Cheshire Jets have signed 6’9” American forward Chris Commons. The 25 year-old Commons played most recently in Germany, and also previously in Bahrain, after a college career USC Aiken.
Jets coach Paul Smith feels he has found exactly what he is looking for in his new signing:
“He’s perfect for what we want in terms of size and youth, he’s been out of college - with a great record - for about a year, he was a Division 2 All-American, and consensus All-American. He’s tall, shoots the three, puts the ball on the floor, rebounds, passes, and does it all. He has the potential to be a star in this league.”
Commons is relishing the prospect of coming over to play for the Jets.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I feel it’s a very good decision and I’m grateful to the coach for this opportunity. One of the reasons why I wanted to sign was down to how straight-forward, honest and passionate the coach is to win. I want to just do my best, work hard and hope to do the same.”
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Showing posts with label Cheshire Jets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cheshire Jets. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Cheshire Jets sign American centre Matt Schneck.
Cheshire Jets have beaten out an unnamed Swiss side to sign All-American centre Matt Schneck.
The 6'9@ Wisconsin native, just graduated from Central Minnesota, impressed coach Paul Smith at a Las Vegas show camp and has agreed a one-year deal.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” Schneck said. “It’s a nice experience to get under my belt. I get to keep playing the game I’ve always loved. It’s a tough crowd up there, but I think I’ll be all right. I think Central Minnesota toughened me up a little bit.”
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The 6'9@ Wisconsin native, just graduated from Central Minnesota, impressed coach Paul Smith at a Las Vegas show camp and has agreed a one-year deal.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” Schneck said. “It’s a nice experience to get under my belt. I get to keep playing the game I’ve always loved. It’s a tough crowd up there, but I think I’ll be all right. I think Central Minnesota toughened me up a little bit.”
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Thursday, 15 July 2010
James Hamilton hit with drug ban, will retire, Cheshire confirm
Cheshire Jets veteran forward James Hamilton has failed a drugs test and been issued with a four-month ban by UK Anti-Doping officials.
The American-born All-Star was found to have traces of cannabis in his system after a routine test earlier this year.
Hamilton, who will serve his suspension during the off-season, is the second Jets player to test positive for drugs on December 12 following a BBL game against Essex Pirates. John Simpson is currently in the early stages of a lengthy ban for a second doping offence, also for cannabis.
And Peter Hawkins, Jets Director, confirmed that the club’s former assistant coach will not be offered a new deal for next season and will now retire.
‘We were disappointed to learn of the outcome of James’s hearing,” said Hawkins. “It brings to an end an illustrious career both on and off the court for James with the Jets and is a really sad situation for all concerned.
“We understand that James has decided to retire from the sport. As a club we continue to strive to set the highest standards.”
In an interview with the Chester Chronicle, Hamilton, 38, claimed he took the drug at the funeral of a friend’s father, when an acquaintance offered it to him to help relieve pain caused by a broken tooth.
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The American-born All-Star was found to have traces of cannabis in his system after a routine test earlier this year.
Hamilton, who will serve his suspension during the off-season, is the second Jets player to test positive for drugs on December 12 following a BBL game against Essex Pirates. John Simpson is currently in the early stages of a lengthy ban for a second doping offence, also for cannabis.
And Peter Hawkins, Jets Director, confirmed that the club’s former assistant coach will not be offered a new deal for next season and will now retire.
‘We were disappointed to learn of the outcome of James’s hearing,” said Hawkins. “It brings to an end an illustrious career both on and off the court for James with the Jets and is a really sad situation for all concerned.
“We understand that James has decided to retire from the sport. As a club we continue to strive to set the highest standards.”
In an interview with the Chester Chronicle, Hamilton, 38, claimed he took the drug at the funeral of a friend’s father, when an acquaintance offered it to him to help relieve pain caused by a broken tooth.
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Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Cheshire, Plymouth make early signings
Cheshire Jets have confirmed that Colin O'Reilly has signed up for the 2010/11 season, the first player to be confirmed as a definite in the new roster.
