People Who Make Basketball ‘The Joy That It Is’

It would be easy for you to think that that we are going to feature just the people at the top end of the game but you would be wrong.  We are going to continue to feature every type of individual and group involved with British basketball from floor wipers to star players.  It is our way of paying tribute to you who make us what we are.

BJ HOLMES – American

DATELINE 3rd OCT 2013

BJ Holmes joined the Sheffield Sharks in the British Basketball League part way through the 2012/13 season. He had an immediate impact leading the team to success in the BBL Trophy that season with an MVP performance. PHOTO – MPhotography

I am delighted to include him in this special mikeshaft.com feature – People Who Make Basketball ‘The Joy That It Is’

Julie PAGE – British

Julie Page was born in Stockport Gtr Manchester in 1983. She has represented England at Junior level in 2000 and 2002. As a junior, she learnt and developed hergame with Stockport Lapwings and enjoyed a season in the EBL in 2002-3 with Nottingham Wildcats while attending Loughborough University.

Page made her senior Great Britain debut in 2006 in a match against Norway and followed that up with selection for the 2008-9 Division A campaign.
Julie cemented her place as one of GB’s most vital scoring and rebounding threats in 2010, averaging 11.5 ppg and 7 rpg as the GB side won a place at the EuroBasket Women Finals 2011 for the first time in history.

Her outstanding play in GBs rise through that tournament saw her named as British Basketball Player of the Year, given to the most outstanding performer (male or female) on national duty. She was also named as the British Olympic Association’s 2011 Olympic Athlete of the Year for basketball.

Page has just had a wonderful summer competing with GB Women at the London 2012 Games, and although the team as a whole struggled, Julie Page certainly made a name for herself.

Clyde VAUGHN – American

DATE LINE 27th SEPT 2012

Clyde Vaughn is another legend of the British game, having played in the UK between 1987 and 1991. He played in 95 games and scored 2665 points at an average of 28.5 a game making him one of the most prolific scorers in the British game second only to Phil Smith who averaged 29.7 per game.

Vaughn who played for Leicester before moving up to the North East where he was voted League MVP in the 1989/90 season, while playing with Sunderland.

Back in the USA Vaughn had been a star at the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Big East.  As a senior he averaged 21 pts per game and 8.3 rebounds.  In his 4 years with the Panthers he scored 2033 points and pulled down 922 rebounds.

Vaughn came to the UK after being cut in final training camp by the Indiana Pacers who had drafted him some months earlier.  Their loss was our gain.

Vaughn also made 27 appearances for the England National Team.

This month we pay tribute to another one of the legends of the British game…Big Joe White. I have been trying to feature Joe for a few years now but I have never been able to access a photograph…that is until now. There have been many mentions of Joe since the GB Men’s Team was announced and one of the best posts was in response to a message from GB captain Drew Sullivan. The response was by former BBL player Cedi Frederick. I am delighted that he has given me permission to reprint it here. It is a fitting tribute.

You’re measured in life by what you leave behind, be that your children or your contribution to society. Being a coach in any sport to young people is a huge responsibility as the ‘job’ must be about more than X’s and O’s, but must include the development of young minds and souls. No one understood that more than Joe. You stand at the pinnacle Drew, but hundreds of now grown men owe their lives to that man. Like you they will never, ever forget one of the greatest human beings ever to walk God’s earth! What makes you special is that you’ve never, ever forgotten that. Good luck in the coming weeks. Enjoy every second. This is your reward for years and years of hard work and sacrifice. Of course share it, but keep a little just for you because you deserve it!
(Cedi Frederick)

This month we pay tribute to another two legends of the British game. The first is photographer Chris Tofalos. Many people around the game will not even know Chris Tofalos but he has been supporting British Basketball for over 30 years. He was a massive fan of the Manchester Giants and when the news broke that The Giants were to be reborn after going missing for the last 10 years I immediately thought about Chris.  Over the years he has taken some wonderful basketball photographs and I am delighted that he has often given me permission to use them on mikeshaft.com.  The return of the Giants will be wonderful news for their fans old and new and for the many people who support British Basketball.  I know that it is especially wonderful news for Chris Tofalos.

The second person is Rod Kittles who will be remembered for his spectacular plays in British basketball back in the day. I remember him most for this wonderful photograph which was taken by Chris Tofalos and which was an Award winner in a national photographic competition. I have always loved this photograph and I am delighted to use it to pay tribute to another one of the legends of the British game.

‘Below are the people previously featured on The Joy that It Is.’