Patriots get busy with seven signings revealed
PLYMOUTH City Patriots are fast approaching the new season with their opening clash at Bristol in the BBL Cup just 10 days away but with a squad now in place – albeit not yet completely revealed.
Fans of the new club have been playing online ‘player bingo’ over the past few days where the club’s nine new recruits have been placed in a grid and supporters have been invited to pick a number from 1-9. The number with the most votes come the end of the day then reveals a new signing with the club now having seven of their nine players revealed for the 2021-22 campaign.
Denzel Ubiaro, who was so popular with supporters of the Plymouth Raiders, has signed up for another year with the club and he was the first player announced, much to the delight of coach Paul James.
“This will be Denzel’s fourth season with me, and I have watched his tremendous development and growth as a player over this period of time to become the player and person he is today,” James said.
“There is still plenty of more room for improvement, but I know that he will be working harder than ever to ensure that he continues to improve his game in all areas.
“I’m very much looking forward to continuing our work together this season.”
Ubiaro was soon followed by the confirmation that Kingsley Okoroh would also be joining the Patriots.
Standing at a massive 7ft 1in, Okoroh is a 26-year-old from Watford and has experience of the BBL having played for London Lions in 2020-21. Prior to that, the Great Britain international spent time playing for California Golden Bears, Araberri Basket Club, HLA Alicante and La Roda.
Numbers eight and nine were then the preferred choice of the Patriots’ fanbase, which unveiled forward Cam King and guard Liam Carpenter.
Carpenter has spent the last four seasons playing in Germany where most recently is played with thirdtier side Bernau, while eagle-eyed British basketball fans will know him from his time with Reading Rockets and Henley.
King was part of the EABL program at Preston’s College followed by two years at Navarro junior college and two years at NCAA side Tusculum before spending his rookie season with Spanish team Quintanar.
Speaking of those signings, delighted head coach James said: “I’m excited to have Cameron and Liam with us this season. Liam’s a player that I have spoken to for a few seasons now, but we have not been able to get a deal over the line.
“He has had the experience of playing and being in and around good levels of competition in Germany
and I look forward to him bringing that experience here to the Plymouth City Patriots.
“I have liked what I’ve seen so far from Cam in training and think he’s going to be another exciting young player to watch. He has a lot of upside to his game and is only going to get better as the season goes on.”
Number five was signing number five for the club – Joe Hart – a 6ft 4in shooting guard, who has spent most of his time playing in Germany. However, he is no stranger to the BBL having represented Newcastle Eagles, who he helped win the BBL Cup in 2016-17 as well as finish runners-up of the play-offs and championship.
“It was important that we tried to add more BBL experience to our roster and Joe Hart fits the bill,” James said.
“He is a high IQ player who will really help settle the younger players on the team. He shoots the ball well from three-point range and of course has experienced playing in the BBL with great success.
“Joe will be a very important member of our team this season.”
The familiar name of Shawn Shelton was the next to be announced with the 6ft 7in forward returning to the city after spending the 2018-19 campaign with the Raiders. Since then Shelton spent a season with Spanish EBA side Culleredo.
Yesterday, the club’s supporters voted for number four and that was another player – and a popular one at that – returning to Plymouth in the form of Elvisi Dusha.
The 27-year-old, 6ft 2in guard is not short of BBL experience, having spent eight seasons in the BBL, most recently with the Raiders and was a vital piece of the team securing their best ever finish in the BBL alongside Coach Paul James.
“I’m excited to be in Plymouth for the upcoming season, it’s going to be an exciting year with a talented group of young guys,” said Dusha.
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing fans in the building also and making some noise with them.”
James added: “I’m delighted to be working with Elvisi Dusha again this season. He is a vet of the BBL and we will need him to show all that experience on and off the court.
“He is a tremendous teammate and I will be asking him to step up in his responsibilities and lead the team.
“Elvisi is a very tough and gritty player who is a really good facilitator of the ball, but I will also be looking to him to contribute more in the way of scoring this time around too.”
That leaves two more players to be announced for the coming season with the final pieces of the jigsaw expected to be named very soon.