FRASER SIGNED UP TO HELP EASE INJURY WOES AT LEICESTER RIDERS
FRASER COULD MAKE DEBUT IN LEAGUE SEASON OPENER AGAINST SCORCHERS
LEICESTER Riders have moved to address their injury crisis by signing Scottish International Alasdair Fraser.
The 6ft 7in forward has joined from French team Avignon, who have had their season suspended due to the pandemic.
Fraser headed abroad in the summer after three seasons with Glasgow Rocks.
He joined the Rocks in 2017 from German Pro A team Ergas Ehingen, after a college career in the US at the University of Maine.
The 28-year-old was born in Falkirk, and was instrumental in Scotland reaching the bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018.
Fraser represented Great Britain at Eurobasket 2015, and also represented Scotland and GB at the European Championships.
Last season with the Rocks, Fraser averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, the best figures of his pro career.
He also shot a very impressive 60 per cent from the floor, playing 31 minutes per game.
Fraser said he was delighted to be joining the Riders.
“It’s great and I’m really happy to have been presented with the opportunity,” he said.
“I’ve got my first few practices under my belt and now I’m really looking forward to playing my first game for the Riders. “I have watched most of the games the team have played so far this season, when I was not playing in the BBL. “I always try my best to keep as up to date with the league as possible. “I really like what I’ve seen from the team so far, they look like the typical Leicester team that play tough defence and team structured basketball. “Obviously the guys took a tough loss down in London last weekend but they showed good fighting spirit and that’s always a positive.
“I will definitely provide another body inside to help take the load off (captain) Darien (Nelson-Henry). He is the only real other post player other than myself so whether it’s on the offensive or defensive end I’m looking to bring an inside presence to the team, but more than anything I’m looking to help the team win.”
Riders head coach Rob Paternostro said: “Ali brings experience to the team, number one. And, of course, he knows the BBL and what to expect.
“Then he brings talent and skill. You are talking about a guy who shoots 60 per cent from the floor in the interior.
“We have lost Mo Walker, and with Mo an important scoring option for us, we wanted to find a guy who could score around the basket and Ali can do that.
“Speaking to a lot of his former coaches and people who know him, he has a great personality and is a hard worker. “He is very strong and can use either hand, with a skill level to match.
“One of the things that jumped out at me was his four assists per game last season, so not only can he score low down but he can set up other players as well. “With our team, he should fit in well.
Fraser will be available to play in Riders’ next match – the opening of the BBL Championship season away at Surrey Scorchers on December 5 (6pm).
Ali brings experience to the team, number one, and then he brings talent and skill
Head coach Rob Paternostro