The London Summer League tips off tonight with a bang. Below is a list of star players who are sure to bring their A-game.
Ibrahim Gariba - London Capitals
Ibrahim "Air Ghana" Gariba has now played an unprecedented nine consecutive seasons for London Capitals. In the Capitals' three seasons in the BBL from 2007 to 2010 he averaged 14.4 points and 7.5 rebounds in over 100 games, stats that a leading import big man would be proud of.
Orlan Jackman - Crusaders England international forward Orlan Jackman will suit up for Medway Park Crusaders in the London Summer League. After two years at junior college Jackman transferred to Oklahoma City University playing in the Sooner Athletic Conference in the NAIA, after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA due to having an educational break. Jackman got on with the job at Oklahoma and by his final year he was leading the team in both scoring (13.4 points per game) and rebounding (8 rebounds per game).
Perry Lawson - London Lions
The 6'1" Great Britain international guard was a key player on the dominant Newcastle Eagles team of 2006, which won the clean sweep of Playoff Finals, Championship, Trophy & Cup.
Lawson has continued to rack up winners medals in a BBL career that has taken him to the Eagles, London United, Guildford Heat, Sheffield Sharks and Mersey Tigers before he returned to London last season with the Lions. The BBL Cup was won with the Sharks in 2010 and he nearly repeated the full haul with the Tigers in 2011 in a team coached by his mentor Tony Garbolletto.
Capped 12 times by England, he was called up into the first squad of the Great Britain team reformed in 2006 to build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The team was christened the "Little Pioneers" by Head Coach Chris Finch, who was full of praise for Lawson's contribution.
Karolis Stepanavicius - London Lituanica
Karolis "Hardwork" Stepanavicius will return to play for Lituanica in the London Summer League after starting last season at potential opponents London Lions. After a promising start, Stepanavicius did not break into the rotation at London's pro club and moved to NASSA in EBL2.
At NASSA he made a significant contribution as the East London club stormed to the EBL2 Championship and went on to win the EBL2 Playoff Finals. Stepanavicius was named as the Eurobasket.com Playoffs MVP (following a 33 point & 18 rebound double-double in NASSA's 85-66 win over Manchester Magic in the Final) and on the EBL2 1st Team selection (Averaging 23.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game).
Olu Babalola – London Lions
London Lions were permitted to sign Great Britain international forward Olu Babalola after the signing deadline, due to a couple of injury doubts in their roster.
The 6'6" Clemson graduate has won eight BBL trophies in an eight-year career at Newcastle Eagles, Everton Tigers & Sheffield Sharks averaging 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Who are YOU most excited to see? Let me know in the comments section below.
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