Tom Brown

Name: Tom Brown
Height: 6'7
Position: Power Forward
College: Seton Hall
Joined: 1985/86


Tom Brown was a powerhouse player down low in the 85/86 season for Leicester, coming from a strong Seton Hall program in the States. Tom is pictured here going to work against Davenports Birmingham with Gene Waldron hanging around the foul line in the background.

Gene Waldron

Name: Gene Waldron
Height: 6'3
Position: Shooting Guard
College: Syracuse
Signed: 1984-85/1988-95/ 1996/99

For many people, Gene Waldron WAS Leicester basketball during the mid eighties and through the nineties. The 3rd most loyal player in league history, Gene played the game with a flair and skill level much above most other players he played against, his three point shot was feared throughout the league, his spin moves and through the legs assists were legendary as was his scoring prowess, he averaged 19.8 over his English career.

The fact that Gene never won a trophy in all his time at Leicester proves that sometimes pro sport just isn't fair, the closest he came was the infamous 1998 National Cup final versus Thames Valley in Sheffield where Riders were more than comfortable with Gene controlling matters on the floor until tragedy struck. A clash of shins with Tigers' Dameon Page spelt a trip to Sheffield hospital for Gene with a spiral fracture of his lower leg and with it went Riders chances of Cup success.

Gene did come back after the injury and played again under Dave Harris in 1999 but a poor season ensued for the team and Gene retired at the end of the season, although rumours of him joining Derby were thankfully wide of the mark.......
Any long time Riders fan will have a fantastic Waldron memory of maybe a ridiculous drive to the hole for an and one reverse lay up, a no look pass or my favourite, the patented NBA length three pointer, usually a dagger to stop an opposing team comeback or a nerve steadying score for Leicester.

Gene made Riders basketball a pleasure to watch, he also had the skills to get fans out of their seat and he was and still is one of the best guards to ever play in this country without question.

The picture shows Gene in his very early days at Syracuse!

Tim Moore

Name: Tim Moore
Height: 6'8
Position: Power Forward
College: University of Houston
Signed: 2001

Tim Moore scored 36pts and claimed 9 rebounds on his Riders debut to make himself a Riders hero, he then injured his ankle and was out for nearly a month, he then returned to play a few games and then walked out on the club with no word to either Coach Mims or club directors....

Certainly not a team player, but a stunning talent who unfortunately has more stamps than Judith Chalmers on his passport which shows a nomadic streak not matched by many other players.

Ryan Huntley

pic courtesy of 4everblue.
Name: Ryan Huntley
Height: 6'4
Position: Point Guard
College: Tarleton State
Signed: 2005/06

Ryan Huntley hit some amazing shots for Karl Browns' 05/06 Riders, usually with the shot clock expiring...... He also single handedly fired Leicester into the Trophy Final with a stunning 7 pts in 26 secs to see off the Guildford Heat on their own floor.

Ryan came a very close runner up to Anthony McHenry in the Player of the Year voting to cap a successful first season in a Riders vest, hopefully it won't be the last. Huntley also has BBL experience with the Scottish Rocks, Chester and Brighton.

Steve Bucknall

Name: Steve Bucknall
Height: 6'6
Position: Guard/Forward
College: North Carolina
Signed: 2005/06

England legend Steve Bucknall was signed by Karl Brown for the 05-06 season and it signalled Riders intent on being competitive in the BBL after a good few lean seasons. Buck played hard belying his veteran status and this was typified by his stunning defensive performance in the amazing comeback Trophy semi final win at Guildford which prompted KB to say "Steve thought he was back at North Carolina!"
Buck could also hit the three and was in the top 5 for free throw accuracy.

Steve's season included a bronze medal from the Commonwealth Games but sadly ended with an ejection in the play off defeat at Sheffield. Can Karl persuade him to give it one last go for the 06-07 season????

Anthony McHenry

Name: Anthony McHenry
Height: 6'7
Position: Guard/Forward
College: Georgia Tech
Signed: 2005/06

Quite simply one of the best players to ever wear a Riders uniform, 6'7 Anthony McHenry could play any position from 1-5, he could pass, rebound, block, dunk, steal, run the floor and lock down any opposing teams danger men. A coach's dream who provided Riders fans with some great moments during the 05-06 season, my own favourite was the double block on Sheffield's Eddie Cage at the John Sandford which had the crowd on its feet and an embarrassed Cage on his way to the bench......!

An 2004 NCAA finalist with Georgia Tech, Anthony was also crowned Riders Player of the Season edging out Ryan Huntley to take the trophy, a just reward for his efforts in his rookie pro season.

It was a pleasure to watch Ant in action and maybe one day he too may get to the NBA where some of his former Tech team mates have made the grade?

