Derbyshire Arrows
2017-18 Record: 9-13 (6th)
Notable Departures: Andreas Lycoudis, Kendal Glapion, Daniel Quinland
Notable Returners: Joseph Baugh, Matt Wilson
Notable Additions: Liam Knapp, Callum McKenzie, Aaron Williams
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 22 Sept vs Ipswich, 29 Sept at All Stars
Division Two First Five: vs All Stars, at Titans, vs Ipswich, vs Liverpool, at Pioneers
A solid campaign for 2017/18 gives the Arrows much to build on, as they hope to return to the top half of the table once again.
Arrows Head Coach Jonny Kelly looked ahead to the season, saying, "The season is always defined by your start and progression throughout the year. We have tried to focus on getting off to a positive start and try to work harder than everybody else."
Coach Kelly continued, "A couple of roster changes and tactical tweaks allow us to be ambitious to improve on our sixth place finish last year. Time is the great revealer of truth and it will be time that tells us whether we have prepared the best way possible."
James Kelly, Derbyshire captain, stated "Both the team and I are looking forward to the season opening. Our division is always competitive with so many strong teams, but we are all excited about rising to the challenge and seeing how far we can push ourselves."
East London All Stars
2017-18 Record: 13-5 (2nd, Division Three South)
Notable Departures: roster information not received
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 29 Sept vs Arrows, 6 Oct at Ipswich
Division Two First Five: vs United, at Arrows, vs Ipswich, at Liverpool, at Myerscough
Surprise newcomers to NBL Division Two, East London All Stars were one of the teams to benefit following the reshuffle of the NBL after Team Northumbria's withdrawal from Division One. The All Stars made a name for themselves last season with a deep run into the post-season, only to be defeated by Myerscough in the Division Three playoff final.
Greenwich Titans
2017-18 Record: 14-4 (1st, Division Three South)
Notable Departures: roster information not received
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 22 Sept vs Sussex, 14 Oct at Pioneers
Division Two First Five: at Warriors, vs Arrows, at Pioneers, vs Westside, at Bears
Another new team to NBL Division Two, the reigning Division Three South champions will have to adjust to the step up as they begin their season with a couple of tough matchups in the Patrons Cup.
Ipswich
2017-18 Record: 7-15 (9th)
Notable Departures: Rory Winter, Jonny Hall
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 22 Sept at Arrows, 6 Oct vs All Stars
Division Two First Five: vs Bears, at All Stars, at Arrows, vs Liverpool, at Myerscough
Ipswich were unlucky to narrowly miss out on a place in the post-season last year, after the smallest of margins affected the playoff race down the stretch. The Suffolk side will have to bounce back from losing guard Rory Winter to Essex Leopards, and big man Jonny Hall who heads stateside to begin his collegiate career.
Liverpool
2017-18 Record: 15-7 (3rd)
Notable Departures: Kaphel Ullet-Waul, Andre Gayle
Notable Returners: Jack Hudson, David Ulph
Notable Additions: Mark Rangeley, Reiss Haggith
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 6 Oct at Myerscough
Division Two First Five: vs Westside, at Bears, vs All Stars, at Ipswich, at Arrows
Narrowly missing out on promotion last season saw Liverpool slip to 3rd place in Division Two, and they are back hungry to achieve their goal of reaching the top flight. Having lost key scorers Kaphel Ulett-Waul and Andre Gayle to Manchester Magic, Liverpool have bolstered their roster with the signing of wings Mark Rangeley and Reiss Haggith.
Haggith joins the Merseyside programme after stints with Lancashire Spinners and Leicester Riders, while Rangeley was with Manchester Giants in the BBL last season and before that was also a member of the Spinners. Rangeley has high ambitions for his new team, "I’m excited to be at Liverpool with some close friends and an exciting squad. There’s one reason I’m here and that’s to help take Liverpool to Division One."
Coach Delme Herriman echoed his forward's thoughts, "I am really excited about the upcoming season, we have lost two main starters but signed some new high level players. After just missing out on promotion last season, we are looking to win the league this year."
