Match Preview: Loughborough Riders (A - BCB Trophy)

And just like that, we’re back. 

Hemel Storm return to action this Sunday as we travel to Leicester to face the Loughborough Riders in the BCB Trophy, off the back of a busy summer in Hertfordshire. 

Sam Newman, Brayden Inger, Kai Walker, Jovan Rai and Hakeem Sylla have all been retained by Head Coach Tom Baker, while six new men have arrived. 

Americans Jabari Nurse and Jared Small have switched the States for the StormDome, and 6’11” centre Yves Nkomba is back in his home country after graduating from Western New Mexico University. 

Fellow big man Ty Nsangu and BCB British Player of the Year Victor Olarerin have been poached from Reading Rockets, and local prospect Daniel Kostadinov has joined after a successful season with Oaklands Wolves. 

Months of off-season work have seen Baker assemble a competitive, well-rounded roster, and there may be more excitement yet to come. Keep an eye out on Friday for that… 

Storm’s only pre-season action was an 87-70 victory over Richmond Knights, and now the competitive stuff begins with the first of four Trophy group games, against the Riders. 

American guard Jalen Cook returns for a second year in the Midlands, and is joined by his fellow countryman Kurtis Henderson, while captain Seth Wylie will also remain at the club.

Sharpshooter Simon Chamberlain has arrived from Reading, and Great Britain Under-18 internationals Tristan Curran and Moziah King-Danchie add a youthful tinge to Will Maynard’s side. 

Storm won both meetings between the sides last season and will be hoping to build on the momentum gained at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, narrowly missing out on the playoffs after winning four of their last five games played. 

With Loughborough’s usual venue unavailable, the game will be played at the Mattioli Arena, home of the SLB’s Leicester Riders. 

Tip-off is at 6.30pm, and tickets for your first chance to see the new squad in action are available here. 

If you can’t make the trip, you can stay up to date on our social media channels, or by following either the livestream or livestats. 

Written by Callum Humphrey