Deg Erskin

Name: Deginald Erskin
Height: 6'6
Position: Forward
College: University of Texas
Signed: 2005/06

Deg Erskin was signed by Karl Brown in late 2005 after an impressive spell in Birmingham the season before. 6'6 Erskin was a great slasher to the hoop, a tremendous shot blocker for his size and a whole hearted performer. As the season progressed, Deg was more often than not Riders leading scorer and a firm fan favourite.

Dollar Bill

Name: Billy Singleton
Height: 6'7
Position: Forward
College: St Johns
Signed: 1997/98 & 2000/01

Big Billy Singleton is a true Riders and BBL legend, having captained the Double winning team in 2000 in his second spell with the club after initially joining in 97-98.
6'7 Singleton was unstoppable in the low post at times, he could finish to a high percentage close in and rebound heavily too. While not being the most mobile guy on court, Billy sure had the quickest hands in the business and he used his famous quarterback launch pass to great effect many times, usually to set Purnell Perry off on a flying mission.
Billy has also played for Birmingham, Thames Valley, Scottish Rocks [winning the play-offs] and Chester during his time in the BBL.

Tim Winn

Name: Tim Winn
Height: 5'10
Position: Point Guard
College: St Bonaventure
Signed: 2002/03

Former NCAA Div 1 St Bonaventure star Tim Winn was signed by Billy Mims to replace Antoine Sims at point guard during the 02-03 season. Tim arrived in December [along with Mario Porter] to join a team which had no confidence and no continuity and he tried hard to inject some sparkle into things with some gutsy moves on offence and some tremendous steals on D.
5'10 Winn averaged around 15pts a game in his short stay at Loughborough and he played for the Pennslyvania Valley Dawgs amongst others after leaving Leicester.

Antoine Sims

Name: Antoine Sims
Height: 5'10
Position: Point Guard
Collge: Johnson C Smith
Signed: 2002/03

This BBL rookie 5'10 point guard was signed straight from Johnson C Smith college in the States to run things on the floor for the 02-03 season. Antoine got off to a decent start assists wise but his scoring was proving a problem for Coach Mims, who always liked heavy scoring guards in his system.
Eventually things came to a head in December and Sims was cut to make way for Tim Winn, a decision which didn't go down too well with a few Riders fans who had taken Antoine to their hearts as he always tried his hardest on court.

JaRon Boone

Name: JaRon Boone
Height: 6'6
Position: Guard/Forward
College: Nebraska
Signed: 1997/98 and 1998/99

Former Nebraska Cornhusker JaRon Boone spent two seasons with the Riders initially playing under Bob Donewald in 97-98 and then Dave Harris the following season.
A real showman, the 6'6 SF provided some memorable moments during his stay, dunks, threes, outrageous passes and his patented sit in the crowd stunt if he didn't like the call against him.
Boone played in the 98 Cup Final but he was up against one of the finest players the BBL has ever seen in John McCord who overshadowed JaRon and guided Thames Valley to glory.
Under Harris, Riders stumbled to a 9-27 record and Boone had a poor season by his standards which saw him move on at the season end.

Ervin Murray

Name: Ervin Murray
Height: 6'5
Postion: Guard/Forward
College: Wake Forest
Signed: 2004/05

6'5 PG Ervin Murray was signed by Karl Brown as a replacement for Nathan Anderson in the early stages of the 04-05 season. Erv had started his BBL career at Birmingham but he left Bullets and KB snapped him up, it was a wise move as the multi skilled former Wake Forest man showed his versatility by covering 3 positions and doing a bit of everything to a good standard. Being 6'5, he provided match up problems with most opposing PG's, his long arms grabbed plenty of rebounds, he could hit the three, take it inside and finish softly or via a slam plus his passing and court vision were superb.
Ervin's steadying influence was the catalyst behind the Riders late run for a play-off spot which sadly ultimately failed as MK Lions snuck home in 8th spot.
If Ervin had been around from the start maybe things would have been different?

After leaving Leicester at the end of the 04-05 season, Ervin went back to the States and was trying to get in the 05 NBA Summer League.

Troy Coleman

Name: Troy Coleman
Height: 6'3
Position: Point Guard
College: Lincoln Memorial
Signed: 1999/00

6'3 Troy Coleman arrived with Coach Darling for the 99-00 season but he only showed his better form once Darling had walked and Billy Mims took over, he gave Troy more freedom and it paid off with some fine games at PG. Troy was susceptible to injury however, his Yorick Williams esque skinny legs probably didn't help!

The Beast.................

Name: John Smith
Height: 6'8
Position: Power Forward
College: Virginia Commonwealth
Signed: 2003/04 and 2004/05

The Beast eh? One thing you could not fault 6'8 John Smith for was effort, but he wasn't the most intimidating big guy we have had by a long way. John's speciality move was a laboured spin move on the low block, followed by an attempted lay up which would usually end with John doing a huge star jump up to the backboard with the ball halfway back down the court in the hands of an opposing player..........

A nice guy, and a true "gentle giant" now playing back in Finland i believe.