We take a look at who has been hot in the BBL during the month of November.
Scoring machines
Having been in second place during the previous month, Chez Marks (Cheshire Phoenix) climbs one place and to the top of our scoring chart after pouring in a superb 24.4 points per game to keep his team in the early hunt for a play-off place. There are only three other players who managed to average over 20 points per game during November, and they were Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles), Orlan Jackman (London Lions) and the former number one chart-topper Jeremy Bell (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders).
Sharp shooters
Two Worcester Wolves team-mates are at the top of our field-goal percentage chart, and are also the only players in the BBL to have shot over 65% during the month. Kalil Irving leads the way, having made 14 of 20 attempts – an excellent 70%. He is followed by veteran forward Stanley Ocitti who is averaging 65.5% for the Wolves. Completing the top five deadliest floor shooters in the BBL for the month are, Mike Baldarelli (Durham Wildcats), Matt Schneck (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders) and Alif Bland (Cheshire Phoenix).
Deadly from downtown
A Worcester Wolves’ player also heads up the list of those who had the hot-hand from long-range, with Lithuanian forward Arnas Kazlauskas in the number one spot after dropping 18 of 35 attempts from downtown. The only other player who has surpassed the 50% milestone is Colin O’Reilly of UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders. The next three players are all veteran forwards who have shown they have range, including Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles),Yorick Williams (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders) and Stan Ocitti (Worcester Wolves). The only other player to shoot over 46% from the perimeter was Micah Williams (One Health Sharks Sheffield)
On the line
There were two players who didn’t miss a single free-throw during November, with Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles) leading the way after making 17 of 17. His former team-mate and ex-Eagles captain Andrew Bridge (One Health Sharks Sheffield) made 10 of 10. Arguably just as impressive are a trio of players making up the top five who have taken more free-throws and only missed once. Chez Marks (Cheshire Phoenix) was 21 of 22, Zaire Taylor (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders) was 20 of 21 and Drew Lasker (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders) who made 19 of 20.
On the glass
Andrew Keister (Durham Wildcats) led the way on the boards during November with 11.4 rebounds per game, narrowly edging out Matt Schneck (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders) and Mike Tuck (One Health Sharks Sheffield) who each grabbed 11.3 per game. Two other players managed to harvest double-figures in rebounds during the month and these were Kareem Maddox (Newcastle Eagles) and Shawn Myers (Cheshire Phoenix).
At the double
Matt Schneck (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders) arguably came up with the most impressive monthly double-double during November, with 17 points and 11.3 rebounds whilst of those who hit double-digits on the glass listed above, only Shawn Myers (Cheshire Phoenix) failed to land a double-double.
Dishing it up
Joe Chapman (Newcastle Eagles) hasn’t been shooting the ball to his usual high standards of late, but he has shown the other side of his still evolving game with an outstanding 6.2 assists per game during November – more than any other player. Just as impressive and arguably even more of an eye-opener, is Great Britain captain Drew Sullivan (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders) in joint second place with a magnificent 5.8 assists per game – not bad for a forward! He is locked with last months’ leader Chavis Holmes (Surrey Heat). Gabe Haskins is in fourth place with 4.7 per game, and Damon Huffman ensures it’s an Eagles backcourt double in the top five with 4.4 assists per game.
Steal merchants
He may have been knocked off top-spot in our assists chart, but Chavis Holmes (Surrey Heat) retains his crown of having the quickest hands in the BBL with a super 3.3 steals per game. Zaire Taylor (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders) is in second place with 2.4 per game and Perry Lawson (London Lions) with 2.2 is the only player to exceed 2.0 steals per game, a number achieved by a glut of BBL participants.
The swatters
It’s been a great time of late for Alif Bland (Cheshire Phoenix) who has found himself in the BBL Team Of The Week, and he still finds himself leading the league in blocked shots with 2.2 per game. Chasing him down are a duo with 1.8 blocks per game, namely Kareem Maddox (Newcastle Eagles) and Frank Holmes (Surrey Heat).
