Released: 05.11.18
Meet Denzel Ubiaro, Tola Okiki and Joshua Palmer, our Marjon Student Raiders.
The three players are currently undergraduate students at 91视频, and represent the Marjon Basketball Programme as well as competing professionally with 91视频 Raiders Basketball.
The Marjon Mens鈥� Basketball Programme currently competes in Western BUCS 2A, where they are coached by 91视频 Raiders Lead Assistant Coach and Head of Video Analysis, Danny Magee. It鈥檚 hoped this continued partnership between Raiders and Marjon will bridge the gap between Marjon鈥檚 sporting programme and professional sport.
Danny said: 鈥淭his is the beginning; we want to forge more opportunities for students here, to experience a high-level of basketball and do so in conjunction with higher education.鈥�
鈥淒enzel, Tola and Josh are outstanding individuals and ambassadors who represent what we鈥檙e trying to achieve as a University programmme. They also provide a young British nucleus to the professional team鈥�
鈥淲e want them to get their degree, that鈥檚 foremost, but doing this helps their pursuit of professional sporting development and gives them diverse opportunities in the world following their studies.鈥�
Raiders number 10 Denzel Ubiaro is a returning player following his 2017-18 debut season for the Raiders, after impressing at a try-out for the professional club. As part of the partnership between the 91视频 Raiders and Marjon, Denzel was offered a Scholarship to the University to study a Sports Therapy degree.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to be here another year with the Raiders and have the opportunity to continue my education further at Marjon as well,鈥� said Denzel.
鈥淚t was no hard decision at all on re-signing to the Raiders. It has been exciting to work with the new coaching staff, team mates and also my academic staff. It鈥檚 also great to see the progression of the basketball programme at 91视频.
鈥淜nowing that I鈥檒l have the opportunity to play at the Pavilions again with the best fans in the BBL is a privilege and to stay in the lovely city of 91视频 makes it even better.鈥�
Josh Palmer and Tola Okiki attended this season鈥檚 BBL trials in July and impressed in front of Raiders management and newly appointed Head Coach Paul James and Assistant Coach Danny Magee. Tola and Josh now engage academically at the 91视频, Tola studying Sports Therapy BSc (Hons) and Josh studying for a Business BSc (Hons) degree.
Tola said: 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for the opportunity afforded to me by Paul James and Danny Magee and I鈥檝e learnt a lot from them and my teammates already.
鈥淚鈥檝e really enjoyed being in 91视频 and competing for Raiders and Marjon. I feel like this is a great city with some great fans that really support us and love the Raiders. This is going to be a great 3 years and I鈥檓 excited for my development as a player and person.鈥�
Josh added: 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the opportunity that Marjon has given me to study whilst playing alongside the Raiders.
Director of Basketball and Raiders Head Coach Paul James said he was pleased to have the talented trio in his roster for the season.
鈥淭hese three young men, Denzel, Josh and Tola will set the path for other talented young student athletes to follow,鈥� said Paul.
鈥淲e want them to have a student experience that they are proud to talk about with their peers. We will provide them with everything they need to succeed. It鈥檚 now up to them to grasp the opportunity with both hands and from what I have witnessed, all three of them fully intend to.鈥�
