After a weekend of exclusively BBL Trophy first round action, the BBL All-Star 5 is led by two record-holding Great Britain internationals, alongside a pair from Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks, and a veteran star from National Basketball League Division 1.
Dan Clark – Manchester Giants
The all-time leading scorer for the Great Britain national team, Clark makes his fourth All-Star 5 appearance of the season, which is joint-second among all players as he chases down his teammate Tyrik Armstrong and MVP Geno Crandall at the top of the chart. He’s in the team for the second week in a row with Giants on a run of four straight wins after they knocked out local rivals B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Clark finishing on 26 points after shooting 9-13 (69%) from the field, adding seven rebounds and six assists.
Teddy Okereafor – Cheshire Phoenix
Phoenix were dominant in their first round tie at home to top Scottish Basketball Championship side Sony Centre Fury, led by an efficient display from Great Britain guard Teddy Okereafor, who recently broke the record for consecutive appearances for the national team. In just 23 minutes of action he scored 20 points on 8-11 (72%) shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out seven assists, with three steals, including 14 first quarter points as Cheshire established an early lead and never looked back.
Malcolm Smith – Derby Trailblazers
American forward Malcolm Smith is in his sixth season in NBL1, fourth with Derby Trailblazers, and put in a heroic performance as they upset Surrey Scorchers on the road in the BBL Trophy first round. He has averaged over 20 points per game in his career and put up a huge double-double in this one of 36 points and 12 rebounds, in just 34 minutes, proving a handful for Scorchers as he drew 12 fouls, the most by any player in a BBL game this season, knocking down 12-14 (85%) at the free-throw line. Derby led from the third minute onwards as Smith scored 11 first quarter points.
Ali Fraser – Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks
Also making his fourth All-Star 5 showing of the campaign, and joining Clark in joint-second among all players in that regard, Scottish big man Ali Fraser was dominant as Rocks saw off NBL1 champions Team Solent Kestrels at the Emirates Arena. He shot 12-19 (63%) from the field, with seven rebounds and three blocks, including nine first quarter points as Glasgow scored the first nine of the game and led from tip-to-buzzer; adding six points early in the fourth to settle the game after Kestrels had kept it competitive throughout.
Jordan Harris – Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks
Another big performance from that game leads to Jordan Harris featuring in the weekly team for the third time, and second in the last three weeks, as he missed just once from the field on his way to 15 points on 7-8 (87%) shooting, also grabbing eight rebounds with two assists. That included six points in the fast start during the first quarter, as well as knocking down a three-pointer with the last play of the first half after Kestrels had got back to within single-figures.
Off the bench: Lamar Hamrick (Surrey Scorchers), Denzel Ubiaro (Plymouth City Patriots), Blake Bowman (Derby Trailblazers), Geno Crandall (Leicester Riders), Kyle Carey (Cheshire Phoenix), Kemel Archer (Team Solent Kestrels), Josh Steel (Manchester Giants).