ESSEX Blades are preparing to begin their England Basketball National League campaign The Blades first home game takes place on October 17, at the University of Essex Sports Centre.

The Essex Blades basketball teams are ready for the season, having been boosted by the arrival of some high-profile recruits, and having completed their pre-season preparation with tours to European hotbeds of professional basketball.

Joining the Women’s Blades this season are American NCAA-star Jazmine Charles and Slovakian international Monika Kucerkova.

Charles scored an incredible 1,600 points during her NCAA career at Lenoir-Rhyne University, and was nominated as NCAA woman of the year in 2015.

Standing six foot three inches tall, Kucerkova brings considerable fire power to the Blades attack, and arrives in Essex fresh from representing Slovakia in the European Under-19 Championships.

Also at the European Championships this summer was men’s new recruit, Findlay Wood, who plays point guard for the Scotland Under-19 National side.

Both teams have been tested by matches against high-quality opposition during pre-season tours.

The men’s team visited Kaunas, in Lithuania, in a tournament against three professional teams.

The women’s team visited Pecs, in Hungary, where their opposition included national champions and European Cup competitors, Pinkk-Pecsi.

Head coach, Mark Lloyd, is enthusiastic about the opportunities to forge international links.

He said: “These tours exposed our players to a higher standard of opposition than can be experienced in the UK, which is an invaluable experience in their development as future professional players.

“We are also setting up exchanges of both players and coaching staff which will further enhance the quality of our teams.”

Also playing in the National Junior Leagues on the same day will be the newly re-branded Essex Junior Blades.

Essex is one of Basketball England’s four preferred Universities in the country for the development of players, and it is able to offer support from Sport England’s Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.

All spectators are welcome for national league home games.

Saturday, October 17, sees a full programme of games at the University of Essex Sports Centre, with the Under-16 boys playing at 1pm, the Under-18 men at 3pm, and entry for spectators is free for the junior matches.

The Senior Women play Anglia Ruskin at 5pm, and the Senior Men face Southwark Pride at 7pm.

Entry to watch both senior matches costs £3 for adults and £2 for Under-18s.