FANS WILL WATCH RIDERS TONIGHT FOR FIRST TIME SINCE MARCH 2020

BBL CHAMPIONS WILL TAKE ON LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS AT ARENA TONIGHT

LEICESTER Riders open their preseason campaign tonight at the Morningside Arena (8pm) when they take on Loughborough Student Riders in a pre-season friendly.

It will be the first time Riders have played in front of fans since March 13 last year.

Riders will be without BBL Player of the Season Geno Crandall, who is still awaiting his visa, and two other returning Americans, Zach Jackson and William Lee.

But the rest of Riders squad have been in training for nearly three weeks and will be raring to go against some of the best young talent in the country.

Captain Darien Nelson-Henry, who was selected in the BBL Team of the Season last year, will return for his third season with Riders. He is joined by the now veteran GB guard Conner Washington, Canadian centre Mo Walker, British guards Justin Hedley and Greg Wild and young British forward Victor Ndoukou.

Walker is now in his third season with Riders, having had his two previous seasons blighted by injuries, and will be hoping he can display his true potential. But Riders fans will be particularly excited to see three new signings – British shooting guard Patrick Whelan, Canadian combo guard Kimbal Mackenzie and American-British power forward Jubril Adekoya, above. All are experienced players from various European leagues and will be looking to show Riders head coach

Rob Paternostro they will be deserving of big minutes when the regular BBL season comes around.

Paternostro, far left, is looking forward to finally getting started again.

“We are delighted to be back at the Morningside with fans allowed and really looking forward to the new season,” he said.

“This is the time for the new guys to show what they are about, and what they can bring to the team.

“It is unfortunate with the three guys missing but I know all about them, so it will be useful to see the new players getting extended runs. “We know the university side will be fit and talented so we should get a really good game.

“We are mostly just delighted to be back.”