The 6'7" Irish forward arrived last summer from UCC Demons.
"The highlight in the season past for me was the winning run we went on to close out the regular season and gain a top 4 finish," he said. "We played great basketball throughout, which was enjoyable for the fans and for the players to play in. Obviously the two cup semi wins were big for the club and its profile but the way we achieved the wins gave great pleasure to the team."
Plymouth Raiders have announced their second signing of the summer, England international player Taner Adu. The 6'3", 26 year old Adu comes to Plymouth following a season in the BBL with Essex Pirates where he averaged 17 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals per game. He will be a key player for the England team this summer in their round of friendly games, and Raiders Coach Gavin Love was delighted to have secured his signature.
"Taner is a great pick up for us," said Love. "A number of BBL teams offered Taner a contract, but I think our reputation here, together with the opportunities that he will get playing for the Raiders helped swing the balance in our favour. Taner spoke to former Raiders players Haggai Hundert and Dean Williams (both teammates at Essex) and they were able to tell him a lot about the club and the area."
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The 6'7" Irish forward arrived last summer from UCC Demons.
"The highlight in the season past for me was the winning run we went on to close out the regular season and gain a top 4 finish," he said. "We played great basketball throughout, which was enjoyable for the fans and for the players to play in. Obviously the two cup semi wins were big for the club and its profile but the way we achieved the wins gave great pleasure to the team."
Plymouth Raiders have announced their second signing of the summer, England international player Taner Adu. The 6'3", 26 year old Adu comes to Plymouth following a season in the BBL with Essex Pirates where he averaged 17 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals per game. He will be a key player for the England team this summer in their round of friendly games, and Raiders Coach Gavin Love was delighted to have secured his signature.
"Taner is a great pick up for us," said Love. "A number of BBL teams offered Taner a contract, but I think our reputation here, together with the opportunities that he will get playing for the Raiders helped swing the balance in our favour. Taner spoke to former Raiders players Haggai Hundert and Dean Williams (both teammates at Essex) and they were able to tell him a lot about the club and the area."
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Monday, 17 May 2010
UKAD confirms length of John Simpson ban
UK Anti-Doping have confirmed that former Cheshire Jets guard John Simpson has been banned for 16 months after testing positive for marijuana last year.
Simpson, who was released by Cheshire after the violation, served a three-month ban earlier in his career for a similar offence.
The full judgement is here.
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Simpson, who was released by Cheshire after the violation, served a three-month ban earlier in his career for a similar offence.
The full judgement is here.
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Monday, 29 March 2010
Cheshire's Simpson set for lengthy ban after second drug positive
Cheshire Jets guard John Simpson is set to receive an extended ban from the sport after testing positive for marijuana, following a random test. The results were discussed at a UK Anti-Doping tribunal where the punishment was imposed. It is understood there will be no appeal against the findings.
It is the second time Simpson has failed a drugs test in his career. During the 2004-5 season, the Wirral-born player tested positive for cannabis use and served a three-month ban, according to official records.
The 29-year-old, who is likely to be handed a suspension of up to two years for a repeat offence, has had his contract with the Jets terminated with immediate effect.
"John has let himself and the club down and I know he regrets what he did,” Cheshire director Peter Hawkins said. “As a club we always strive to set the highest standards of behaviour and therefore had no hesitation in terminating John’s contract.”
The BBL, which has no involvement in the testing procedure, declined to comment and did not confirm the length of Simpson's ban.
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It is the second time Simpson has failed a drugs test in his career. During the 2004-5 season, the Wirral-born player tested positive for cannabis use and served a three-month ban, according to official records.
The 29-year-old, who is likely to be handed a suspension of up to two years for a repeat offence, has had his contract with the Jets terminated with immediate effect.
"John has let himself and the club down and I know he regrets what he did,” Cheshire director Peter Hawkins said. “As a club we always strive to set the highest standards of behaviour and therefore had no hesitation in terminating John’s contract.”
The BBL, which has no involvement in the testing procedure, declined to comment and did not confirm the length of Simpson's ban.
