Big test against one of the form sides in BBL
EX-LEICESTER STAR FRASER IN ROCKS TEAM TONIGHT
LEICESTER Riders look to continue their unbeaten start to the BBL Championship when they take on Glasgow Rocks tonight (8pm) at the Morningside Arena.
The Rocks hit rock bottom last season but have bounced back this year, built around a core of Scottish talent.
Like the Riders, they are through to the semi-finals of the BBL Cup.
The Rocks are led by player coach Gareth Murray, still suiting up at 37 years old for Great Britain.
Murray is famed for his solid play and three-point shot but had a baptism of fire in his inaugural year in 2020/21 in the player/ coach role.
His position this year is hugely bolstered by the return of 6ft 7in forward Alasdair Fraser, who spent last season playing for Riders behind closed doors.
Fraser has excellent footwork for a big man and does most of his scoring close to the basket.
Another veteran guard, Jonny Bunyan, is also a Scottish international and solid ball handler and three-point threat.
Fraser Malcolm is another upand-coming Scot who can knock down shots from long range.
British forward Boban Jacdomni is in his second season with the club and can provide a spark off the bench on the boards, although his minutes have been limited this season.
The Rocks’ American quartet comprise Jaycee Hillsman, Tyrell Green, Jordan Harris and Jordan Johnson.
Johnson, 26, has won silverware at every team he’s played at since becoming a professional, and is proving a star in the BBL.
A graduate of the University of Nevada, Jordan was drafted by the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, playing 34 games and averaging 7.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and becoming both conference and league champion.
With Zwolle in Holland, he played in the FIBA Europe Cup, amassing an impressive 14.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, while in the Dutch league he had similar impressive numbers, lifting the Dutch Supercup.
He then moved to the Kosovo Superliga and started for Sigal Pristina, managing 19.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game and winning the Kosovo League and Kosovo Supercup.
Hillsman is a 6ft 7in forward who had a year in the Finnish league with Olulun where he averaged an impressive 25.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game with a field goal percentage of 56.4.
Wing Jordan Harris is a rookie after four seasons playing in the NCAA with the University of Georgia where, in his senior season, he averaged 7.1 points and four rebounds per game.
Canadian international Tyrell Green is a graduate of the University of Nevada, where he played alongside Jordan Johnson, and has played in Luxembourg, Finland, Hungary and Sweden.
The Rocks have been flying offensively in the BBL Championship averaging over 90 points per game and shooting a hugely impressive 52 per cent from the floor.
Johnson is leading the scoring with 17.5 points per game, while Fraser is averaging 17.3 points, and Hillsman over 16 points per game.
Riders will be hoping to get some minutes out of captain Darien Nelson-Henry, who suited up for the first time since his injury last weekend but did not play in either of Riders’ wins.
Nelson-Henry last played for Riders on October 8 when he picked up a foot injury away at Bristol Flyers.
Riders head coach Rob Paternostro knows his team is playing a form side tonight.
“Glasgow have had a very good start to the season and have impressed,” he said.
“A spot in the semi-finals of the BBL Cup is testament to that and their form.
“Ali Fraser, we know all about, and he has been playing at a very high level for the Rocks this season.
“Their import Jordan Johnson is also playing exceptionally well and is one of the top scorers in the league.
“They are particularly strong offensively. For us it is important we get out in transition.
“We need to use our speed and pace of our game to make a difference.
Leicester Riders: Geno Crandall, Zach Jackson, Marc Loving, Mo Walker, Patrick Whelan, Conner
Washington, Victor Ndoukou, Justin
Hedley, Kimbal Mackenzie, Jubril Adekoya, Louie
Jordan, Darien Nelson-Henry.
Glasgow Rocks:
Gareth Murray, Jonny Bunyan, Alasdair Fraser, Fraser Malcolm, Tyrell Green, Jordan Johnson, Jordan Harris, Tyrell Green, Jaycee Hillsman, Boban Jacdomni, Murray Hendry.