LIAM JEFFERSON READY FOR OAKLANDS TO TAKE NEXT STEP
By John Hobbs
The Oaklands Wolves are entering an important new chapter, with the first stage being the BCB Trophy, where head coach Liam Jefferson believes it will provide a strong foundation for the season ahead.
The newly promoted National Basketball League, Division 1 side enter the Trophy looking to provide a valuable benchmark for a developing roster, giving young players from their EABL roster the opportunity to test themselves against elite competition.
Oaklands are housed in the Midlands group, alongside Hemel Storm, Milton Keynes Breakers, Loughborough Riders and the holders City of Birmingham Rockets.
“We’re not setting any goals, but at the same time, we want our group of young British players to compete against well-established teams,” said Jefferson, fresh off leading Great Britain’s U16 side to seventh at the recently held FIBA U16 EuroBasket, Division B in North Macedonia.
Alongside that competitiveness, Oaklands is placing a major emphasis on long-term player development, with their 12-man squad including four academy players from the EABL, ensuring the heartbeat of Jefferson’s programme remains firmly integrated into the senior team and creates a pathway for emerging talent.
“Alongside our returning players and new signings, we've been able to bring in some younger players who still have potential and upside and hopefully have them grow with us and the programme, and that can only be good for British basketball,” Jefferson explained.
With eager young players, the veterans look to make their mark
The recruitment strategy leans into youth and longevity, with that being Jefferson’s primary focus, but he blends that with a core group of returning stars and veterans.
His aim is not simply to strengthen the squad for one season, but to build a core that can grow together over three to five years, with several important pieces already in place.
Playoff MVP Kane Daley returns after an outstanding Division Two final in which he exploded for 43 points against the Gloucester City Kings, while Reis Pinnock has also been retained after spending a chunk of his career with Loughborough and the Aldermore Reading Rockets.
The Wolves are joined by new additions Milo Wallace, from Loughborough and Danny Evans from the Worthing Thunder, strengthening a roster designed to combine proven production with future potential.
“I'm excited about seeing how the roster can really come together now that we've added those kind of new two or three guys to the team.,” Jefferson said.
“You always want to add, but the fact we have retained a lot from last season speaks volumes, as they know what we’re trying to build here. At the end of the day, we want to make sure that there was always an outlet for our academy players, as part of the program. We always had four academy players within our 12 on any game day, and it won’t change this season.
“They have the opportunity to play on a Wednesday in the EABL and on a weekend; not only are they getting tested and challenged against senior players, but they'll also be able to go against some of the best BCB teams. That aligns with our ethos of developing players in the local area.”
The BCB Trophy invitation represents more than an opportunity to play additional games. It is a chance to accelerate the programme’s development by exposing its players to a higher standard of competition and testing whether Oaklands is ready for the next step.
