I'm going to put myself out, despite the fact that I haven't seen any of the new BBL Americans yet, and begin grading the teams for the coming season. I will do a position-by-position evaluation, and give each position a grade.
I would go in alphabetical order but, such is the way in the BBL, not all the player information has so far been released. Thereofore I will complete the grading in the order that the teams release their player information.
Leicester Riders
Point Guard: Riders have signed US point guard J.R Blount who had four excellent seasons at NCAA college team Loyola-IL, averaging 14.1 points and 3.3 assists per game in his final year. Blount is a bit of an unknown quantity, however, and not just to me. He actually graduated college the season before last, and instead of playing professionally, opted to take up an assistant coaching position. Inevitably, then, it will take him some time to readjust to full time basketball. However, his time coaching may well have provided him with further technical understanding of the game, which can only help running the point in a new environment.
Backing up Blount will be Rishi Kakad, a 6'2'' combo guard. Rishi is an American with a British passport, a valuable commodity, and appears to be an excellent scorer having averaged nearly 16 points per game last year in college, albeit at a lower level than Blount. Kakad will spent some time at shooting guard too, but it is likely that Blount will play long minutes at the point.
Given that Blount and Kakad are both players that I have not seen play, it would be difficult to give a fair judgment. Having read reports on them, both playing in England and out, I feel that there is good enough potential here to award a good score.
Grade: B
Shooting Guard: Ryan Zamroz will start here. A free-scoring guard who averaged nearly 30 ppg playing in Australia last season, Zamroz is American-born with an Italian passport. At BBL level Zamrov looks to be something of a great spot-up shooter, but will need to adjust to the league. I feel we will see the best of Zamroz, only if Rider's big men do a great job of hammering the post and passing out to the open three. For that reason I can't help but feel that Zamroz will have some huge games, and some were he hardly figures.
6'6'' James Warwick is very interesting. Born in Hertfordshire, after a short spell in the American college system Warwick has played in Germany and briefly in Italy. Tall for his position in the BBL, Warwick may well play big minutes for Riders this season, especially if Zamroz doesn't quite work out. Rishi Kakad will see some minutes here too.
Grade: C+
Small Forward: LaTaryl Williams has been in the BBL a long time, having originally played for the cash-strapped Birmingham Bullets team of the 2005-06 season, as well as spells at the both-short-lived Birmingham Panthers and London United. Williams has been a steady performer for the Riders since joining them for the 2008-09 season. The 6'6'' small forward averaged 10 ppg and 5.6 rpg last year.
Behind Williams is the veteran Tony Windless, a 6'5'' former BBL Allstar who has a British passprt. Windless' best years are certainly behind him, but he is still one of the most capable back up wingmen in the league.
Grade: B+
Power Forward: Last year 6'7'' American forward Jason Johnson was the best player in Leicester, if not the BBL. He's jetted off to Finland, leaving a large whole in the offence and defense of the Riders frontcourt. Attempting to fill that whole is Anthony Simpson. Simpson is a powerful 6'8'' big-man who averaged 9 ppg and 6 rpg in a very good American college league last season.
The Riders have better depth this season, and Simpson wont be expected to replicate Johnson's impressive stats, but he will certainly become a key player for the Riders this season.
Former Newcastle Eagles forward Tom Sherlock has joined the Riders for this season as their back-up power forward. The 6'8'' Sherlock showed flashes of his potential on Tyneside a couple of seasons back, but he has been out of the BBL for a little while and may take some time to get back into the swing of things.
Grade: B-
Centre: With 6'9'' centre Shaun Durant joining Worthing and key player Jason Johnson leaving for Europe, the Riders have an all-new set of big men this season. Coventry-born centre Andrew Bennett looks to be an excellent acquisition.
Bennett has the size at 6'10'', but also possesses excellent athleticism and strength for a big man. A succesful American college run has seem him return to England with the ability and confidence to make a big impact on the league.
Barry Lamble is something of a rarity. Born in Taunton, this 6'11'' centre has been around the BBL for a number of years and is a perfect back-up centre for the Riders. His veteran knowledge and BBL experience make him the ideal man to teach Bennett the ropes and allow him to excel. Lamble averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last year.
Grade: B
Key Additions: The success of new big-men Simpson and Bennett will be the difference between Riders being a solid mid-table team, and title contenders.
Key Losses: The combined 39.4 points averaged by Jason Johnson and guard Bradd Wierzbicki will be sorely missed.
Full Roster:
LaTaryl Williams 6'6'' SF
Ryan Zamroz 6'4'' SG
Tom Sherlock 6'8'' PF
Tony Windless 6'5'' SF
Barry Lamble 6'11'' C
Anthony Simpson 6'8'' PF/C
J.R Blount 6'1'' PG
Rishi Kakad 6'2'' SG/PG
Andrew Bennett 6'10'' C
James Warwick 6'6'' SG/SF
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