The Knights are delighted to announce that Romonn Nelson and Oliver Hannam will be representing the Knights in the BUCS Premiership North and NBL Division 2 in the 2016/17 season. Both players will be studying their Master’s degrees at Newcastle University and both players bring a lot of talent and experience to the roster.

Nelson is coming into the programme off very strong seasons in NBL Division 1 with Tees Valley Mohawks. Romonn has proven he can score in the league averaging 23 points per game in Division 1 in the 14/15 season. Nelson will be coming to the Knights to refine his point guard skills and continue to his development as a player. The explosive guard can play multiple positions and will be looking to help the Knights continue their success.
​
Hannam is also coming to the Knights with a wealth of NBL Division 1 experience having played for Team Northumbria in NBL Division 1 and in the BUCS Premiership whilst studying there as an undergraduate. Oliver is a strong and smart defender and will bring a toughness the Knights will need in their new divisions. The creative, high IQ guard can also play multiple positions and his experience will benefit the younger members of the team. Hannam has also represented England at U15 & U16 level.

The Knights continue to bring in high quality and exciting Americans with the addition of Irving Eggleston and Richard Austin. Both NCAA College graduates arrive in the UK on the 30th August for preseason and bring a wealth of playing ability, success and character. Both players will be studying their Master’s degrees at Newcastle University.

Irving Eggleston comes to the UK from Nichols College where he helped Nichols College to new heights winning their College Conference. The 6’2 combo guard is coming to the University looking to accomplish the same thing here. He was also very successful individually, he was a two-time Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year, finished second on the team and third in the conference in scoring (18.4 ppg) as a senior, and helped the Bison win a program-record 25 games in 2015-16. Eggleston – who was also named CCC Defensive Player of the Year and to the First Team – became the 26th student-athlete in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau for his career and finished with 1,298 career points – good for 12th all-time at Nichols.

Richard Austin comes to the UK from Gannon University where he established himself a threat offensively and defensively. The 6’6 small forward is a very exciting prospect, very athletic, can shoot the ball and has been a PSAC Conference and Tournament Champion with Gannon University. Richard also spent 3 years at Lake Erie College and averaged 10.4 points per game and 6 rebounds. Austin has also showed that he can score against the best when he dropped 21 points against NCAA Division 1 team Detroit.
​
Team Newcastle are working on adding a third US student-athlete to their roster as well as two very well established British postgraduate's in the coming days.

​The Knights have added two very promising young big men to their roster for the 2016/17 season. Wol & Cessel will be studying their undergraduate degrees at Newcastle University and will be representing the Knights in the BUCS Premiership North and NBL Division 2 after the Knights were promoted in both competitions in the 2015/16 season.

Alei Wol (pictured left) comes from an outstanding season with City of London Academy (COLA) in the EABL and with Peckham Pride. Alei helped Peckham to an U18 National Cup and an U18 National League Championship. The 6’5 forward was in the top 10 rebounders in the EABL this year and was a regular start with an outstanding team ethic. There is no doubt that Alei will bring a lot to the roster in his first year of senior basketball.
​
Alberto Cessel (pictured right) is coming from Mount Zion Prep School after racking up a double double for them averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Italian 6’9 forward also had an exciting career as an U18 in Italy, even making camps for the Italian U18 squad. Alberto has the ability to stretch the floor with his range or utilise his post-up game which will suit the way the Knights like to play. Cessel will be looking to make an instant impact with the Knights.
With the Knights having a big turnover in players this year the addition of these two young undergraduates is a great sign for the future.

The Knights have re-signed some key players for the upcoming 2016/17 NBL Division 2 campaign. Team Newcastle have kept key players in key positions and hope to build around that core with the incoming new BUCS squad. First to sign was the influential big man, Tom Robinson, who brings creativity and toughness from the low block as well as being able to stretch the floor when called upon. Next up was Brian McCotter, the shooting guard was huge in many games last season with the ability to shoot the three and make clutch baskets. Jack Beresford has confirmed that he will be signing for the Knights and will be looking to build on his outstanding Division 3 final performance as he changed the game defensively and has improved year upon year offensively. Another re-signing but from the 2014/15 season is former BBL guard, Mark Elderkin, who will definitely bring the leadership qualities and the ability to win that he demonstrated in the 2014/15 campaign.
​
Team Newcastle are currently in discussions with more of the 2015/16 squad in the hopes to further build on last seasons success and promotion. The club would like to give a huge thanks to graduates Chuck Duru, George Beard, Tayo Oyefusi, Charlie Wallrapp and Robbie Lemons for their contributions to the club and wish them all the best in the future season.