New look Wolves host Rockets
Damian
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Worcester Wolves’ fans will tonight get their first chance to see the roster that has been assembled by Head Coach Paul James in the off season.
Guard Callum Jones returns after the youngster had his contract with the club renewed this summer, and he will be joined by David ‘Tin-Tin’ Watts and Alex Zimnickas who also stay in Worcester for the new campaign.
Joining for their first season with the Wolves and their first in the BBL are Shooting Guard Tommy Freeman and Centre Richie Gordon. Both players come straight from successful college careers in the states, and both offer something very different on the court.
Earlier this year Freeman became the all-time leader in 3-point scoring for the Ohio Bobcats. Tommy maintained a 3-point shooting pecentage of over 40% for each of the last three years at college making 93 of his 195 attempted in his Junior year. He clearly has the potential to be looking to put down every one in two from long range, and averaged 11.4 points per game in his Senior year.
The 6′ 9″ Gordon brings what last season’s stats will have you believe was missing, namely, a better conversion rate in the low post and a strong defensive skill set. The former Western Carolina Catamount averaged 10.2 ppg and 5.7 rebounds per game in his Senior year, amassing 189 rebounds, 42 blocks and 51 steals for the season.
The return of Zimnickas and Watts and the addition of Lithuanian Power-Forward Arnas Kaslauskas in recent weeks, gives the Wolves good strength in depth under the basket. Offensively, the experienced Kaslauskas averaged 11.7 ppg last season in 24 games.
There are also a new Point Guard and Small Forward in town, in Sherrad Prezzie-Blue and Carlos Fernandez respectively. Prezzie-Blue is no stranger to British Basketball and played with the Thunder in the BBL last season. Fernandez joins from Spanish side Leon. Prezzie-Blue averaged 13.9 ppg with Worthing and like any PG, he is key if the Wolves are to reflect back on a successful season come April.
So tonight Wolves’ fans get to learn more about all these players, and with just seven days until the season starts in earnest next Saturday, they welcome Reading Rockets to the University Campus. Entry is just £3 for everyone and the tip-off is at 7pm.
