CITY of Birmingham Rockets have signed Ronald Blain ahead of the new British Championship Basketball season.
The six-foot-five forward is no stranger to this level of play, having previously turned out for Newcastle Knights, Bradford Dragons and Worthing Thunder since arriving in the UK from Hawaii Pacific in 2020.
Blain was one of the league’s standout players last term, leading in steals per game, while also placing eighth in assists per game and seventh overall in blocks.
His 17.2 points per game also demonstrate his considerable scoring threat. Blain led the Knights in scoring last season, 412 points across the course of the campaign.
He enjoyed a fantastic second half of the season, picking up the league’s coveted Player of the Week accolade on two separate occasions in February and March of this year – for his performances against Bristol Hurricanes and London Cavaliers respectively.
In his two outings against Rockets last season, Blain scored 17 points at Nechells Wellbeing Centre in an 85-69 win, before putting up 19 in the return game in Newcastle as the Rockets snatched a last gasp 106-105 overtime win on Tyneside.
Blain told the Rockets’ official website: “The privilege to join this club‘s family is one that I’m so excited and appreciative of.
“Coach Charles Smith and I have a great relationship, and he’s been someone who has been steadily in my corner since arriving in England.
“I know that he will demand the best out of me and continue to raise the level of my game as I enter year six in this league.
“I’m looking forward to helping the team complete the goal of bringing some silverware back to Birmingham. I can’t wait to see the fans pack out the Nechells Centre this season.”
Rockets chief executive, Robert Palmer, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Ron to Birmingham. Each season we aim to progress on the floor, so to attract a player of his experience and quality to the club demonstrates our ambitions.
“More importantly, we’re bringing in a great human being who will enhance our programme on many levels.”
