Blood delay leaves Mims short handed for Korac run
Mark Woods
Leopards' coach Billy Mims has been forced to omit two of his three new American signings from the roster of ten players registered to play in the club's Korac Cup campaign. Forwards Larry Johnson and Brandon Brantley will be on the sidelines when Leopards take on Icelandic side IRB Reykjanesbaer in the preliminary round starting Wednesday and will remain there during the entirety of the competition.
Mims had anticipated that six-year stalwart Robert Youngblood, who is due to receive his British passport at any time now, would be available as a non-permit player. However due to a delay in processing his application, Youngblood will be filling one of the two available foreign slots.
"Obviously it's a major disappointment," admitted Mims. "Although, the passport is 99% approved, we couldn't wait any longer to register the team with FIBA. Otherwise, if I'd gone with one of the others, Robert would have had to sit out both this round and the pool games and you don't go into your first European campaign without someone who has been your loyal leader for six seasons.
"All four of those guys deserve to play because there is no difference talent wise between them but I decided to go with Capers because he is proven talent whose experience of playing in last season's Saporta Cup will be big for us."
With a likely starting five of Capers, Youngblood plus Peter Deppisch, Mark Quashie and David Attewell, Mims' team will not be short on size against team who the coach himself admits are somewhat of an unknown quantity.
"Because they are two teams joined together, I haven't been able to get any tapes of them or get much information on their practice games. However, I'm hoping because of the fact they are city rivals, they might suffer from a lack of chemistry at times. There's a lot of question marks on their system and style with two coaches at their helm."
IRB's two Americans are 6'7 Parnell Perry, who is the younger brother of former Chicago Bears and London Monarchs star William "The Refrigerator" Perry, and 6'6 guard Chianti Roberts.
Mims has also added former Milton Keynes forward Michael Martin to his squad.
Korac Cup Roster
Youngblood, Capers, Deppisch, Mathurin, Martin, Attewell, Quashie, Lettissi, Robinson, MartinIRB Roster
Gudjon Skulason Guard 182 cm
Gunnar Einarsson Guard 189 cm
Fridrik Ragnarson Guard 184 cm
Hjortur Hardarson Guard 183 cm
Teitur Orlygsson Forward 188 cm
Hermann Hauksson Forward 199 cm
Chianti Roberts Forward 196 cm
Purnell Perry Forward 195 cm
Fannar Olafsson Center 200 cm
Fridrik Stefansson Center 202 cm
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