The New House Basketball Club took part in a sponsored shootout this past weekend. The club members managed to score a gigantic total of 1280 baskets in only 1 hour. Over 30 boys and girls between 8 and 17 yers old took part in the event.

The event was part of an attempt by clubs across Kent to score 10,000 baskets in similar shootouts around the county. The event was organised by the Kent Crusaders men’s National League team and some of their players were on hand to support the event on the day.

Crusaders coach Jesse Sazant commented, “This is one of a number of projects that we’re involved in to support community basketball. We are pleased to be involved with New House club and to support their development.”

The Kent Crusaders are pleased to announce that they will be running pre-game clinics for all juniors in the Kent area before every home game this season.

In partnership with Body and Mind, the Crusaders will run coaching sessions starting at 4:45 for Saturday home games and 1:45 for Sunday home games open to players aged 7-18. A number of Crusaders players will be on hand to provide instruction and coaching and to organise competitive games.

The sessions will cost £4 and include the clinic and a ticket to that evening’s home game (normally £2 for juniors).

The first clinic will be this Saturday, 30 September before the Crusaders open their season against the Southampton Trailblazers in the first round of the National Cup.

Team and school discounts are available if pre-booked. Please contact jessesazant@kentcrusaders.co.uk for more information

The Kent Crusaders hosted their second Crusader Cup on Saturday, welcoming local junior and senior players to the events new home at the outdoor courts at Body and Mind and Canterbury High School.

The Trinity team comprised of former Crusaders juniors Stef Kelk, Dayne Loader and Adam Drewry won the open final in overtime to take home the championship. Earlier the Angels (Kalil Irving, Gabriel Mansfield and Alex Hajilou) had been victorious in the under 15 final.

Head Coach Jesse Sazant proclaimed the day a great success stating “This was a great opportunity for us to further develop our links with the community and give our supporters a chance to socialise with our players.”

The Body and Mind Kent Crusaders play their first competitive game of their season at home this Saturday (30th) in a National Cup 1st round tie against league newcomers Southampton Trailblazers.

The Kent side must be careful not to look past Trailblazers, who have made two significant signings in the off-season; Mark Jackson and David Butterworth join Southampton from Solent Stars (EBL1) where the two were top scorers last season and both have played professionally in the BBL.

The game gives Crusaders a chance to unveil their much-changed side before the Division 2 campaign begins in earnest. And Crusaders coach Jesse Sazant is aware of the need for his team to impress early in the season; “We’re anxious to introduce our new team to all of our supporters and to step onto our home court for the first time this season, Trailblazers have some real talent and will present a good test for us.”

The reward for the winning side is a prestigious home tie against National League Division 1 champions Worthing Thunder on Sunday 22 October. Sazant added, “We need to be careful not to look past Southampton but the chance to host Worthing is obviously a great opportunity.”

The game tips-off at Body and Mind, Canterbury High School at 6:30 on Saturday, 30 September with the Crusaders pre-game clinic for all juniors running from 4:45-5:30. There will be an opportunity to meet the Crusaders after the game at the Sports Cafe at Body and Mind.

The Body and Mind Kent Crusaders are pleased to announce that the Crusader Cup 3 on 3 tournament will be returning for a second year. The Crusader Cup will take place on Saturday, 23 September at Body and Mind, Canterbury High School.

The event will run from 12:00-6:00 with registration starting at 11:30. Body and Mind’s outdoor court is a full size court, providing much more space than last year’s event. Teams can pre-register using the attached form or register on the day. Spaces are limited though so confirm your place as soon as possible.

This year we will be running Under 15, Under 18 and Open divisions. There will be EB merchandise for everyone who takes part and prizes for winners of each division, including a cash prize for the winners of the Open division (minimum £75, increased if over 8 open teams register).

This event is an ideal pre-season warm-up for the many teams across Kent gearing up for EBL, CVL, Medway and East Kent competitions. Discounts available for any club that registers 3 or more teams in the same division or 5 or more teams across all divisions.

Kent’s premier men’s team, the Body and Mind Kent Crusaders will be on hand throughout the day, refereeing games and organising the event. This is your first chance to meet the Crusaders new signings before Kent’s opening game of the season, Saturday, 30 September at 6:30 at Body and Mind. Kent will be hosting the Southampton Trailblazers in the first round of the National Cup before starting their Patron’s Cup campaign the following week when they host the Plymouth Raiders II.

Head Coach Jesse Sazant stated, “This event is really important for us. It’s a great way to kick off our first season in Division 2. We’re sure the Kent basketball community will support it well.”

Due to securing a venue so close to the event, we would appreciate you passing this on to anyone who may be interested as soon as possible. Please contact Jesse Sazant on 07765 218457 or jessesazant@kentcrusaders.co.uk for more information.

The Body and Mind Kent Crusaders have bolstered their side ahead of their inaugural EBL Division2 campaign by signing no less than six new players.

The names include former London Towers players Sam Betts and James Acres, Reading Rockets guard Damion Lyons, former junior Angelo Irving alongside Gary Davison and JP Dontoni, who at one time played together, alongside former Crusaders star Robbie parker at Kingston Wildcats.

With three of Crusaders best players leaving to pursue professional basketball careers in Europe (Robbie Parker, Walter Moyse and Ryan Richards) it is hoped that the new recruits will be able to step into the departing players’ shoes.

Davison joins from last seasons league rivals Eastside Eagles. Currently employed as a PE teacher in London, this 6’0 guard will help provide leadership for the Crusaders on the court as well as helping to maintain Crusaders scoring. Davison is a player Crusaders have been interested in for sometime and senior coach Jesse Sazant is delighted to have him stating “Gary will be expected to take on a significant role with us immediately.”

