Signing Augh-ers well for the Eagles
AT 6’9” the latest addition to Newcastle Eagles rebooted roster is Branden Aughburns who joins the club for his third season as a professional.
Aughburns brings European experience the BBL team, having previously played in Georgia’s Superleague for BC Titebi and last season at Basket Swans Gmuden in Austria’s BSL.
He said: “I have to give all of the credit to my agent for bringing forward the Eagles’ interest in me.
“Prior to that, my knowledge of the organisation came from watching friends from other BBL teams play against the Eagles.
“I am beyond ecstatic for being able to be a part of the historically rich winning tradition this team comes from. I am looking forward to continued success.
“I knew instantly from the first conversation I had with coach Marc Steutel that this was an organisation I wanted to be a part of.
“He is everything I look for in a head coach and I am excited to work under his leadership.”
The power forward and centre averaged 13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds a game and was second for blocks in the Superleague with 1.4 per game, while in Austria he averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
The native New Yorker from Queens is a dominant physical presence on the court using his strength, length and athleticism.
He added: “Steutel’s coaching style complements my style of play and I feel he will support me to be the best player I could be.
“My goal is to be a contributing factor to a winning season.
“My role for this year will be the defensive anchor and inside finisher.”
Aughburns’ college career saw him start at NCAA Division One Hampton University for two years before he transferred to Iona for a year, although he did not play.
His last two years of college eligibility were spent at Holy Family University in NCAA Division Two where he averaged 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
Aughburns went on: “My college experience was not the conventional one but the lessons I learned along the way, especially at Holy Family, molded me to become the man and the player I am now.
“Going into year three as a pro, I feel the only way for me to move forward is applying all of the lessons I havelearned from the previous destinations to become an effective piece of the puzzle here in Newcastle.”
“I hope to bring a lot of defensive and offensive versatility to the team.
I am a competitor by nature and fulfilling a role required to win games.”
Head coach Steutel’s latest acquisition flies into Tyneside ready to fit right into the Eagles’ ethos and his plans for the new team.
Steutel said: “Branden is such an exciting prospect and I am thrilled he will be suiting up in an Eagles’ jersey this season.”
“He has made a great start to his professional career, consistently demonstrating his talent and we are looking for him to make the next step up within our programme.“