Leeds Carnegie Basketball Blog

Carnegie’s Pandza Selected for England U14

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:31:40 +0100

Leeds Carnegie Junior Jaka Pandza has been selected to represent England U14’s in a friendly against Yorkshire U17’s at The Arena. Jaka was part of Carnegie U14 playoff quarter-finalists team led by Head Coach Paul Hartley.

Jaka Pandza, son of former Euroleague player Katja Krivic, has been with the club for the last few years and has played a huge part in the U14’s and Allerton High School’s success this season. Coach Paul Hartley commented, “Jaka has enjoyed playing for the club for the last five years. In the last year he has really stepped up his game, working hard since the end of the season to put himself in the best shape for national teams. He fully deserves this opportunity after all of the effort he has put into his development.”

Pandza is the sole Carnegie player selected for the U14 squad, but does see local rival Eisley Swaine from Leeds Tigers adding to the squad. For the full squad list please follow this Link.

This Sunday will see Jaka match up with Carnegie’s Danny Evans, who will be representing Yorkshire.

Ball Again at Leeds Carnegie Basketball

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:45:52 +0100

Leeds Carnegie launched their summer England Basketball Ball Again open run sessions this week after successfully being awarded a £1,200 grant – for more information on Ball Again please see this Link.

Ball Again is a participant centred programme of coaching and games. It is not only for lapsed players, but also those new to the sport. Participants get an opportunity to play basketball for fun, to get fit or simply as a social activity.

Leeds Carnegie Women’s Head Coach Mark Gunn commented; “Leeds is one of England Basketball’s 2013-17 Whole Sport Plan priority areas and in utilising the Ball Again product, Leeds Carnegie aims to help increase regular opportunities for all to play and get involved in basketball. The sessions attract a mix of experienced players plus those returning to the game and on Monday it was great to welcome local and national league players, previous students plus those returning to the game.”

Participant Julia Blom commented; “After being away from the game for over 2 years I decided to start playing again. I previously played in Stockholm, Sweden at the Division One level for a club called SBBK before moving to the UK. I attended the first Ball Again open run session at Leeds Carnegie this week and I really enjoyed training again where I got to meet and play with a great group of players. I look forward to continue training during the summer and hope to start playing at the higher level again in 2013/14.”

Weekly Session Details:

16+ Women

Mondays, 6pm – 8pm, £3 a session (non members)

16+ Men

Mondays & Tuesdays, 8pm – 10pm, £3 a session (non members)

Staff & Students

Wednesdays, 12pm – 1pm

Parents & Family

Fridays, 6pm – 8pm, £3 a session (non members)

All sessions are held at:

The Arena, Carnegie Sports Centre
Leeds Metropolitan University
Headingley Campus
Leeds
LS6 3QS

Jack Stannard Gets England Call Up

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:20:21 +0100

Leeds Carnegie’s starting guard and captain, Jack Stannard, has been selected to represent England in their two friendlies against Scotland this weekend. Jack, the only player selected from EBL Division One, will join up with the squad of BBL players on Saturday as they travel to Edinburgh.

After starting the season averaging 10 points (54% fg), 3 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, Stannard suffered a hernia that kept him out of action for nearly three months. Making his return at the National Cup Final, Jack helped lead the team to the title.

Stannard (23), who previously represented Great Britain at U20 level, has played at Leeds Carnegie for the last three seasons (Alongside stints in France and Italy). The London born point guard had his best game of the season, soon after his return from injury, scoring 21 points and adding 6 assists against Brixton on 2nd February.

Head Coach Matthew Newby commented, “Jack has been a leader on the team throughout the year. Despite his injury early in the season Jack managed to rehab and play a big part in the team in the second half of the year, including the National Cup Final win. I’m pleased that he’s been given the opportunity to prove himself at International level and wish him good luck for the weekend.”

Check back on Facebook and Twitter this weekend to find out how Jack gets on.

You can see Jack Stannard’s 21 points on his birthday against Brixton Topcats here:

Tim Lewis to Host Coaches Clinic in Leeds

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:52:37 +0100

Leeds Carnegie are pleased to announce that GB Men’s assistant coach, Tim Lewis, will be delivering the 2013 Regional Development Program Workshops hosted at The Arena, Leeds Metropolitan University on the 16th June. The workshop is part of England Basketball’s Talent Plan 2013-17.

