NEWS CHANNELLions have strengthened their ranks by re-signing power forward Robert Youngblood.
The 6’7” player first joined the club in 2005 after spells with British BasketballLeague rivals London Leopards and London Towers.
He left for Leiecster Riders midway through the 2010/11 season but he has now returned in the opposite direction after leaving the Lions’ local rivals shortly before Christmas.
Head coach Mike New, a member of the 2008 BBLCup winning side alongside Youngblood, is delighted that the old charge will soon be donning the black and gold again.
He said:“You cannot quantify all the little things Robert brings to the table, and if we aim to finish in the top four then he is vital to those plans.
“I am excited by our team this season as we have started to show glimpses of how good we can be, and with ‘blood’ in the side I think we will address some of our lapses in games.”
Alabama born Youngblood has a career average in excess of 16-points per game and it is hoped that the 32-year-old will bring leadership skills to the table among the youthful Lions set-up.
Chief executive Vince Macaulay was also pleased to have his man back in Lions colours.
He said:“Robert brings a lot of veteran leadership to us, he is the kind of guy you never want to see in opposition colours.
“He has won for me here in Milton Keynes and I know he would like to sign off on his career in style, hopefully he will.”
Youngblood will be launched straight into the thick of things as his first game will be away at his old club Leicester on Saturday.
Lions are seventh in the table and could climb up to fifth with victory in the league encounter, but they can expect another stern test from the Riders, who are going well in third.
Lions knocked Leicester out of the BBLTrophy this season but the tables were turned when Riders sent the city side out of the BBLCup.
