Knox Ford Raiders SEABL Men’s Captain Sean Carroll and last year’s mid-season star recruit John Philip will again suit up for the yellow and blue in 2010 as the Raiders begin their quest to defend their SEABL Championship. 

Carroll, just 22 years old captained the Raiders last season in his first season at the helm after club legend Glenn Siegle vacated the role and retired after the 2008 SEABL East Championship season. Despite his youth, Carroll currently ranks fifth amongst the club’s all-time games leaders with 183, just two games behind Siegle who sits fourth. A product of the Junior Raiders program, Carroll will play his 200th game during the 2010 season and could potentially become the Raiders all-time games leader by the age of 23 if his side is to return to the Grand Final. The current all-time games record is 212, held by another point guard in past club legend Neville Ashley-Cooper. The only other player to reach 200 games for the Raiders was stand-out import Wayne Howell who dazzled crowds at Knox Converse Stadium throughout the 90’s.

The talented point guard began his SEABL career with the Raiders back in 2003 as a 15 year old. Competing against the likes of Glenn Siegle (ex Victorian Titans/Brisbane Bullets – NBL) and Brad Robbins (/Perth Wildcats – NBL) for court time in his earlier days, Carroll earned his position through hard work and perseverance.

In 2007, Carroll broke his way into a regular starting five role and was awarded the SEABL Youth Player of the Year for the South Conference for his outstanding season. Current NBA player for the Portland Trailblazers, Patty Mills was the recipient of the East Conference award.

Carroll averaged 9.1 points @ 43%, 3.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season as he helped guide his teammates to one of the more memorable SEABL Championship runs in recent history.

Raiders head coach, Graham Longstaff believes Carroll still has plenty more to offer the Raiders.
“Sean is almost a 200 game veteran of this league. We tend to look at the guy as still a younger player which in age he is but he has a tremendous amount of experience under his belt. Sean has to keep improving each season. I’m looking for him to keep working on his consistency on a game to game basis this season and to keep improving on his captaincy skill set. Being a captain is not an easy thing,” said Longstaff.

Re-signing on for another campaign alongside Carroll is versatile big man John Philip who joined the Raiders mid-season last year and played an integral role in the Raiders Grand Final victory over the favoured Frankston Blues.

Philip who boasts NBL experience with the Wollongong Hawks fitted in perfectly with the Raiders line-up, playing a variety of different roles for Longstaff off the bench. Although Philip experienced some sickness and injury woes only weeks out from the finals, he bounced back to provide the Raiders with an ‘X’ factor throughout the finals series.

Philip averaged 7.1 points and 5 rebounds per contest in 13 regular season games, but ‘Raider Nation’ fans will more likely remember him for his 19 points @ 77.8% and 5 rebounds which included 4 from 4 three-pointers during the Grand Final which helped ice the game for the Raiders.

“John was pretty good for us. Unfortunately for him and us, he kept getting injured and sick just as he was starting to give us something. He’s certainly an impact player for us. I think John is going to be a lot better with a good pre-season under his belt this time around. I expect him to play at the level he did in the SEABL Grand Final,” Longstaff stated.

In other news, Knox Ford Raiders season memberships are now available for purchase. Forms can be obtained from the Knox Basketball Office, by calling 9762 1298 or online at www.knoxbasketball.com.au.

The 2010 Player Sponsorship Package has just been released. For more information please see the Knox Basketball website or call 9762 1298.