Garbelotto – Hesson growing to be one of league’s best

Mersey coach Tony Garbelotto believes his young British forward Myles Hesson is turning in to one of the best players in the BBL.

Hesson, 21, led the Tigers with 26 points in their incredible 102-97 overtime victory over Cheshire Jets, and Garbelotto was that keen to ensure Hesson’s impact, that he picked up a technical foul after just 30 seconds of that game.

Garbelotto said: “It was fully justified, all I ask is that Myles Hesson be treated like any other starting impact player in this league.

“Hesson really grew up this weekend and is not just the best young British player in the league, he is proving he is one of the best full stop.”

Unfortunately for Hesson and the Tigers, they couldn’t back up with victory at Worcester on Saturday, going down 93-84, but Garbelotto remained happy with their weekend’s work.

He added: “I felt we really grew up this weekend, especially our younger players. We could have been blown out by Worcester again, but we stuck with it. For most of the game we had three young British guys, (Devan) Bailey, Hesson and (James) Griffiths on the floor against their three Americans.”

Hesson played in the BBL last season for Essex Pirates, catching the eye of many in the league, before being hampered by an ankle injury, which restricted him to 11 appearances.

He has averaged 16.8 points per game in the BBL in 2011/12, and last weekend became the first Tigers player to reach 100 points this season.