MAGICAL MAY-THOMPSON SMILE IS BACK FOR ANOTHER SEASON
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He is the man with the magical smile, the athletic dunks, the shot-blocking ability and defensive
skills to irritate opposing teams. Raheem May-Thompson will be bringing all those skills and more
back to the Trailblazers for a fifth straight season.
The 6’6” forward was born in London who graduated from Stonehill College in 2013. He has played
for Leicester Riders, Cheshire Phoenix and Worcester Wolves in the BBL, as well as having had a
spell in France with Mulhouse Pfastatt.
Last season saw May-Thompson average 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and
0.6 blocks per game and after a season which was plagued by injuries, he says re-signing for the
Blazers was an easy decision:
“It’s always great to be a positive role model to younger kids in the programme and the fans at
Derby are really supportive, so it’s rewarding to play here and hopefully be able to give something
back to a club which has always looked after me.
“Breaking my wrist was a freak accident on the way down from a dunk, but I’ve torn my Achilles
and missed a whole season before so that was probably worse. I’ll be hoping for better luck this
season, but that’s something I always strive to do. Sometimes injuries can’t be prevented but it’s
important to keep on top of the ones you can.
“The team looks a bit different this year. So, it will be interesting to see how I can adapt my game. I
think I’ve always played a fairly unique style that’s a bit quirky and unorthodox, but it still feels good
and as long as I stay fit, there’s no reason to change it.
“The new season and structure look interesting, but our goals remain the same – to hopefully bring
back some silverware, but I’m sure all the teams would like to become the inaugural BCB
champions,” he said.
Head Coach Kyle Henderson says it’s a pleasure to have ‘The Smiler’ back on the squad:
“I’m really looking forward to getting Raheem back on the court and seeing what he can achieve.
He’s a fan favourite who always brings the energy. He’s very experienced and has a vast
knowledge of the game and he played a pivotal role in my development last season too.
“It’s a real pleasure and privilege to be able to retain him, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he
takes on the challenge of BCB basketball. I think the new league will be tougher still, and I’m hoping
Raheem can be a key part of bringing us success as he’s done so often in the past,” he said.
The new season gets underway with the group stage of the BCB Trophy over the weekend of
20th/21st September. Full fixtures will be released shortly, and the Trailblazers will be making further
roster announcements over the next few weeks.
