Reading Rockets have completed a double signing this week in the form of 6’5 forward David Ajumobi from NBL Division One champions Essex Leopards and 6’1 point guard Jordan Nicholls from NBL Division Two outfit Loughborough Riders. The pair both put pen to paper on a one year deal and will join up with Rockets captain Danny Carter and American duo Antonio Robinson and D’Montre Edwards for the 2015/2016 season.
David Ajumobi will sign for the Rockets for a second time after his first spell lasted only a matter of weeks due to work commitments but is a sure fit this time around and becomes the Berkshire club’s fourth signing of the close season. The 26-year-old former England Under-18 player and has also played for Leeds Carnegie, Brixton Topcats, London United, and the now defunct London Mets as well as last year’s league champions Essex Leopards He is also a well-known figure within the British Universities and College Sports (BUCS) leagues having represented both Leeds Metropolitan and London Southbank Universities respectively.
Rockets Head Coach Manuel Pena Garces was delighted to finally capture Ajumobi’s signature and said:
“I am really happy that David is coming to join us here at the Rockets. We have managed to overcome the hurdles that prevented him from staying last year and both he and I are really excited about working together here in Reading.”
“He brings us some real athleticism as well as some good experience and real fight and these attributes are really what led us to try and have him for this season. He will be a really good fit in our system and we are all very much looking forward to him joining up with us.”
Jordan Nicholls will join the Reading team after spells at Northants Thunder, Newcastle Eagles, Tees Valley Mohawks, and Loughborough Riders and the 22 year old will be competing at the point guard position. Nicholls played the majority of his basketball in the north of the country as a junior before attending the Canaries Basketball Academy for one year and subsequently attended Loughborough University where he studied a foundation degree in sports coaching whilst being a part of the elite basketball programme run by BBL outfit Leicester Riders.
Rockets Director of Coaching Matt Johnson was pleased to sign a young English talent and feels the 6’1 point guard will have something to offer a squad looking to challenge once again for silverware. He said,
“Jordan is a really hard working and hungry player who wants to learn and help his team-mates and is someone who we feel will fit right into what we are wanting for this season. He is a young point guard who is beginning to read the game well and offers a good perimeter threat as well as being able to run his position without hesitation. It will be great for him to work alongside Antonio (Robinson) and really work on the art of being a point guard as well as fighting for his minutes – we are excited to have him with us.”
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