The Medway Park Crusaders Basketball Club has announced that they’re bringing back vice Captain Damian Lyons. Lyons is in his fourth season with the club, a stint that has seen him not only excel on the court but also as a coach at the Crusaders Academy at Canterbury High School.
“Damian really has been Mr Crusader the last few years”, says club president Jesse Sazant, ´”His commitment and dedication is second to none, both as a player and contributing to the club.
“Damian’s game has developed and expanded consistently over his 3 years at Crusaders. He is a consistent scorer and a tenacious defender. Having him back means we know we’ve got someone who can deal with the star player for all our opponents this season, regardless of what position they play.”
Lyons is a tough-nosed guard, who puts the team before himself. According to head coach Mads Olesen Lyons didn’t miss a practice or a game through injury or sickness last season. “Damian would show up for practice even if he could sometimes hardly stand up, and he’s given everything he had to give to win ballgames. Over the last few years Damian has defended every kind of player, from 6’6 American import players to 5’10 quick guards, and he has gotten under the skin of all of them, helping us win big games.”
“Damian is just a flat out gym rat”, says Olesen. “He started coming into the gym in the mornings by himself, and soon after others began to join him. He worked hard on his game, and it really shows on his career stats”. Lyons has played 90 games for the club and leads the club in career assists along with Jeff Wadey, both at 143, and he’s second in career free throws with 143.
His time in the gym didn’t just help himself, it has inspired others to follow his lead, says Olesen: “Damian has really been an inspiration to a lot of players with his work ethic, coming in at 7 am to improve as a player. Two seasons ago several other men’s players began to join him in the mornings, and this spring some of the most talented under 16’s and 18’s have started doing morning workouts as well, hoping to take their games to the next level, just like Damian.”
Crusaders’ Captain Sam Betts is pleased to have Lyons back on the team: “He’s a great addition to the team both on and off the court, both with the countless hours he spends coaching for the club and his play on the court. Damian is a great player to have and he’s the hardest working basketball player I have ever met. He is a relentless competitor which makes him an outstanding player. I look forward to another year with D especially watching him getting under the other teams skin.”
“I’m really pleased to have signed up for my fourth year with the Crusaders”, says Damian Lyons, “It’s an exciting time to be a Crusader with the Medway Park sponsorship and the move to the new facility. Last year saw the team make real progress and I’m confident we can make a strong push for promotion this season. I look forward to taking on more of a leadership role this season and working with Sam and the coaching staff to help push the team forward.”
Lyons will continue his role as a coach at the Crusaders Academy at Canterbury High, and in this role Lyons has helped the club too, says Sazant: “Damian did a great job helping to develop the academy at Canterbury High so I’m thrilled that he’s part of the coaching staff as the academy moves forward. He has a real understanding of the focus and hard work needed to succeed and gets it across to the players.”
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