Tim Lewis, currently Head Coach of the German Pro-B team Weissenhorn Youngstars, brings with him a wealth of experience at both senior and junior level. Lewis has been the GB U20 Head Coach and the Director of Basketball at BBL side, Sheffield Sharks.

The theme of the workshop is “Shooting – technique and development” and will include on court demonstration with players from the U15 regional squads. The workshop will show all coaches how to improve shooting through practice with appropriate drills for their teams at U13, U15 and U17 levels, both boys and girls.

Director of Basketball at Leeds Carnegie added, “This is a fantastic and rare opportunity for the regions’ coaches to learn from a coach like Tim Lewis, who has had a wide range of experiences. Having had the opportunity to work with Tim in the GB U20’s, I feel it is important that coaches take the chance to observe and use the opportunity to ask questions to develop their own knowledge for development of the young talent coming through the GB performance pathway.”

National league, local league club coaches and school teachers are all welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop fee is £20 for the day. Coaches and teachers wishing to attend should contact Brian Aldred on 0114 2841064 with their Credit/Debit card details to confirm their place. All coaches will need to bring their own lunch.

More details on the Regional Development Program and Workshop content is available from Vladan Dragosavac on 07867 497577, or vladandragosavac@basketballgb.com

Q & A with Henry Wilkins

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 12:37:53 +0100

After the huge news of Henry Wilkins signing a two-year professional contract in Denmark, we sat down with him and asked him a few questions (Thanks to everyone that submitted questions). So here goes:

How does it feel to officially be a professional basketball player?

I’m not sure yet! Still early days, however its definitely a cool feeling to gain some recognition for years of hard work. I feel like every summer I’ve had some sort of major setback, this contract validates me continuing to work hard and believe in myself throughout.

When do you fly out to join the team? How are you going to prepare before you leave?

I’ll be leaving for pre-season early in August. The team has me on a training programme at the moment. I’ll aim to gain some weight and strength through my work in the weight room. And I’m just going to work on my game every day to put myself in the best position to make an impact out there!

What process did you go through when you were young? What team did you start out at to develop into the player you are now?

I started playing national league when I was 11 for Kingston Wildcats. I played there for 3 years under some great coaches. Then my brother and I decided to make a step up in competition so joined the London Towers, where I played for 2 seasons.

Then for my time at under 18s I played for London United, this was huge for my development. Coach Jack Majewski has definitely had the biggest influence in making me the player I am today. We travelled all over europe playing against some top clubs in France, Spain, Poland and Lithuania. This gave me an idea of what I needed to do to get myself to the level of those teams. We also played in EBL division 4 as a predominantly under 18s team which really helped me prepare for my senior career.

How has Leeds Carnegie helped in your development?

Playing for Leeds Carnegie has helped my development in many ways. I have learned a lot from my coaches. From assistants Pedro Garcia Rosado in my first year and Bob Muir over all 3 years, to head coach Matt Newby who has had a big influence on me as a player, hugely helping my development. James Dugdale the strength and conditioning coach has also helped me to grow as an athlete. I’ve had a great coaching staff throughout my time in Leeds who I feel have prepared me well.

Leeds Carnegie has also helped me in that it was my first taste of what a professional schedule will be like, playing 2 or 3 games a week in the regular season, training every day etc.

Also I have had a chance to play with some really good players over the last 3 years who have helped me improve, many of whom have gone on to play professionally abroad or in the UK.

What is the highlight of your career so far? And what is your main source of motivation?

That’s a tough one! Winning the cup final this season has got to be up there though. Winning a national title in my final season for Leeds was definitely a great achievement, and to win in such a crazy fashion just added to it!

My motivation comes from a few places I think. Firstly I’m a super competitive person, so I’ll want to win in whatever I do. Then for as long as I can remember its been my dream to be a professional basketball player, so that’s always motivated me to carry on. I also have two older brothers who are both real good athletes, so ultimately I think I just want to be better than them!

If you could take one thing with you to Denmark from Leeds, what would it be?

Probably the suit that Bob Muir wore in the cup final, it was a thing of beauty. Either that or the Chicken Chimichangas from LS6.

How do you keep your hair so quiffed during games?

A combination of tremendous genetics and hours upons hours of preparation. One day I hope I’ll look like Jack Stannard

Wilkins Signs Pro Contract in Denmark

Fri, 31 May 2013 21:06:11 +0100

Photo by Sam Stafford

Leeds Carnegie are pleased to confirm that sharp shooting guard Henry Wilkins has just signed a two-year professional contract for Team FOG Naestved.

