STORM LEGENDS DEPART: NELSON-HENRY WAVES GOODBYE; BURNELL TO FOLLOW

For Hemel Storm’s Darien Nelson-Henry, it was the perfect send-off.

A team-high 23 points along with nine rebounds, a place in the BCB Team of the Week, and, most importantly of all, Hemel bagged an 89-86 home win over the Yorkshire Dragons in dramatic fashion.

But for Nelson-Henry, who is unavailable for their final game of the season on Saturday against the Derby Trailblazers, it marked his final game in the Storm jersey and what a way to sign off.

“I would like to give a massive thank you to everyone involved with the Hemel Storm,” Nelson-Henry said.

“From the management to the volunteers, you all made sure that things ran smoothly and that we, as players, were always taken care of.

“Thank you to the coaches that have led our club to a number of titles in my time here. Thank you to my team-mates, who made basketball fun and always supported me and my family and friends.

“And finally, thank you to the fans, who truly made Hemel a home away from home. I was lucky to have so many great people around – thank you for everything.”

From the University of Pennsylvania, Nelson-Henry enjoyed a decorated and unforgettable career in the United Kingdom. He joined British Basketball League side (now Super League Basketball) Leicester Riders following spells in Austria and Poland, and made an immediate impact.

He led the Riders to four trophies and was personally included in the Team of the Season twice in his near four years at the club. In his final season with Leicester, he averaged 12.2 points on 69 percent shooting and 7.8 rebounds per game.

He called time on his career before coming out of retirement and joining the Storm, midway through the 2023-24 season, leading Hemel to an NBL Division 1 playoff title, and he added the league crown the following season. In his final season as a player, Nelson-Henry has averaged 17.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and one block per game, shooting 64.8 percent from the field.

Nelson-Henry has now transitioned to an off-court role, having begun a lead commercial role with the SLB-side London Lions back in February.

Another swansong in store ahead of Derby clash 

With Hemel missing the boat for the playoffs, Saturday’s final game of the season against the Trailblazers will see club legend Jack Burnell sailing off into the sunset.

However, Burnell left the fans who had watched him every weekend with a parting gift in Saturday’s game over the Dragons, and that was a game-winning three-pointer that sealed the win.

A certified three-point marksman, and how typical it was that one of his final acts as a Storm player was to drill a winner from beyond the arc.

Burnell joined the Storm’s under-18 team in 2013 and, since then, has been a mainstay in the programme and has played 10 seasons at the senior level, winning seven trophies, with four of them coming in the unprecedented 2022-23 NBL Division 1 campaign, where Hemel went a flawless 41-0 in all competitions.

“Walking away after 15 years with Hemel Storm is incredibly emotional,” Burnell said. “From joining as a junior to spending the last decade with the senior team, this club has shaped so much of who I am - both on and off the court.

 “I feel so lucky to have captained the team during this journey, to have shared the court with close friends, and to have learned from some of the best coaches I could have asked for. 

“Together, we’ve created memories that will stay with me forever - none more special than the undefeated season in 2022/23, helping bring seven trophies to the club since 2018, and even seeing fans wearing my jersey and name - something I never took for granted.

“I’m also incredibly proud to have played a part in building the club’s community programme, helping bring basketball to the next generation. 

“Seeing that grow - and having 170 kids at one of our summer camps in 2023 - was a real highlight for me and something that means just as much as anything we achieved on the court.

 “I’m grateful to all my teammates over the years - those I’ve shared battles with, learned from, and built lifelong friendships with - as well as the coaches, staff, and fans who have supported us every step of the way.

“This isn’t goodbye, just the end of another chapter. Hemel Storm will always be home.”

Quotes taken by Callum Humphrey of Hemel Storm (stormbasketball.net)