Olympian Drew Sullivan signs new deal with Riders
The Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders have today announced that Olympian and Team GB Captain, Drew Sullivan, has re-signed with the club for the 2012/13 season.
Sullivan, 32, will be returning for his second season with the club he helped to a franchise record 22 wins in 2011/12, aiming to add to the long list of trophies he has won since playing in the British Basketball League.
“One of the the reasons I chose to return to Leicester was the chance to continue something that was started last season,” said Sullivan. “We came extremely close to winning silverware, so returning to the club offers me the opportunity to achieve that goal.”
Sullivan is currently with his GB team-mates in London, putting the final touches to preparations for the 2012 Olympics, an experience that the London-born Sullivan feels he can transfer across to the domestic competition:
“Playing on a big stage and having that experience of being a part of something that is so much bigger than yourself,” Sullivan answered when asked what playing in the Olympics will add to his game. “Sometimes it’s a little funny when you hear fans in the BBL refer to games as “a big game”, because the games that are going to take place over the next couple of weeks are what big games are actually about.
“For me personally being part of the national team for so many years has made it easy playing at club level.”
Riders Head Coach, Rob Paternostro, revealed that re-signing the experienced Sullivan was something that was talked about at the conclusion of last seasons memorable campaign:
“We made it pretty clear to Drew at the end of last season that we were interested in having him back here with us,” explained Paternostro. “Last season, he (Sullivan) was instrumental in everything we did, both on offense and defence. He’s a guy who has a high basketball, is athletically gifted but most importantly, is a competitor and a winner.”
The Leicester Riders start their 2012 campaign on the 22nd September as they go up against the Plymouth Raiders (H).
(Quotes courtesy of www.leicesterriders.co.uk)
