One of the British Basketball League’s most experienced big men is heading to Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles after Head Coach Marc Steutel snapped up homegrown star Will Neighbour.
The 6ft 10in forward brings a wealth of experience to Tyneside following spells with Cheshire Phoenix, London Lions and Plymouth, and Steutel is convinced the former Great Britain Under-20 international boasts the big-game character and basketball IQ to inject fresh confidence into Newcastle’s roster.
Neighbour averaged eight points and four rebounds in a Cheshire Phoenix team that finished fifth in last season’s Championship and made it all the way to the 2023 Trophy Final. The 33-year-old hooked up with head coach Ben Thomas following a season with star-studded London where he gained invaluable European experience.
Involvement in the Lions’ 2021/22 Europe Cup campaign gave Neighbour a glimpse of what’s required to compete overseas ahead of the Eagles’ debut season in the European North Basketball League (ENBL).
Speaking following the announcement of his new signing, Coach Steutel said:
“Will’s a player who I’ve admired from a distance for some time now. He’s played at a high level for teams within the BBL and beyond the BBL and he’s a high IQ, extremely skilled, winning basketball player.
“Will is somebody who I know will be able to give us so much versatility on our roster with his varied skillset. His application to winning and doing the things that will impact our success is without question. That’s all that Will cares about and that’s what we want.”
With eight seasons of experience in the League under his belt — in addition to stints in New Zealand, Hungary, Sweden and Spain — Steutel’s new-look roster will benefit greatly from Neighbour’s know-how.
The Aldershot-born big has already begun his pre-season training programme on Tyneside and looks set to become a key cog in the Newcastle wheel on and off the court.
With the countdown to the new season continuing, you can still get your British Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube channel to relive all of the best moments from last year!