Dontoni, a 6’3 forward who also joins from Eastside is a strong and athletic player who is able to play much bigger than his size in a position traditionally dominated by much taller men.

Lyons, a 6’2 guard will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the side, having been involved in Reading Rocket’s Championship Play-off team last year. Originally from Wales Lyon’s knowledge and versatility will be a great asset throughout the long season ahead.

Irving is a 6′6 forward who played his junior basketball for Sazant with the Crusaders under 16s and 18s before departing for university. He will bring defensive toughness and rebounding to the squad.

Sam Betts, a 22 year old guard/forward from Maidstone, joins Crusaders from London Towers. Betts played junior basketball for the East London Royals, where he reached the U16’s National Championship before he moved on to the London Towers BBL team. Unfortunately Betts was unable to gain much time on the court with the elite London outfit and now looks to improve his game by playing for Crusaders.

James Acres, a one time Canterbury Jazz (which later became the Crusaders) U18’s MVP also joins from London Towers. Acres has strong Crusaders connections as his father was formally a coach with the junior Canterbury team. Acres played against Crusaders for Towers second team last year and impressed with his energy levels and intensity. “James has shown a real dedication to improving his game and should make a real impact with us,” said Sazant.

“James, Sam and Angelo are key additions to the team, we’re committed to developing Kent players and bringing back three Kent juniors is a big plus for us, they will also give us greater depth and create competition for playing time on our squad”.

The Kent Crusaders promotion winning season was capped off this week as the club scooped awards from England basketball for both best player and best coach.
Head coach Jesse Sazant and star forward Walter Moyse received their awards in recognition of their efforts in gaining promotion for Crusaders over a long and arduous season.

Sazant, a former Canadian University coach, who only became Crusaders head coach two seasons ago has since seen his squad grow from strength to strength. Narrowly missing out on promotion in his first season with East Kent his talents were noticed by England Basketball, who made him assistant coach of the England under 16’s squad. Sazant said his award was a: “reflection of the hard work the players have put in during the last season.

Moyse a 6′10 former Canadian university forward joined Crusaders purely by chance when he came to Britain to train to become a teacher. However since joining the club Moyse’s impact on the squad has been enormous, providing Crusaders with their first genuine star post player. Moyse said the award came completely unexpectedly, “It feels great to win the award especially considering it wasn’t something I was out to get when I first came here.”

Moyse also said that the fact his coach came from a similar basketball background to his own, having both cut their teeth in the Canadian leagues. “Jesse’s approach to the game shares the same philosophy as my last coach stop the opposition scoring and your points will look after themselves.” He added “If anything coach back home was a lot louder.” This may come as something of a surprise to anyone familiar with the Kent coach’s ‘animated’ brand of coaching.

Throughout the whole season Moyse was one of the clubs most consistent performers racking up 18 points per game and leading the team for rebounds. A veteran campaigner in the tough Canadian university leagues Walter was able to bring a wealth of talent and experience to his side. Sazant praised Moyse for greater depth he had brought to the side. “Walter is very deserving of the award, he brings a number of intangibles to the side and these mark him out as truly on of the best players in our league.”

The East Kent Crusaders basketball team have achieved promotion to Division 2 of the EBL, giving fans of the sport across the county reason to celebrate.

Promotion to the second tier of English basketball caps off a remarkable season for the Canterbury based team; finishing champions of their division and runners up in the National Shield.

The Crusaders dominated their division from day one and reeled off an impressive string of back-to-back victories, which only came to an end as the fixtures piled up at the end of the season. The Crusaders have been well supported both at home and away by a growing number of fans.

The Crusaders promotion case was also helped by their appearance in the final of the National Shield competition where despite losing on the day to Team Northumbria they were by far the most vocally supported team, despite the fact that the majority of the Crusaders fans had travelled well over 200 miles to see the match.

Off the court, East Kent received Clubmark status from England Basketball in recognition of the clubs work in the local community teaching basketball to youngsters.

Coach Jesse Sazant, reacting to the news, said promotion was “a just reward for all the hard work the players, directors, volunteers and supporters have put in this season.”

Sazant added, “We are not simply going to make up the numbers, we are aiming to put together a squad to challenge at the top of the division.”

To this end the Sazant has declared his intent to sign between four to six players with “major announcements to do with club development expected soon.”

The EBL Division 2 is a 12 team National League, unlike the regional division 3, with the Crusaders facing stiff competition from the likes of the Nottingham Knights (relegated from division 1) and WNC Mansfield Express (winners of the Division 2 play-off championship.) With trips to venues such as Liverpool looking set to vastly increase the player’s travel commitments.

Crusaders forward Walter Moyse, voted Crusaders MVP this season, said he had enjoyed his season with the Kent side saying: “It was great to help the team fulfil its ambition of promotion, Crusaders have a great group of players and they definitely helped me settle in here. They’re a great group of guys to play and train with.”

Crusaders guard Jeff Wadey, a player with Crusader since the clubs foundation two years ago said the clubs promotion was, “ Great achievement for a team that started only two years ago.”

Club President Anthony Sait said: I am very proud of the team promotion is a great achievement. The task now is to find our feet in Division 2 next season and then win it the year after. I’m fully confident that with Jesse coaching the team we can do just that.”

EBL Division 2 2006-07: Aston Athletics, Bristol Academy (was Filton, newly promoted), Derby Trailblazers, Leicester Warriors, Liverpool, NEWI Nets, Northampton Neptunes, Nottingham Wildcats (relegated from Division 1), Plymouth Raiders II, Tamar Valley Cannons, WNC Mansfield Express (Division 2 play-off champions and league runners-up), East Kent Crusaders