As excitement builds ahead of the official BBL Player Of The Year and BBL Coach Of The Year awards to be announced later this week, British Basketball League are thrilled to confirm the line-up for the All Defensive Team of the 2010-11 season – as voted for by the Head Coach of each club.
Reggie Jackson (Newcastle Eagles – Pictured)
Having arrived as a replacement for the injured Joe Chapman earlier this year, Reggie Jackson returned to his former club and took Tyneside by storm once again. His performances at both ends of the court have been impressive but his defensive quickness has once again been the stand out element of his game, enabling him to nullify the penetration threat of opposing guards and come up with a plentiful amount of steals.
Demarius Bolds (Prestige Homes MK Lions)
It’s been an impressive first season in the BBL for Demarius Bolds who despite not reaching the play-offs with his team, still impressed opposing coaches around the league with his work rate and tenacity on defence. Quick hands, good positioning and his thirst for rebounds all contribute to his well deserved place in the line-up.
Drew Sullivan (Mersey Tigers)
While the inclusion of the Great Britain captain is perhaps the most predictable, that does not mean anybody has become complacent about the outstanding defensive capabilities of Sullivan. His impressive wing span allows him to specialise in ball denial, something you don’t see on the stat sheet but continues to be critical in the success of each team in which the Londoner plays. Having had his season ended prematurely by injury, everyone is hoping he will be able to make a speedy recovery and get back on the floor as soon as possible,
Kadiri Richard (Newcastle Eagles)
A devastating shot-blocker due to his superb athleticism, Kadiri Richard has grown in importance to the Eagles throughout the season. Having come within a whisker of numerous triple-doubles during the campaign due to his scoring, rebound and blocking ability, Richard is continuing to establish himself as a premier defensive player in the BBL.
Tafari Toney (Mersey Tigers)
Now with his third BBL team in three years, the fact that Tafari Toney has won trophies in each and every season speaks volumes. The center is a formidable figure in the paint and with a long reach in addition to his size, scoring on Toney is not an easy task. He can block shots and crash the defensive boards, things which have helped propel his team to a BBL Championship and BBL Cup double.
