The Rockets are pleased to announce that reinforcements have been added to the lineup, with guard Zack Powell joining Coach Samit Nuruzade’s lineup. Zack comes off helping the Sligo All Stars get promoted from the second division in Ireland earlier in the year.
Born in Jamaica, Zack moved to Birmingham at three years old where he grew up. He played for Team Birmingham Elite from ages 16 to 18, helping the team to a fourth place finish. At the same time, Powell played three seasons for the Aston Manor Academy in the ABL (now named the CBL).
The six-foot-one guard helped Aston Manor to a near perfect record in the second and third year of his time there. Powell averaged around 23 points a game as well as 4 steals a game in this two year timespan.
In 2019, at just 19 years old, Powell went pro, signing for the Manchester Giants in the British Basketball League. He was considered to be one of the more exciting young guards in the league. Powell played in eight games in the 2019-20 season, averaging a shade under 11 minutes a game.
Powell re-signed with the Manchester team for the 2020-21 season where he played in 27 games, averaging 10 minutes a game. His best performance came against the London Lions where he dropped 13 points on 66% shooting, with three rebounds and one assist.
Powell spent the rest of 2021 and the start of 2022 in Ireland, competing in the second tier of Irish basketball with the EJ Sligo All Stars. The team ended up winning the National League and getting promoted to the Men’s Division One league.
On the signing Coach Nuruzade had to say: “Zack is a strong guy who can develop into a better player. In the open floor, he will bring us a lot more options in terms of scoring. He is strong in defending, he can rebound the ball. That will give us some more rebounding power. He is comfortable attacking the basket, that’s what we have been lacking quite a lot.
“A great guy, he’s a great addition to the team. Hopefully, as much as he can help us, we can help him”.
