
6’7” British Power Forward, Hylands will start his third spell in the Dragons Den, having previously been at the club for the 2007/08 season and then again in 2012/13. However, the majority of his playing career has been with neighbouring Leeds Force where he featured in the club’s inaugural British Basketball League (BBL) campaign.
He also spent the 2015/16 season at NBL division 3 side, Doncaster Danum Eagles, where he played a senior role in the team, scoring an average of 17.5 points per game and picking up the divisional player of the season award.
“Even though I haven’t been playing for the Dragons over the last few years, I have always been a fan and tried to attend as many games as I could. I know a lot of the team well, so I am excited to get started and see how far we can go this season.”
Meanwhile, Dragons head coach, Chris Mellor, says, “Oliver is a great addition to this seasons roster. We know each other well, as he’s played for us before, and he brings a level of professionalism which will be very important for us both on and off the court.
“His value to the team and what he brings won’t be determined by any statistical category and it’s great to have him back.”
Hylands will be making a swift return to his former club, when the Dragons visit Leeds Force, for a pre-season fixture, at the Carnegie Sports Arena, on Sunday 10th September. This will be the first time that the two team have met since Leeds transitioned into the British Basketball League in 2014. Previous fixtures between them have always been exciting, passionate events and despite this being a ‘friendly’ it is a game that is sure to get hearts pumping.
Tip off at the Carnegie Arena is at 4pm and Bradford fans are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance via the Dragons website and to take advantage of an exclusive online discount.
Photographs © Templewood Photography