ZAIN POORMAN PROTECTS HIS YARD ON WAY TO DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

When the Aldermore Reading Rockets needed a game-changing stop, a rebound to deny the opposition a second chance opportunity, or to do the intangibles that don’t show on the box score, Zain Poorman was there.

For his efforts, Poorman has been named the first-ever British Championship Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, as voted by the BCB’s head coaches and board.

“All praise be to the most high,” Poorman said. “Been hustling all year round, I’m grateful to be respected as such.

“The work will only continue.”

Being a leader is nothing new to the British forward, as he stepped into the shoes of Lewis Champion at the start of the campaign to become Reading’s team captain.

And he has stepped up at the helm superbly, leading his team, being vocal at both ends and making big plays when needed.

Those big plays came especially on the defensive end, where he averaged 2.5 offensive and 3.7 defensive rebounds – 6.2 overall – and 1.4 steals per game.

Poorman dished out 3.7 assists to go with his 8.9 points per contest, shooting a solid 51 percent from the field.

He will lead his Rockets side to the BCB Playoff final against the Newcastle Knights at Leeds Beckett Arena on Sunday at 3 pm.