coach Andreas Kapoulas.

Also joining Williams will be 6”9 Centre Davis Bowen, who like William’s was a part of Appalachian State University programme. Bowen has just graduated and this will be his first professional contract but he will bring some more size to the Flyers team as they look forward to the new season. “Davis is a big guy and brings the team some added size in the front court; he can play both power forward and Centre and he comes with some very good references and his game tapes show he will be a physical presence on the boards” Comments Kapoulas.

Flyers first game will see the team face the USA Select team on Thursday September the 17th at 7.30pm at the WISE Arena. The USA select team which is full of College and University players from Division I and II NCAA programmes will see the a tough test for the new Flyers team.

Ryan Patton scores 44 in BBL Game!

USA Select General manager was pleased, but not surprised to see Ryan Patton score 44 in a recent BBL game (British Basketball League) for the Sheffield Sharks. Ryan, a USA Select player, is playing for former USA Select alum, Atiba Lyons, head coach of the Sharks.

From the Eurobasket web site:

Pattons Shows Shooting Skill – Nov 30, 2009 (by Andy Webb)
Sheffield Sharks’ Ryan Patton (181-G-78, college: Youngstown St.) turned on a shooting master-class to lead his team to an 89-108 victory at Cheshire Jets. Patton’s 10 of 14 from beyond the three-point line helped him to a team high this season of 44 points and ensured the Sharks would remain four points clear at the top of the BBL at the end of the weekend’s action. Sharks had an excellent second quarter to give them a 43-57 lead and they never looked troubled after.

Joseph Womack is playing in Wales!

Joseph Womack, a 6’6” powerful forward, has signed to play in Wales with the Swansea Storm and the Glamorgan Gladiators. Sean Kilmartin, USA Select General Manager was eager to arrange the contract for the parties. Womack, a member of the USA Select European Exposure Tour team will provide an strong inside presence for the two Welsh teams. In a unique situation, Womack will be able to play for two teams this season. The clubs, who are affiliated, play in two different leagues and can arrange the events so they allow Joseph to play for both teams. The Swansea Storm are headed by USA Select friend Gavin Williams. Williams is a highly respected official in the BBL.

From the Swansea Storm website:

Swansea Storm are please to announce the signing of 6’6 Centre Joseph Womack. Joseph joins Swansea from William Penn University where he Played in 32 games. During his Senior year Joseph was ranked No.1 in the M.C.C for Blocked Shots (42), averaged 8.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in addition to 10 assist, and 34 steals. As well as leading the way on the court Joseph will also be working with our community schools coaching program where hi will be actively involved in delivery coaching sessions at local comprehensive schools in the city.

Womack can also play for the Gladiators. This is the 3rd year in a row that a USA Select Basketball player has been added to the Gladiators roster ( Josh Fowler –Coastal Carolina and Jay McMillan- Appalachian State University) The coach of the Gladiators, Steve Williams, has long term ties to USA Select Basketball. Williams coached USA select partner, David Lawrence during his professional days. Lawrence is considered, by far, the best professional basketball player to have ever played in Wales. Williams also coached USA Select founder Sean Kilmartin son, Ryan Kilmartin, in the FIBA European U 18 Championships in 2007.

Ryan Patton is BBL “Star Player” of the week!

USA Select Basketball is excited to acknowledge Ryan Patton (Youngstown State University) was noted a “Star Player” in the Eurobasket / BBL “Team of the Week”

From the Eurobasket web site:

BBL Team of the Week #10 – Dec 1, 2009 (by Andy Webb)
The star player in this week’s Team of the Week is Sheffield Sharks playmaker Ryan Patton (181-G-78, college: Youngstown St.), who displayed his haunting long range shooting ability with a 44 point haul in the Sharks 89-108 win over the Cheshire Jets last weekend. Whilst he knocked down all six of his field goal attempts, and sunk 100% of his shots from the charity stripe, the most outstanding statistic is that the former Worthing Thunder and Sheffield Arrows guard hit 10/14 from three point land, and played in all but 21 seconds of the game.

Tyler Ousley signs in Germany Pro B

USA Select 2008 player, Tyler Ousley (6’9 Otterbein University) signed to play in Germany with Pro “B” team RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf . After a very successful introductory professional season in the UK ( Sheffield Arrows, 22 pts, 12 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game) the NCAA Division III All American forward signed in the very competitive German Pro B league. He spent his inaugural season withe Doug McLaughlin-Williams (now with Bristol in the EBL) and they dominated most of the EBL stats in 2008-2009! Coach Kilmartin wishes Tyler the best of luck.

Reggie Bratton Scores 33 in big win for Worthing Thunder

USA Select player, Reggie Bratton (Lenior Rhyne) scored 33 points for the Worthing Thunder in a big win over the always tough Newcastle Eagles!

USA Select’s Clint Deas in Egypt’s Superleague

Sean Kilmartin is pleased to announce that one of USA Select’s most sought after players, 6’8” rebounding Clint Deas, signed to play for Al-Intaj (Egypt) (2009-10) in the top league in Egypt. Playing for AL-INTAJ AL-HARBI, Clint made the adjustment to the different lifestyle quite quickly and in a recent communication with USA Select General Manager Sean Kilmartin , Deas was enjoying the opportunity and playing well!

Jeremy Clayton is in Argentina

Former Appalachian State University (ASU) star Jeremy Clayton in playing in the top league in Argentina for FIRMAT FC SANTA FE basketball team(Argentina-TNA) and performing well. He is currently averaging nearly 10 points per game. Clayton, the all time leader in blocked shots at ASU, had a very impressive USA Select Basketball camp in July and was immediately offered multiple contracts. Jeremy spent part of last season in the top league in Finland. Represented by AAI sports, he has settled down in Argentina and doing well.