Thunder to give local lads a chance to shine

Thunder finished fourth in their first season back in the EBL after three years in the British Basketball League last season and the veteran playcaller has said that in order to bring back the best days at Worthing again, they have to start fresh.

He said: “For this season, I think going to local guys more, helping them grow and mature as players will not only help them in the long term, but help us as well because their passion for the sport and their drive and hunger to succeed and get better will be a positive.

“No doubt this will be a different season than usual and it is the start of a long road ahead but it’s an exciting challenge and, in a way, it’s a new era and a new chapter for Worthing Thunder Basketball Club.”

The club have been holding open training sessions to sign new players and Smith has seen potential in a lot of the players who have been coming to those open runs.

He said: “Along with the college kids in the States and some who play abroad who are playing to keep fit, we’ve concentrated on the players who come down and our main goal is to find players who can do a job in this league.

“So far, there have been quite a few that I think can do a decent job in the EBL. Players that can keep up with play, that can shoot, play defence, can read the plays. It’s been very positive so far.”

Smith hopes to make signings soon but concedes that this year’s line-up might not include imports: “We’ll see what happens, you never know.

“But, I’m focusing on these open-runs and what local players I can sign for this season. In honesty, I’m not thinking of imports right now because I want the focus to be o