Smith the latest player to enter the Lions’ den
With just one month until his side commence their BBL league campaign against the Manchester Giants, one man who cannot claim to have had a quiet summer is London Lions head coach, Vincent Macaulay.
As the excitement for the new season gradually begins to build, so does the strength and depth of the squad. American Ben Smith is the fifth player to put pen to paper for the Londoners over recent weeks – and he won’t be the last either. After securing the early signature of experienced point guard Rod Brown, Macaulay drafted in three more exciting players – Nick Freer, Adrien Sturt and Joe Ikhinmwin.
The signing of Smith, who is renowned for his defensive abilities, will no doubt help the side to protect the basket and improve upon last seasons thirteen victories. When asked about his newest addition, Macaulay beamed: “We’ve stated that defence is going to be key for us this season. Ben is a real defensive specialist going up against some top players in his college career, but he’s also a clutch player, has a great 40% record at the three point line and is used to stepping up in big games.”
This 23-year-old is no stranger to success. In 2011 he spearheaded his Wichita State college team to a NIT Championship. The following year saw him help guide his side to the Missouri Valley Conference title. It is clearly no surprise that the 6′ 5″ guard caught the attention of the Lions’ coaching staff – the former Defensive Player of the Year averages ten points and four rebounds per game.
In what will be his first professional season, Smith sounds eager to get stuck in: “I’m very happy for this opportunity. The Lions have achieved a lot in this past year and I’ve seen pictures of our home at the Copper Box and can’t wait to meet the fans and get to work there.”
The signing caps a hectic pre-season for the East London club. As well as appearing alongside Hollywood heavyweight Mark Wahlberg on BBC’s ‘The One Show’, Lions coaches were responsible for organising a highly successful Pro Camp – which was designed to entice prospective new players to the BBL.
Twenty-six players and six coaches attended the session, hoping to leave a lasting impression. Players from across the world jostled for contract offers, including hopefuls who had travelled from as far away as USA, Japan and Spain. Another camp has already been pencilled in for May 2014.
