British Championship Basketball (2025-2026)
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British Championship Basketball 2025-26
Cup Winner: City of Birmingham Rockets
Coach of the Year: Mark Elderkin
League PlayOff Cup PlayOff
British Championship Basketball Final: Team Newcastle University - Reading Rockets 93-83 Newcastle (Mark Elderkin): Bradley Dean 20, Messiah Jones 18, Jaron Thames 14, Sam Trunley 30, Mekhi Hendry 5, Theo Riley 2, Robert Reed 0, Maximillian Matthews 4, Noah Saa 0, Scott Angus 0, Jason Soodeen 0, Will Neighbour 0 Cup Final: City of Birmingham Rockets - Yorkshire Dragons 85-66 Birmingham R.: Ronald Blain 16, Philip Basioudis 2, Eric Donaldson 19, Lucas McGregor 7, Faaris Mughal 0, Martyn Gayle 3, Thomas Grayling 0, Orlan Jackman 15, Zack Powell 18, Larry Duru 1, Luke Okosieme 4 Standings 2025-26
- All teams qualified to the play-offs Stats Leaders 2025-26
PPG
RPG
APG
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BPG
 Newcastle Player of the Week: Round 26 (RS)  Yorkshire D. British Championship Basketball Final  Newcastle clinch BCB title (Photo: Newcastle)  Birmingham Rockets Claim Inaugural BCB Trophy with Commanding 85-66 Win Over Yorkshire Dragons (Pho
Arrived: Messiah Jones (Towson University), Jaron Thames (Bright DCU St.Vincents Dublin), Bradley Dean (The University of Virginia's College at Wise), Sam Trunley (Case Western Reserve University), Miles Felletti-O'Donnell (Tipp Talons)
Average Height: 195.4 cm (6'4.9'')
Average Age: 25.6
 Trunley's 30-point masterclass and Jones' 20 rebounds power Newcastle Knights to inaugural BCB Playoff title-May 4, 2026
Newcastle Knights captured the inaugural British Championship Basketball Playoff championship on Sunday, storming back from a 10-point deficit before pulling away in a decisive fourth quarter to beat league champions Aldermore Reading Rockets 93-83 at Leeds Beckett Arena. Sam Trunley (190-G, college: CWRU) led all scorers with 30 points to earn the Finals MVP award — collecting the trophy on one leg after sustaining an ankle injury in the fourth quarter that cut short his afternoon. Bradley Dean (188-G-2000, college: UVA Wise) added 20 points, while Messiah Jones (198-F-1999, college: Towson) was a force of nature on the glass with a monstrous 20 rebounds to go with 18 points. BCB Player of the Year Jaron Thames (198-G/F, college: MWSU) played all 40 minutes and contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. The game was an instant classic. Reading, coached by Coach of the Year Samit Nuruzade, started the brighter of the two sides, with Victor Olarerin (188-G-1999) pouring in 13 first-quarter points on his way to a game-high 25 as the Rockets built a 10-point lead. Jax Bouknight (185-G-2002, college: Flagler) added 20 for Reading, and it appeared the league champions were on course to complete the domestic double. But Newcastle clawed their way back, and the contest was deadlocked at 68-68 heading into the fourth quarter. That's when the Knights made their move. They established a 10-point cushion with 2:22 remaining as Reading's challenge crumbled — Olarerin and standout guard Elias Poorman (193-G-2000, college: Midland CC) both fouled out in the final period, robbing the Rockets of their two most influential players down the stretch. Theo Riley put an emphatic stamp on the victory with a two-handed dunk with 29 seconds left that pushed the margin to 89-81 and sent the Newcastle contingent into raptures. The Knights added free throws to close out the 93-83 triumph. The result means the BCB's historic inaugural season ends with three trophies shared among three different clubs — Birmingham Rockets won the BCB Trophy in March, Reading claimed the League Championship as regular-season winners, and Newcastle seized the Playoff crown. It is a fitting conclusion to a debut campaign that exceeded expectations for Britain's rebranded second-tier professional league. For Reading, the defeat denies them a domestic double, but their season remains a remarkable success. Nuruzade's side dominated the regular season to win the league title and entered the playoffs as overwhelming favorites having won a treble (National Cup, KitKing Trophy, Playoffs) in the final NBL Division One season in 2024-25. For Newcastle, the jubilation was uncontainable. A team that had pushed the boundaries all season long — including a dramatic 122-120 BCB Trophy loss to Yorkshire Dragons decided by a buzzer-beating dunk — finally claimed the silverware their performances deserved. The BCB season concludes next Sunday with the All-Star Game in Worthing. Eurobasket.com All-British BCB Awards 2026-May 4, 2026
 The standout American swingman Jaron Thames was selected as the Player of the Year of the championship-winning runner-up team champion team the Newcastle Knights.