New signing Reiss Haggith in pre-season action - Liverpool Basketball Club
London Greenhouse Pioneers
2017-18 Record: 7-15 (7th)
Notable Departures: Mark Reynolds
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 6 Oct at Bears, 14 Oct vs Titans
Division Two First Five: at United, vs Myerscough, at Warriors, vs Titans, vs Arrows
A mixed campaign saw London Greenhouse Pioneers clinch one of the final playoff spots last season, and they will be hoping for similar success and maybe a move towards the top half this year. Having lost key scorer Mark Reynolds to newly promoted Division One side Thames Valley Cavaliers, Coach Predrag Krneta may have his work cut out melding together new pieces on the Pioneers' roster.
London United
2017-18 Record: 9-13 (8th, as Middlesex LTBC)
Notable Departures: roster information not received
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 22 Sept vs Warriors, 29 Sept at Westside
Division Two First Five: at All Stars, vs Pioneers, at Westside, vs Bears, at Liverpool
A merger with Middlesex LTBC sees London United make the step up from NBL Division Four to Division Two and take the reigns of the programme. In what seems to be a mainly off-court merger, there should be no doubts that the United programme will be fiercely competitive on the floor, just as LTBC were, as they move forward under the guidance of Coach Daniel Szatkowski.
London Westside
2017-18 Record: 6-16 (11th)
Notable Departures: roster information not received
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 29 Sept vs United, 6 Oct at Warriors
Division Two First Five: at Liverpool, vs United, at Myerscough, vs Warriors, at Titans
A disappointing 2017/18 campaign saw London Westside very nearly drop out of Division Two, as they just managed to cling to their spot above Team Birmingham Elite and watch the West Midlands side drop a division. Coach Frank Lamptey's side will have their work cut to improve on last seasons record, and we will soon see if they are up to the challenge.
Myerscough College
2017-18 Record: 15-3 (1st, Division Three North)
Notable Departures: Konrad Kantorski, Edoardo Del Cadia, Landry Mayinga
Notable Returners: David Walsh, Mate Okros, Callan Low, Rayon Brown, Tyrell Brown
Notable Additions: Sanmi Fajana, Sam Keita, Corey Samuels, Amari Williams
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 6 Oct vs Liverpool
Division Two First Five: at Pioneers, vs Westside, at Bears, vs All Stars, vs Ipswich
A clean sweep of the silverware available to them in NBL Division Three North, reigning Division Three North, National Shield and Division Three Playoff champions Myerscough College are looking forward to a step up in competition. Losing key pieces in guard Konrad Kantorski and forward Edoardo Del Cadia, the new faces at Myerscough will be highly important. Returning Great Britain Under 18 international Mate Okros is set for an explosive senior year at the college, and he will be joined by fellow junior international Amari Williams, among other top recruits.
Coach Neal Hopkins is embracing the move up a division, "After an incredible season last year, we are really looking forward to the step up to NBL Division Two. We have a young team but I think we will have the potential to push others all the way."
Returning guard Mate Okros is ready for a big season - Myerscough College Basketball Academy
Sussex Bears
2017-18 Record: 7-15 (10th)
Notable Departures: roster information not received
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 22 Sept at Titans, 6 Oct vs Pioneers
Division Two First Five: at Ipswich, vs Liverpool, at United, vs Myerscough, at Westminster
Another team that only just missed out on the playoffs in 2017/18 was Sussex Bears, as the narrow margins at the foot of the Division Two table saw very few wins separate relegation from a spot in the post-season.
The Bears will hope for another good season from Bud Johnston and Joe Carter, but will need valuable contributions up and down their roster to move up the table.
Westminster Warriors
2017-18 Record: 14-8 (5th)
Notable Departures: roster information not received
Notable Returners: roster information not received
Notable Additions: roster information not received
Patrons Cup Pool Games: 22 Sept at United, 6 Oct vs Westside
Division Two First Five: vs Titans, vs Pioneers, at Westside, vs Bears, at All Stars
Unlucky to not finish in the top four last season, Westminster Warriors had to settle for 5th place - but managed to bring home some silverware after their last gasp win the the Patrons Cup final at the University of Worcester Arena.
The London side may again be relying heavily on the services of veteran player-coach Jon Johnson, who had a stellar campaign last year as he was all over the box score, averaging 19.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals.
