Bradford Dragons Basketball Club today announced the re-signing of Rihards Sulcs, Jermayne Laing and Rafi Saipe for the 2015/16 season.
Latvian 6’3” forward, Sulcs is currently the Dragon’s longest serving player, entering his seventh season with the club, having been with them through their rise through the lower divisions and into the National Basketball League Division One, and has one of the most highlighted slam-dunk finishes in British Basketball. Unfortunately, Sulcs picked up a knee injury during a recent training session and is now set for a lengthy period on the side-lines.
Local boy, Laing, has firmly established himself in the Dragons camp over the last two seasons, having joined from Leeds Force at the start of the 2013/14 season. The 25 year old shooting guard has experience of playing in the United States, where he attended prep school, and also attended the 22ft Basketball Academy in the south of France. Defensively, he has been one of the Dragons’ outstanding perimeter players whilst his speed and agility provides the team with additional offensive options.
Latvian 6’3” forward, Sulcs is currently the Dragon’s longest serving player, entering his seventh season with the club, having been with them through their rise through the lower divisions and into the National Basketball League Division One, and has one of the most highlighted slam-dunk finishes in British Basketball. Unfortunately, Sulcs picked up a knee injury during a recent training session and is now set for a lengthy period on the side-lines.
Local boy, Laing, has firmly established himself in the Dragons camp over the last two seasons, having joined from Leeds Force at the start of the 2013/14 season. The 25 year old shooting guard has experience of playing in the United States, where he attended prep school, and also attended the 22ft Basketball Academy in the south of France. Defensively, he has been one of the Dragons’ outstanding perimeter players whilst his speed and agility provides the team with additional offensive options.
6‘2” guard, Saipe, who also made the move to Dragons from Leeds Force, is back for his second season with Bradford. Having started the 2014/15 season very much as a squad player, he gradually established himself over the season and will be pushing to start the new term in the starting five. He is a tenacious defender who holds the ball well and is also a capable shooter and rebounder.
Dragons head coach, Chris Mellor, said “It’s great to have these three players back for this season. Jermayne has become a really consistent player for us, at both ends of the court, in the last couple of years with his offensive contribution starting to mirror the defensive end. I think that this season gives him the opportunity to become one of the better guards in the league. Rafi also has the opportunity to progress further with a season under his belt. He’s come back in good shape and I believe he will show himself to be a very important player for us this season. He is tough and intelligent and always thinks team first, but he needs to give us more perimeter scoring this year and I think he will do that. Rihards is unfortunately injured and out indefinitely, which is a massive blow for us because he gives us so much in transition rebounding and energy. Others will have to step up and fill that hole now.”
The Dragons tip off their 2015/16 campaign next weekend with an away double header at Leicester Warriors in the National Trophy (Saturday) followed by a National Cup first round tie at Doncaster Danum Eagles (Sunday).
Dragons head coach, Chris Mellor, said “It’s great to have these three players back for this season. Jermayne has become a really consistent player for us, at both ends of the court, in the last couple of years with his offensive contribution starting to mirror the defensive end. I think that this season gives him the opportunity to become one of the better guards in the league. Rafi also has the opportunity to progress further with a season under his belt. He’s come back in good shape and I believe he will show himself to be a very important player for us this season. He is tough and intelligent and always thinks team first, but he needs to give us more perimeter scoring this year and I think he will do that. Rihards is unfortunately injured and out indefinitely, which is a massive blow for us because he gives us so much in transition rebounding and energy. Others will have to step up and fill that hole now.”
The Dragons tip off their 2015/16 campaign next weekend with an away double header at Leicester Warriors in the National Trophy (Saturday) followed by a National Cup first round tie at Doncaster Danum Eagles (Sunday).
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