USA Select Basketball Completes 2009 European Exposure Tour

Sean Kilmartin, USA Select Basketball General Manager, was pleased with the results of the 2009 European Exposure Tour. For there first time ever, USA Select brought two teams on tour. Charlotte based USA Select Basketball just completed it’s 9th European Exhibition Tour. The organization, headed by Charlottean Sean Kilmartin, is a professional basketball marketing group designed to help American players find contracts on European teams. USA Select has several “try out” camps around the country and then selects it’s travel team. The team plays a series of exhibition show case games against top teams in Europe in an effort to get the US players exposure leading to professional contracts.

According to Kilmartin , “the growth that we have experienced in the last few years is quite exciting. We had some may teams to schedule this year, it required us to add an additional team”.

The primary team, “Blue Team” played a grueling 16 game schedule in 4 countries over a 20 day trip (including the Trans Atlantic flights). Playing top British Basketball League (BBL) teams and Finish Korsliiga teams, USA Select compiled an impressive record and still was able to showcase all 14 players.

The second team, “Red Team”, played an equally challenging schedule of 9 games in 7 days in the UK. The team was coached by USA Select partner David Lawrence. The team had an incredible 8-1 record.

According to Colin Barrell, who hosted the “Red Team” in a 2 day, 4 game event in England, “.. please pass on our appreciation to Coach David Lawrence and all the players who conducted themselves in a way which is a credit to your set up, it was a pleasure to be their host for the weekend, they were great company.”

Historically these players have come from large programs like Duke, NC State, U Conn, Arizona State,Wake Forest to mid majors like Appalachian Sate , Davidson,Xavier, Temple, St. Joe’s and Cleveland State. Smaller schools like Barton, Winston-Salem State and Limestone college.

Training camp was held in Pineville at the Morrison YMCA, Belle Johnston Center and local restaurants Showmars and City Tavern fed the team.

This year, the team played an incredible total of 16 matches in 20 days covering nearly 20,000 miles. Playing in a different city nearly every night, the group had the opportunity to play several televised games in front of packed gyms, playing in locations like London, Glasgow, Helsinki and more. One event lead them to play in Plymouth England and visited the famous Mayflower steps (where the ship of the same name set off for the New World.)

In one incredible day of travel, the Blue team had breakfast in Glasgow, Scotland; Lunch in London,England; and dinner in Helsinki Finland!

Although an exhaustive schedule, the tour allowed for great exposure for the players who hailed from schools as varied as Appalachian State University, Arizona State University, Elizabeth City State University, Lasell College, Kent State University, St. Augustine’s College, Coastal Carolina University, NC A&T State University, Columbia, Truman State, UNC Pembroke, Allen University, University of Wisconsin, Barton College, UC Santa Barbara,Elizabeth City State University, Frostburg College and Wagner University.

Coach Kilmartin has been doing this for over ten years and has helped placed players all over the world with professional contracts. Over the years, USA Select has played top teams in England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Hungry, Finland, Ireland and others.

This years group landed an abundance tryouts and offers for players. Plans are already underway for the tryout dates for the 2010 tour and expect to be on our site by Mid January.

American and BBL Preseason Games

Rockets launch their preseason with a home game at Rivermead on Friday 18th September at 7.30 p.m. with the visit of Team USA Select. The following week, on Wednesday 23rd September, at The Pavilions in Plymouth, Rockets take on the highly successful BBL team, Plymouth Raiders in the second pre-season friendly in preparation for the competitive season that starts for Rockets on Saturday 3rd October when they’re away to newly promoted London Mets in the National Trophy.

Rockets’ Chairman Gary Johnson was thrilled that the touring team, Team USA Select, was able to fit in a visit to Reading for the 6th consecutive year as requests to play the team have grown enormously over the years. Team USA Select’s General Manager Sean Kilmartin has built strong relationships with Rockets and was determined to honour Rockets’ request to not only play a game but also to hold a clinic with up and coming young basketball players before the game. So if you’re aged 8 – 16 and want to have the opportunity to be coached by a team of Americans, put this date in your diary now and enrol on the clinic by contacting Rockets by e-mail – [email protected] or by calling the Basketball Hotline 0118 926 3040. More details will appear on the website shortly.

The following week, on Wednesday 23rd September, at The Pavilions in Plymouth, Rockets take on the highly successful BBL team, Plymouth Raiders in the second pre-season friendly in preparation for the competitive season that starts for Rockets on Saturday 3rd October when they’re away to newly promoted London Mets in the National Trophy. If you want to join Rockets in their first away trip, to Plymouth, the transport will be leaving Reading at approx. 2 p.m.

This will be the first of a number of games with BBL teams in the coming season with the highlight undoubtedly the home game against Newcastle Eagles in the BBL Trophy, a game to be arranged in January 2010. Watch this space.