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Sunday, 21 March 2010
Newcastle retain grip on BBL Trophy
Newcastle Eagles retained the BBL Trophy, producing a dominating display to defeat Cheshire Jets 111-95 in a one-sided final at the Guildford Spectrum.
Veteran Charles Smith, who won the game's Most Valuable Player award, and BBL rookie Joe Chapman, proved too hot to handle from deep with 27 and 21 points respectively as the Tyneside outfit claimed what could be the first part of a potential treble.
Jets, hoping to make a good start, certainly did that as Colin O'Reilly's three point play made it 7-0. The run seemed to spark Newcastle into life though as Lynard Stewart's bucket began a 14-0 burst.
Smith's three levelled it at 7-7 and Joe Chapman gave the Eagles their first lead of the match with a long range effort of his own. Newcastle's first quarter lead peaked at nine, first at 18-9, and then on another Chapman three to close the period 24-15.
Reggie Jackson made it a double-digit lead for Eagles with his first points of the match at the start of the second quarter before 40-year-old Shawn Myers dragged Jets - minus injured James Hamilton - back into the match with two three point scores which reduced the gap to just three at 29-26.
However Eagles quickly recovered their dominance though midway through the second quarter as their rivals' challenge collapsed, the holders breaking the game open with a 35-16 run. It was a devastating passage of play by Fab Flournoy's team and left Jets staring at a daunting 64-42 half time deficit.
Smith began the third quarter with a three to reinforce Eagles' superiority and despite Jets occasionally picking apart the Newcastle defence they couldn't stem the flow of points from their opponents.
With Newcastle taking an 89-63 margin into the final stanza, there was no way back with Cheshire stars Jerrah Young, Paul Peterson and Calvin Davis all well below their best.
Fab Flournoy's men saw their advantage peak at 100-69 on yet another Smith bucket early in the fourth quarter. Despite trying to recapture the magic of their epic comeback in vain against Sheffield Sharks in the BBL Cup, Jets could only get the final deficit below 20 thanks to a late 6-0 run.
The evergreen Myers scored a game-high 28 points but his efforts were in vain as Newcastle coasted to lift the Trophy for the fourth time in six years.
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Veteran Charles Smith, who won the game's Most Valuable Player award, and BBL rookie Joe Chapman, proved too hot to handle from deep with 27 and 21 points respectively as the Tyneside outfit claimed what could be the first part of a potential treble.
Jets, hoping to make a good start, certainly did that as Colin O'Reilly's three point play made it 7-0. The run seemed to spark Newcastle into life though as Lynard Stewart's bucket began a 14-0 burst.
Smith's three levelled it at 7-7 and Joe Chapman gave the Eagles their first lead of the match with a long range effort of his own. Newcastle's first quarter lead peaked at nine, first at 18-9, and then on another Chapman three to close the period 24-15.
Reggie Jackson made it a double-digit lead for Eagles with his first points of the match at the start of the second quarter before 40-year-old Shawn Myers dragged Jets - minus injured James Hamilton - back into the match with two three point scores which reduced the gap to just three at 29-26.
However Eagles quickly recovered their dominance though midway through the second quarter as their rivals' challenge collapsed, the holders breaking the game open with a 35-16 run. It was a devastating passage of play by Fab Flournoy's team and left Jets staring at a daunting 64-42 half time deficit.
Smith began the third quarter with a three to reinforce Eagles' superiority and despite Jets occasionally picking apart the Newcastle defence they couldn't stem the flow of points from their opponents.
With Newcastle taking an 89-63 margin into the final stanza, there was no way back with Cheshire stars Jerrah Young, Paul Peterson and Calvin Davis all well below their best.
Fab Flournoy's men saw their advantage peak at 100-69 on yet another Smith bucket early in the fourth quarter. Despite trying to recapture the magic of their epic comeback in vain against Sheffield Sharks in the BBL Cup, Jets could only get the final deficit below 20 thanks to a late 6-0 run.
The evergreen Myers scored a game-high 28 points but his efforts were in vain as Newcastle coasted to lift the Trophy for the fourth time in six years.
