Marc Loving looking to lead Leicester Riders to second consecutive championship
Volume 2 Issue 12
If you don’t know much about the British Basketball League then you aren’t alone. But what you should know is that Toledo native Marc Loving is continuing the dynasty of a once lowly franchise.
The British Basketball League operates similarly to the NBA in the fact that each team has a salary cap and a specific number of teams that does not change. That’s really where the similarities end. The salary cap is very low so operating costs do not get out of hand. This why you never see British teams in major European competitions, they are simply being out spent. But if there is one team you should know, it’s the Leicester Riders.
For American sports fans, the Leicester Riders are like the New England Patriots. A franchise that was near the bottom of the standings at their worst and middle of the standings at their best until suddenly they became very good and ripped of a couple championships. From 1982/83 to 2010/11 the Leicester Riders never finished higher than 4th in the regular season standings and only made the championship game once, in 2000/01, which they one. That all changed starting in the 2011/12 season when the franchise changed its fortunes. The Riders have since been regular season champions 6 times and runners-up 3, while they have have playoff champions 5 times and runners-up 3 times.
Marc Loving made his way onto the Riders’ roster last season where he helped the team to a 25-2 regular season record while averaging 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. This is season though, he has stepped his game up even higher. He is currently averaging 14.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. League-wide Loving is 8th in scoring, 6th in defensive rebounds and 2nd in free throw percentage. Currently, the Riders are 3rd in the standings with just around a month to go in the regular season.
The road to Leicester, Enlgand was quite a long one for Marc Loving. In high school, Loving won the prestigious Mr. Basketball award as the number one player in Ohio for Toledo St. John’s. He then committed to Ohio State where he was a starter the majority of his four years on the team. He then spent two years in the G-League with the Delaware Blue Coats and the Agua Caliente Clippers. He then eventually signed with the Leicester Riders in 2021 and has been balling out ever since.
All British Basketball League games are streamed live on their Youtube channel. The Leicester Riders next take on the Sheffield Sharks this Friday.
Leading Updates
Javin Etzler (Convoy Crestview) has entered the NCAA transfer portal from Miami OH basketball.
Zia Cooke (Toledo/Rogers) has been named to the AP All-American women’s basketball team.
Eli Wolf (Minster) is officially an unrestricted NFL free agent as his contract was not renewed with Washington.
Notable Game Updates
On March 12th Zavier Simpson (Lima/Lima Senior) had 14 points and 11 assists in a Lakeland win over Capital City.
On March 15th Dakota Mathias (Elida) had 25 points in a Memphis Hustle win over the Windy City Bulls.
On March 15th Jamiya Neal (Toledo/Rogers) had 16 points in an Arizona State win over Nevada in the First Four.
On March 16th Nigel Hayes-Davis (Whitmer) had 11 points in a Fenerbahce loss to Valencia.
On March 16th Zavier Simpson (Lima/Lima Senior) had 24 points and 11 rebounds in a Lakeland win over Raptors 905.
On March 17th Marc Loving (Toledo/St. John’s) had 13 points and 13 rebounds in a Leicester Riders win over the Caledonia Gladiators.
On March 18th Kassidie Stimmel (Castalia/Margaretta) finished 4th at the USF Bulls Invitational with a height of 13’ 01.5 for Grand Valley State.
On March 18th Nigel Hayes-Davis (Whitmer) had 30 points in a Fenerbahce win over Besiktas.
On March 18th Sammi Mikonowicz (Rossford) had 10 rebounds in a Toledo win over Iowa State in the First Round.
Interesting Reads
For Schoen and St. John's, a 'surreal' March run for the ages
Chris Bassitt throws eight pitches. How that wide arsenal gives his team an edge
Grace VanSlooten is just getting started for the Oregon Ducks
Ohio native Jamiya Neal turns in career performance in return home