After playing with Leeds Carnegie for the last three seasons, Henry has been developing himself into one of the best guards in the league. Well known for his heroics in the National Cup Final, to bring Leeds back from a 12 point deficit in the last two and a half minutes of the game (See below), Wilkins continued to provide clutch plays throughout the season. Renowned for his athleticism and shooting ability, Henry was a fan favourite amongst the Leeds fans.

Henry Wilkins commented, “I look forward to getting my first overseas experience with basketball and am excited to get a chance in Denmark to work hard and develop my game further. It has always been a goal of mine to move into the professional game after my time at Leeds Carnegie, Team FOG Naestved are giving me that opportunity and I’m excited to get out there and prove myself.”

The team has signed him on a two-year contract with the goal of regaining their status as one of the best teams in Denmark. Henry’s size, athleticism and skill will give him an opportunity to play at the shooting guard and small forward positions. The Director of Team FOG Naestved commented, “With Henry Wilkins we have secured a good player with potential for further development and a player who wants to work hard to develop, so we are very satisfied. “

Leeds Carnegie Head Coach Matthew Newby commented, “Henry has always had the athleticism and skill to move into the professional domain, added to that the maturity that he has gained this season, I think he will go far in Denmark. He has been key for us in all three of his seasons and will be missed, but to see your players move onto professional careers in basketball is always an aspiration. I have always tried to prepare players for the next level, with the likes of Zoltan Supola, Marek Koltun and Albert Margai already moving onto professional contracts, so I am really pleased that he can be added to that list.”

For more from Team FOG Naestved please follow this Link

So as Henry prepares himself for the 2013/14 season, we can relive that unbelievable two and a half minutes that saw Leeds Carnegie secure the National Cup title in January:

Daniel Evans Makes England U16 Long Squad

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:59:04 +0100

Carnegie U16 and Division One Men’s player Daniel Evans (16) has been selected for the England long squad ahead of this summer’s European Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The squad of 19 are due in training camp on the 20th June in Bristol, with Bristol Academy Flyers’ Head Coach Andreas Kapoulas, to prepare for the Championships in August.

The training camp will last four days, finishing off with an international friendly against the Swedish national team. Danny Evans said, “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to represent my country. I hope I can play to my potential and improve throughout the summer to ensure selection for the European Championship. I would like to thank firstly my family for providing constant support throughout the process and also my coaches, particularly Ben Pickles and Matthew Newby, who has given me the opportunity to develop this season on the Division One roster.”

The youngster was placed on the Division One Men’s roster for the 2012-13 season, after showing real potential as he grew through the programme. Head Coach Matthew Newby said “Looking at the progression Danny had made coming through the junior ranks, I felt that it was the right time for him to step into senior basketball and the results have been fantastic. He has immersed himself in our schedule and reaped the rewards for it. Looking at him after a season with the Division One team, I genuinely feel he can make the step to be with us pretty much full time. This is a significant opportunity and if we manage it correctly he will benefit massively.”

Matt Newby continued “Other programmes in the country, specifically Reading and Bristol, who have been bold enough to invest their time and energy in young talent, I feel there is a template we can follow with Daniel. I have been very impressed by the progression of the likes of Luke Nelson & Lewis Champion (Reading Rockets) and Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye & Tamas Okros (Bristol Academy Flyers). Both programmes have given these players opportunities to contribute significant minutes in national league play and their impact, both domestically and within the junior national teams, strongly suggests this philosophy works.”

Daniel Evans has already made it through the first cut of players, “I attended the camp in January and got added to the training squad of 24. After the second training camp in February, the squad got cut to 19 that will stay together until just before the European Championships Division B in Sarajevo, Bosnia in August.” The final squad of 12 will be chosen at the start of August.

Evans has been training since the close of the season at Leeds Carnegie with Matthew Newby (Men’s), Ben Pickles (U16’s) and Strength & Conditioning Coach James Dugdale. “James has been crucial in the improvements that I have made in my game recently. All of the work I have been doing off of the court in the weights room, has played a vital role in performance on the court. This was a key improvement that I had to make and need to continue to make to progress in the sport. I’d like to wish him good luck in his career.”

Check back to www.leedscarnegiebasketball.co.uk for updates on Danny’s progress with the GB team.