The long agonising wait for the return of British basketball is nearly over – but who will be the players to watch in Super League Basketball (SLB) this year?
Deciding on the ‘players to watch’ in this year’s SLB campaign has been agonising.
With an outstanding level of talent throughout every roster, the names on this list may not be the greatest players in the league – but they will undoubtedly create a large level of intrigue into how their seasons pan out.
Rodney Chatman III – Sheffield Sharks
After a period of uncertainty surrounding the future of Rodney Chatman III, he put pen to paper on a deal that will see him showcase his talents in Sheffield for the upcoming season.
Chatman took the SLB by storm with a string of stunning performances after signing for the Sharks partway through the 2024/25 campaign – averaging a sensational 18 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, which provided spectators with a small sample size of a player who could contribute throughout all facets of the game.
However, come January, the 26-year-old would suffer a season-ending injury that would brutally close the curtain on his first season in British basketball.
Nevertheless, Chatman is back with a vengeance, desperate to put the league on notice with his relentless and explosive playing style.
Now that he is surrounded by a hugely impressive roster – with Sheffield retaining the services of Prentiss Nixon and acquiring Mervin James – fans of the league can expect a Most Valuable Player-calibre campaign from the exciting guard.
Max Jones – Manchester Basketball
One issue with British basketball can be the lack of opportunity to formulate an opinion and create a buzz around players before they sign for a fan’s beloved club – but as a lover of the US college game, I can confirm Max Jones is an exhilarating acquisition.
Jones is a player with huge scoring potential if placed in a lineup that can allow him a free rein to shoot at volume, especially from 3-point range.
Consistency could be an issue for the Kansas City graduate during the opening games of the campaign as he settles into his new surroundings after a five-year stint in college, but the young star is no stranger to accustoming himself to unfamiliar systems as he has featured for three different teams in his time at the collegiate level.
Even if this is an issue at the early stages of the year, Manchester fans can still expect some serious scoring outbursts from a guard who is unstoppable when his confidence is high and he is in a natural shooting rhythm.
Jones dropped an outrageous career-high 39 points versus Florida Tech in 2021, which was one of many 20+ point performances throughout his college career.
Ability is not a question for Max Jones; he has all the attributes to light up Super League Basketball. What will be interesting is the responsibility on offence he will be granted during his first professional season in a Manchester Basketball team that is bursting with talent.
Ray’Sean Taylor – Newcastle Eagles
As previously mentioned, not every player on this list will be on the MVP ballot come the end of the year; however, as a biased Eagles fan, this is a player to be hugely psyched about.
Ray’Sean Taylor is another young prospect who is commencing his professional career – and comes with a pedigree that suggests he could become a force to be reckoned with if developed correctly.
Newcastle have found themselves a gem who can supplement points on the board that they will lose with the departure of the electric Mike Okauru.
During his senior year at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), Taylor recorded 19.1 points and 4.2 assists per game as he exhibited traits of a guard who can support his teammates in several different areas.
Eagles fans have a player on their roster who is not going to shy away from a 3-point attempt and is willing to put a team on his shoulders to carry them to victory.
What supporters of the Tyneside club must refrain from doing is comparing Taylor’s performances to the likes of Okauru, Trey Pulliam, and Seneca Knight. This young man must be given the time and the platform to discover his own identity, in which Newcastle will reap the benefits.
There are still several question marks over the Eagles’ roster in comparison to other clubs who will be slugging it out at the higher echelons of the regular season standings – such as Manchester, Sheffield, and London – yet, if head coach Marc Steutel can find an effective balance in his rotation, Ray’Sean Taylor and his colleagues could create some serious noise this year.
Leave a Reply