Billy Singleton’s gone

The 37-year-old has accepted the position of Director of Basketball at St John’s in New York, the college from which he graduated in 1991, and called time on a glittering BBL career that has spanned thirteen seasons.

Singleton first came to the BBL with the Birmingham Bullets in 1992-93 before joining the Cheshire Jets, after spells in Israel and Cyprus, in 1995. His first accolade followed soon afterwards as he was voted to the league All-Star team in his second season with the Jets, 1996-97, after averaging 21.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, before a two-year spell with the Leicester Riders and one season with Thames Valley.

More success followed soon afterwards as he returned to the Riders for a second spell and captained them to the BBL Championship Playoff and National Cup double in 2000-01 whilst posting 13 points and 10 rebounds per game. After two seasons in the East Midlands he went north of the border and helped bring Playoff glory to the Scottish Rocks.

Singleton then moved to the Jets where he spent the last four years of his career. That time yielded BBL Championship success in 2004/05 and a BBL Trophy winner’s medal in 2003/04. He also had a spell as player/coach between 2005-06.

Good wishes have been flying in from all quarters of the BBL,with some of the league’s coaches making the following comments:

Peter Scantlebury, Sheffield Sharks’ Head Coach:”Good luck to Billy, he’s done really well over the years, especially at the Rocks. Age catches up with us all in the end, but I wish him all the success in the world. He’s a good guy, and getting the St John’s job proved he was a big name in the States as well as over here.”

Vince Macaulay, Marshall MK Lions’ Head Coach:”It seems like Billy has been in this country forever. I’m really pleased he’s been given this opportunity, and I’m sure he’ll do well. He’s showed class and poise everywhere he’s been, and he’s won things throughout his career. He arrived at St John’s behind a great group of players such as Bill Wennington and Chris Mullen, but he made a name for himself and was lauded throughout his college career.”

Paul James, Poujoulat Heat Guildford’s Head Coach:”Billy played for me at the Tigers, and he was one of the great characters of the game. Back in the day he was one hell of a player and a real scholar of the game. He certainly knew his way around the court, and was a tremendous guy both on and off the court. I’ll miss seeing him each season.”

TJ Walker, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets’ Player/Coach:” Ever since I came to the BBL, I have talked with Bill, several times a season – saying that we really had to play on the same team some time, and it looked for a long time this summer like this was going to be the year – but he has been given this great opportunity to advance his career in Basketball, so it looks like it was never meant to be!”

Paul Smith, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets’ Director of Basketball:”It’s impossible to measure how much Billy has given to the Jets over the years. Even at this stage of his career – if you give him the ball in the paint, nine times out of ten he scores. In the last couple of seasons, when there has been a shortage of players for whatever reason, Billy has played much more than he intended, and he has still managed to make many significant contributions. We wish him all the best in his new position, and hope he can perhaps spot a few likely recruits for Jets rosters in the years to come!