LIONS ADD EXTRA US FIREPOWER
- Updated: September 16, 2020
London Lions have brought in Stephen Brown to bolster their Champions League roster.
The American point guard, who was sought out when Great Britain guard Jules Dang Akodo suffered an injury, is expected to debut during next week’s BCL qualifiers in Bulgaria.
Last term he averaged 13.3 points and 5.2 assists a game for Giessen 46ers in the German Bundesliga.
Lions Head Coach, Vince Macaulay said: “Jules was a serious doubt, and having played in Denmark without three of our point guards, we didn’t want to risk anything in such a big game.
“Stephen was highly recommended to me, he is a very upstanding young man and his game is electric. Unfortunately he is unlikely to play in BBL games as we can’t rotate non-national players. But hopefully we progress and fans can get to see him in the flesh.â€
Having also brought back Matthew Bryan-Amaning last week, it takes the BBL champions’ roster to 16 players, a fortnight before the domestic season is due to begin.
Teams must submit their salary numbers to the league by next week for scrutiny with Lions likely to retain other players exclusively for European competition in order to remain under the £250,000 upper limit – one which excludes the two highest-earning Great Britain-qualified employees, thought to be Byron Mullens and Justin Robinson.
Eric Locked up by Bristol
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Eric Lockett has signed a new one-year contract with the Bristol Flyers.
The American wing joined the Flyers in February from Al-Rayyan Sports Club in Qatar and made just four appearances for the Flyers before the Covid-19 shutdown, averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
“My experience last season was great, we were definitely moving in the right direction so I think we can pick up where we left off,” he said.
“It was a pretty easy decision to come back. I stayed in touch with Coach Kapoulas after last season was cancelled and we have a really good relationship.
“I already know the team, the system and he wants me to have a bigger impact on the team this year.”
Lockett averaged 7.9 points per game during his five-year college career, enjoying spells with George Mason, Chipola and Florida International before transferring to NC State for his senior year.
He posted a career-high 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a Sophomore at FIU, shooting 46.6% from the field.
Elsewhere, Glasgow Rocks have handed wonderkid Callum Mortimer a new deal but vowed to help him fulfil his dream of making it big in America.
The Scots prospect became the youngest player ever to score in the BBL last season at the age of 16.
And Rocks coach Gareth Murray says he’ll be happy to lose Mortimer to a US college next summer.
 He said: “Speaking with him and his parents over the summer, he decided he wanted to continue with us while taking a year off from studying, he already has a place at University but wants to focus on his basketball.
“He is a welcome addition to the squad. He is a very quiet person but is willing to work hard to improve.
“If I’m honest he reminds me of myself when I was younger. I’m glad I can continue this opportunity for him.â€
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