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Saturday, 20 March 2010
BBL Trophy final: Smith wary of Newcastle's S-Factor
Newcastle Eagles will bid to lift the BBL Trophy for the third consecutive time when they meet Cheshire on Sunday in the final at the Guildford Spectrum.
The two clubs have dominated the competition during the last decade, winning seven of the last nine editions. However Cheshire coach Paul Smith is wary that the recent return of Great Britain captain Andrew Sullivan to the Tyneside giants could tip the balance.
“There’s probably been 2-3 seasons where we’ve been nowhere near them but this year, I’ve felt we’re getting closer,” said Smith.
“The biggest difference in the last month is that they’ve added Sullivan and we need to find a way to deal with him. But I still see where they have weaknesses we can exploit.”
Newcastle, on a 15-game winning streak following Friday's win over Worthing, have been told not to rest on their laurels despite their run.
"That means nothing," Chapman added. "The reason we're winning is because we play hard every night and Sunday can't be any different."
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The two clubs have dominated the competition during the last decade, winning seven of the last nine editions. However Cheshire coach Paul Smith is wary that the recent return of Great Britain captain Andrew Sullivan to the Tyneside giants could tip the balance.
“There’s probably been 2-3 seasons where we’ve been nowhere near them but this year, I’ve felt we’re getting closer,” said Smith.
“The biggest difference in the last month is that they’ve added Sullivan and we need to find a way to deal with him. But I still see where they have weaknesses we can exploit.”
Newcastle, on a 15-game winning streak following Friday's win over Worthing, have been told not to rest on their laurels despite their run.
"That means nothing," Chapman added. "The reason we're winning is because we play hard every night and Sunday can't be any different."
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Sunday, 17 January 2010
Sheffield Sharks lift BBL Cup
Sheffield Sharks claimed the domestic basketball season's first piece of silverware with a 89-86 victory over Cheshire Jets in the BBL Cup final in Birmingham.
Spurred by 19 points apiece from Mike Cook and Ryan Patton, the league leaders justified their tag as favourites by seizing control in the opening stages and holding off Cheshire's frenetic late rally.
It was an even opening to the game, despite two three-pointers from Sharks' fit-again playmaker Patton. However, it was Cheshire who took the first significant advantage - they enjoyed a 9-2 run to lead 18-11, with threes from James Hamilton and Chez Marks. Sheffield battled back and scored the final 11 points of the quarter to take a 22-18 lead into the second quarter.
Sharks' lead was extended to eight points at 28-20 midway through the second stanza on the back of a Mike Tuck bucket.
However, the quarter proved to be a relatively low scoring affair, as both teams looked to limit their opponents chances. Sheffield pulled out the biggest lead of the half at 37-26, courtesy of seven unanswered points, including a Perry Lawson three-pointer.
Sharks applied the pressure in the third quarter - a 7-2 start saw them leading 48-35, thank in no small part to the scoring of Mike Cook. Jets managed a few long range shots, but ultimately struggled to find their range and Sharks led 64-48 going into the final quarter.
However, the Jets – led by a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds from Hamilton, the final's Most Valuable Player - applied pressure to trim the deficit.
A Colin O'Reilly three-pointer with 1.33 to go saw Jets get back to within three points at 76-79. Tuck pulled Sharks back, before Hamilton and then O'Reilly again cut the gap back to three points.
Paul Peterson had the chance to cut it back to a one-point ball game, but failed to convert his free throws with 26 seconds remaining and with Jets in the penalty they were forced to foul to try to regain possession.
Lawson scored four from four free throws to keep Jets at arms length and while Marks scored twice it was not enough to steal victory.
"It's great to win the first silverware of the season," Atiba Lyons player-coach of the Sharks commented.
"Chester made it tough for us in the final quarter, but we are delighted to get our hands on some silverware."
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Spurred by 19 points apiece from Mike Cook and Ryan Patton, the league leaders justified their tag as favourites by seizing control in the opening stages and holding off Cheshire's frenetic late rally.
