Giants to build around local talent

Manchester Giants will be building their new BBL team around local talent from Manchester and the UK.

Head Coach Jeff Jones has a busy summer ahead of him, as he prepares to bring top flight basketball back to Manchester for the first time since the Giants collapsed back in 2001.

He told the BBC: “We’re ecstatic about bringing basketball back to the city and it’s good the name is back.

“The city has turned out a lot of young talent so we want to use British-born and Manchester-born players.

“Our initial aim is stability and being competitive on the floor using Manchester kids. Once you have a base and a grounding, you can grow.

“Within three to five years, we should be able to get back in to European basketball.”

Jones’ sons Callum and James have been regulars in the BBL for the past few seasons, after starting their careers at Manchester Magic, while another Manchester lad, Andrew Thomson, has won eight of the last nine pieces of BBL silverware with Mersey Tigers and Newcastle Eagles.