Despite following a season of ups and downs for the senior men which saw a cup final appearance, but a lowly league finish, there is a real sense of optimism around the club going into the senior men’s 2019/2020 season. Ipswich will once again fair their trade at NBL Division 2, due to a Basketball England league restructure and will compete in the newly formed South Division.
One change, which was announced at the beginning of the summer, is Ipswich start the season with a new head coach. Adam Robinson makes the step up after a number of seasons within the junior programme and as an assistant at the academy level. Coach Robinson will have the expertise of Rob Schatton alongside him, who will once again be returning as assistant coach, and the two coaches will be looking to improve on a losing National League campaign last season.
“It’s a huge honour to coach this team. Having Rob alongside me is going to make the transition to senior level that much easier and I can’t wait to get started” said Coach Robinson.
Ipswich will once again fair their trade at NBL Division 2 level due a restructuring of the league and will be competing in the south region as well as entering the National Cup at the second round stage.
The big story of the summer has undoubtedly been the signing of former academy starlets Luke Mascall-Wright and Jake Eynon. Both players are graduates of the Ipswich Basketball junior programme and have played at both the academy and the senior level before venturing off to play basketball in the US, Italy and NBL Division 1.
“Of course, it’s exciting to have two players back that the club has very fond memories of. It’s exactly what the club is about and shows off once again what a great pathway we have” said Coach Robinson. “The reality is though is that our team is signing two really good players. They’ve both played overseas and at the higher level of the NBL and I have no doubt they will leave their mark on the team very quickly”
Academy pairing Ethan Price and Ben Winter return for another season at senior level. Price will be looking to build on what was an impressive first year at senior level and having represented Great Britain in the U18 European Championships this summer will be looking to improve even further heading into the new campaign. Ben Winter, who missed much of the previous season due to injury, will be entering his 3rd season of Senior basketball and will be once again looking to establish himself with the team. When fully fit Winter will be looking to show the Ipswich faithful why he is regarded as one of the best young guards in the country.
Last season’s Patron Cup finalists Marvin Isebor, Steve Hemmings and Blake Read are back for another year in Ipswich and alongside an exciting academy intake the team will be looking to re-establish themselves as one of the stronger sides at Division 2 level.
Coach Robinson said; “It’s a new season, with new players and of course a new role for me. I think everyone is excited to get started. It will not be easy, we all know that, but everyone involved is determined to help Ipswich return to the higher levels of this division.”
The senior men will begin their season on Saturday 5th October at 5PM, following the Senior Women’s home opener as part of our opening double-header weekend.