It was an even opening to the game, despite two three-pointers from Sharks' fit-again playmaker Patton. However, it was Cheshire who took the first significant advantage - they enjoyed a 9-2 run to lead 18-11, with threes from James Hamilton and Chez Marks. Sheffield battled back and scored the final 11 points of the quarter to take a 22-18 lead into the second quarter.
Sharks' lead was extended to eight points at 28-20 midway through the second stanza on the back of a Mike Tuck bucket.
However, the quarter proved to be a relatively low scoring affair, as both teams looked to limit their opponents chances. Sheffield pulled out the biggest lead of the half at 37-26, courtesy of seven unanswered points, including a Perry Lawson three-pointer.
Sharks applied the pressure in the third quarter - a 7-2 start saw them leading 48-35, thank in no small part to the scoring of Mike Cook. Jets managed a few long range shots, but ultimately struggled to find their range and Sharks led 64-48 going into the final quarter.
However, the Jets – led by a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds from Hamilton, the final's Most Valuable Player - applied pressure to trim the deficit.
A Colin O'Reilly three-pointer with 1.33 to go saw Jets get back to within three points at 76-79. Tuck pulled Sharks back, before Hamilton and then O'Reilly again cut the gap back to three points.
Paul Peterson had the chance to cut it back to a one-point ball game, but failed to convert his free throws with 26 seconds remaining and with Jets in the penalty they were forced to foul to try to regain possession.
Lawson scored four from four free throws to keep Jets at arms length and while Marks scored twice it was not enough to steal victory.
"It's great to win the first silverware of the season," Atiba Lyons player-coach of the Sharks commented.
"Chester made it tough for us in the final quarter, but we are delighted to get our hands on some silverware."
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Thursday, 14 January 2010
Mike Cook providing recipe for Sheffield's Cup chase
Sheffield Sharks player-coach Atiba Lyons believes Mike Cook will lead their side to the BBL Cup on Sunday – and back into the elite of British basketball.
The league leaders, now chasing a potential treble after their Trophy exit, have been powered by the omnipotent American this term with his 27 points per holding centre-stage in their resurgence.
Lyons admits Cheshire are likely to target the former Pittsburgh standout for special attention. But so far, he says, Cook has overcome everything thrown in his path.
“He’s surprised me,” Lyons admits. “It’s his first trip overseas, he’s getting acclimatised to being away from home but still being in an English-speaking country. But he’s got a good support group around him. And he’s doing well. He plays hard for us. The guys like him and he likes them.
“The first year can always be iffy. You can get homesick. The style of play is a lot more physical than back home. He’s been able to adjust on the fly,”
With the Sharks sweeping the season series with the Jets in the league, Lyons concedes his team will take the favourites tag to Birmingham.
Yet, given the unexpected revival of Paul Smith’s veteran line-up, the year’s first piece of silverware remains up for grabs.
“Every time they’ve played us, they’ve had a different line-up,” the second-year playcaller declared. “But they’ve made some changes so it’s going to be a tough game.”
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The league leaders, now chasing a potential treble after their Trophy exit, have been powered by the omnipotent American this term with his 27 points per holding centre-stage in their resurgence.
Lyons admits Cheshire are likely to target the former Pittsburgh standout for special attention. But so far, he says, Cook has overcome everything thrown in his path.
“He’s surprised me,” Lyons admits. “It’s his first trip overseas, he’s getting acclimatised to being away from home but still being in an English-speaking country. But he’s got a good support group around him. And he’s doing well. He plays hard for us. The guys like him and he likes them.
“The first year can always be iffy. You can get homesick. The style of play is a lot more physical than back home. He’s been able to adjust on the fly,”
With the Sharks sweeping the season series with the Jets in the league, Lyons concedes his team will take the favourites tag to Birmingham.
Yet, given the unexpected revival of Paul Smith’s veteran line-up, the year’s first piece of silverware remains up for grabs.
“Every time they’ve played us, they’ve had a different line-up,” the second-year playcaller declared. “But they’ve made some changes so it’s going to be a tough game.”
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