He graduated from the MWSU two years ago.
Thames received multiple other awards, was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year, Import Player of the Year, Guard of the Year, and was chosen to the First Team, Imports Team and Defensive Team.
His excellent performance assisted his team in beating Reading Rockets 93 to 83 in the final.
Thames averaged almost 8 rebounds per game in the league.
He was the Player of the Week honoree four times during the 25 26 campaign.
Thames led the BCB in points per game with over 25.
He has totalled 22 games of 20 or more points on the year and recorded 30 or more points in 9 games.
Thames registered double-doubles in 7 games at the event.
His 41 points against Essex Rebels 2nd team were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
8 out of the top 10 highest scorers in the league are alumni of US colleges.
The standout American forward Messiah Jones earned the Finals MVP of the championship-winning the Newcastle Knights.
He Is Towson alumni from 2025.
Jones collected multiple other honors, picked up the Forward of the Year, and was named to the First Team, Imports Team and Defensive Team.
His excellent performance assisted his team in beating Reading Rockets 93 to 83 in the final.
Jones had almost 13 points and 9 rebounds per game that season in the league.
He has totalled 2 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 8 games on the year.
Jones' 20 points against Bristol AF 2 were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
The standout American guard Bradley Dean earned a spot in the First Team of the championship-winning the Newcastle Knights.
He Is ex-UVA Wise from 2025.
Dean received multiple other awards, was voted to the Imports Team and Defensive Team.
His excellent performance assisted his team in beating Reading Rockets 93 to 83 in the final.
Dean received Player of the Week award in the league.
His exceptional play earned him the fifth spot in points per game, boasting an impressive average of over 21.
Dean also logged almost 6 assists per game over the season in the league.
He has totalled 14 games of 20 or more points on the year and registered 30 or more points in 5 games.
Dean notched double-doubles in 5 games at the event.
His 40 points against the Yorkshire Dragons were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
8 out of the top 10 highest scorers in the league are alumni of US colleges.
Among many awards he was selected as the All-SAC Player of the Year back in 2023 during his college time.
He was also selected to the All-SAC First Team between 2023 and 2025.
Dean was selected to the NABC Division II All-Southeast District Second Team as well as the All-Tournament Team back in 2023.
Bryce Johnson, American forward from the Nottingham Hoods, was selected to the First Team at the British Championship Basketball.
He Is alumni of the Sacred Heart from 2025.
Johnson collected multiple other honors, was chosen to the Imports Team and Defensive Team.
He orchestrated his way to the second spot in rebounds per game, showcasing a dazzling average of over 10.
Johnson also averaged almost 18 points per game in the league.
He has totalled 10 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 15 games on the year.
Johnson's 26 points against Hemel Storm were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards Johnson's team made it to the NEC Tournament Semifinals in 2021 and 2023.
Miles Brown, from the Essex Rebels 2nd team, was named to the First Team of British Championship Basketball.
He conducted his way to the second position in averaging a commendable almost 25 points per game and fifth in assists per game, delivering a over 6 average.
