The new basketball season gets underway on Sunday, as Derby Trailblazers make the short trip to
Nottingham Hoods for their opening game in the BCB Trophy. The expanded competition will
feature the fourteen BCB clubs, plus six invited sides, with Falkirk Fury featuring in Derby’s group,
alongside Newcastle Knights, Yorkshire Dragons and the Hoods.
The Trailblazers have been busy over the summer, bringing in some exciting new signings. Among
them is 6’4” wing Evan Walshe, who was a member of the England 3×3 squad which won a Gold
Medal at the Commonwealth Games this summer.
His impressive basketball journey includes standout collegiate performances in the NCAA,
professional stints in Germany and Spain, and lifting domestic silverware as a treble winner with
the Leicester Riders. Renowned for his explosive scoring, perimeter lockdown defence, and
winning mentality, Walshe adds immediate leadership, intensity, and versatility to Derby’s roster.
Another player with BBL/SLB experience is Rodney Glasgow Jr., who arrives in Derby with a
reputation as a consummate floor general who has undertaken leadership roles with both
Newcastle Eagles and Sheffield Sharks.
A British passport holder, the American guard was a standout collegiate talent at the Virginia
Military Institute (VMI), orchestrating one of the most prolific NCAA Division I offences of all time.
He then embarked on a decorated professional career which has spanned Switzerland, Belgium,
Slovakia, and the UK.
Another new face is American forward Kendrick Gilbert, who brings high-level collegiate
experience from NCAA Division II (University of Nebraska at Kearney) and the College of Southern
Nevada. Known for his explosive athleticism, two-way versatility and elite finishing around the rim.
He looks set to be a massive presence on both ends of the floor.
Returning players include the Supporters’ Player of the Season Charlie Brown, Malcolm Smith,
Conner Washington, Raheem May-Thompson, Rob Marsden, Jai Pathmarajah and Casey Burr.
Brown has represented the Trailblazers in every age group from minis to senior men and his pass-
first ethos makes him the epitome of a traditional point guard. Over the past decade, Smith has
established himself as one of the most prolific, reliable and respected players in the league and
has consistently led from the front, delivering silverware and claiming multiple MVP honours.
This season’s roster also features plenty of veteran leadership. Washington brings an elite
pedigree to the backcourt, having captured 15 major titles during his tenure with the Leicester
Riders, alongside European competition and Great Britain senior international caps, while May-
Thompson is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, who can dunk and block shots for fun.
Marsden brings further veteran leadership and rebounding power to the roster, while Pathmarajah
brings relentless energy, poise under pressure and elite playmaking back to the court and exciting
youngster Casey Burr returns, bringing a true blue-collar attitude, tremendous energy, grit and
determination to his play at both ends of the court.
Head Coach Kyle Henderson is excited as he looks ahead to the new season.
“The expansion of the Trophy to include six invited teams is good for British Basketball, especially
as it includes teams from Scotland and Wales to make it an undeniably British competition. We
have Falkirk in our group, and they did really well as an invited team in the Trophy last season.
“I also think it’s good that our season gets underway against Nottingham Hoods, because that local
rivalry always adds another dimension to things and last season they did really well against us.
They played a very up-tempo style, and we struggled to counter that on any occasion we played
them, so I’m hoping we can do better this season.
“They’ve changed their coach, and they have a lot of new players, including a completely new set of
overseas players, so it’s definitely going to be an interesting match-up. I suspect their style of play
will be significantly different as they’ve only brought four guys back from last season, but we’ve got
a point to prove, and we want to set the year off in a positive manner.
“I’m delighted we’ve got the core of last season’s team back, with the exception of Mo Walker,
who’s joined Reading Rockets. That makes it a lot easier for coaches because it means we’re
heading into the new season with an already established cohesion. Guys get on with each other
and respect each other, and I think the people we’ve added will give us an exciting team.
“We’ve also brought in a familiar face to join the coaching department in Jake Brown. He’s going to
be my assistant, and he’s also heading up the Academy, and he’s a very statistical and analytical
minded person, whereas I’m much more about the passion and the enthusiasm, so I think it will be
a good combination on the sidelines,” he said.
The new season gets underway at 2 pm on Sunday, as the Trailblazers head to Harvey
Hadden Stadium to take on local rivals Nottingham Hoods.
