Plymouth is set to receive a massive boost with the appointment of top-level Coach Paul James as the Director of Basketball and Community.
Whilst the Patriots professional team will not be playing in the UK’s new super league next season, the team’s head coach Paul James will be passing on his superior knowledge to hundreds of youngsters across the city and further afield.
Plymouth City Patriots Basketball Foundation was formed in 2022 as a separate charity supporting the professional team and trains hundreds of youngsters across the city and Devon and Cornwall every week.
The foundation also runs 9 development teams ranging from Under 12s to Under 20s for both boys and girls, who compete in national and regional leagues as well as a thriving basketball academy at Tor bridge High.
Coach James, considered one of the top coaches in the UK, will be passing on more than 4 decades of professional playing and coaching experience to the city’s young players.
As well as winning all top level titles in UK professional basketball, he has coached over 1,000 professional games, the most of any professional coach in the UK - and last November he achieved 500 wins with an exhilarating triumph over league toppers London Lions at a packed Plymouth Pavilions.
Coach James said: “ With the disappointing announcement of there being no pro team in Plymouth, for me working within the foundation presents a great opportunity to further develop basketball within Plymouth and the surrounding areas.
It will be chance for me to pass on 4 decades of playing and coaching experience, having coached over 1000 games, winning more than 500 of them and winning every competition within the British professional game as a coach.
The time has come to pass on my experience and knowledge acquired over the years to the next generation of players and coaches”.
“I am looking forward to developing a basketball program of the highest quality in all areas and on all levels.”
Carl Heslop, Chairman of the Foundation, said: “We are of course disappointed about the professional team, and would love to have been part of the new super league. But I am delighted Coach Paul James has accepted this new Foundation role. His experience in both playing and coaching is unrivalled in this country and we are extremely lucky he will be taking the Foundation to new heights, benefiting hundreds of young people who love basketball as much as we do - from early years right up to senior players. It is a very exciting time for the Foundation and basketball in Plymouth.”
Anyone wishing to be involved or support the Patriots basketball foundation with assistance or sponsorship please email info@plymouthcitypatriots.com