Brown has totalled 15 games of 20 or more points on the year and registered 30 or more points in 4 games.
He had double-doubles in 4 games at the event.
Brown's 50 points against Newcastle were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
8 out of the top 10 highest scorers in the league are alumni of US colleges.
Player of the Year:  Finals MVP: Defensive Player of the Year: Domestic Player of the Year:  Import Player of the Year: Bosman Player of the Year:  Guard of the Year: Forward of the Year: Center of the Year: Coach of the Year:  Eurobasket.com British BCB First Team 2026 Thames  Dean  Jones  Johnson  Brown First Team Eurobasket.com British BCB Second Team 2026  Olarerin  Trunley  Blain  Wilson  Okosieme Second Team   Eurobasket.com British BCB Third Team 2026  Williams  Spencer Ulph  Donaldson  Neighbour Third Team Eurobasket.com British BCB Honorable Mention 2026  Powell  Lewis  Bouknight  Braster  Creek  Manning  Nsangu  Hopkins Honorable Mention   Eurobasket.com British BCB All-Domestic Players Team 2026 Olarerin Spencer Wilson Ulph Okosieme All-Domestic Players Team Eurobasket.com British BCB All-Imports Team 2026 Thames Dean Jones Johnson Blain All-Imports Team Eurobasket.com British BCB All-Defensive Team 2026 Thames Dean Jones Johnson Okosieme All-Defensive Team *The awards were created by Eurobasket.com staff based on the stats (if available), teams' performance and players' performance.
It very often required deeper research and collecting various data about the players and their teams. Birmingham Rockets Claim Inaugural BCB Trophy with Commanding 85-66 Win Over Yorkshire Dragons-Mar 29, 2026
Birmingham Rockets are the first-ever BCB Trophy champions, defeating Yorkshire Dragons 85-66 in a dominant performance at Harvey Hadden Sports Village in Nottingham. In a final that lived up to its billing as a showcase for British Championship Basketball's inaugural season, it was the Rockets who proved the stronger side from the opening tip, handing coach Paul Cantwell's Dragons a painful defeat on the biggest occasion in their history. The game was effectively settled in the first quarter. Coach C. Smith's Rockets stormed out of the blocks to lead 23-13 after ten minutes, and despite Yorkshire's best efforts they never got closer than three points all evening — their biggest lead of the entire final. Birmingham maintained their double-digit advantage through the second and third quarters, before Yorkshire showed admirable character with a spirited final quarter that ended level at 25-25, far too little and too late. Eric Donaldson (191-SF-2001) was flawless in the Rockets' backcourt, converting all seven of his field goal attempts and all four free throws for 19 clinical points, adding 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Zachary Powell (188-F, college: Wilson) was equally impressive, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds for a dominant double-double, while Ronald Blain (196-F-1997, college: HPU) orchestrated play with 16 points and a game-high 6 assists. Off the bench, Orlan Jackman (201-F-1988, college: Okla City) provided a vital spark with 15 points and 9 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting. For Yorkshire, Jordan Jefferson (193-G, college: UALR) led all scorers with 15 points, while captain Dominic Ulph battled hard inside for a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. Jordan Whelan (193-G-1994, college: MNU) added 11 and Jack Mielke (201-F, college: S.Indiana) contributed 5 assists, but the Dragons — who entered the game on a remarkable run of seven wins from eight — simply couldn't match Birmingham's firepower or efficiency on the night. The Rockets shot 51% from the field to Yorkshire's 32%, and dominated the interior with 55 points in the paint and second-chance opportunities combined. Birmingham's bench also outscored the Dragons' reserves 20-19, leaving Cantwell's side with no hiding place across all areas of the game. It is a bittersweet end to what has been a transformational season for Yorkshire Dragons, who reached their first ever major final and captured the imagination of British basketball fans throughout the campaign. For Birmingham Rockets, this is silverware well deserved — and a fitting way to etch their name into the history books as the very first BCB Trophy champions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
