Basketball
Eagles Changes
30 October 2007
British forward Tom Sherlock has left Newcastle Eagles by mutual consent.
The Derby native had been on Tyneside for fifteen months and enjoyed a terrific first professional season after being handed a contract in the wake of successful open trials held by the club during the summer of 2006.
Sherlock won a BBL Championship play-off medal and was voted the Most Improved Player last season by the club's supporters after establishing himself in the Eagles starting line-up just a couple of months into his rookie professional season.
Eagles Managing Director Paul Blake is disappointed that things have not worked out between the club and the player who is now considering pursuing other interests.
He explained "Tom is definitely a talented player and he is a great lad who has given this club a lot in a very short space of time."
"He won the BBL championship in his first professional season and not many players can say that.
"He has had a huge impact since he arrived for an open trial and I am sure he is proud of what he has achieved and so he should be.
"We were lucky to get him for last season from those trials when there were no guarantees and we were even more fortunate that he contributed so many minutes.
"We were all hopeful that he would continue his progress this year but things haven't worked out and Tom is now hoping to pursue other interests.
"The club would like to thank him for his efforts and we wish him success and luck in whatever he chooses to do."
TJ Walker, player/coach of the BiG Stroage Cheshire Jets, returned to the MetroRadio Arena for the first time on Friday since departing the Newcastle Eagles in the Summer.
Walker spent seven years as a player on Tyneside, winning six trophies, and was MVP of the 2006 BBL Cup Final with the Eagles; he was also a BBL All-Star on four occasions whilst playing with the club. The 32-year-old point guard played 229 games for Newcastle, scoring a total of 3,697 points, at an average of 16.14 per game, and adding 1,473 assists.
He left for the coaching opportunity that was offered to him at Cheshire, and was recognised for his efforts by the Newcastle Eagles club and fans prior to tip-off on Friday. He received a standing ovation during the team introductions and further rapturous applause as he was presented with a framed Newcastle jersey by former coach Fab Flournoy and Eagles' MD Paul Blake.
His Jets team subsequently ran the reigning playoff champions close, before the Eagles prevailed to notch their seventh consecutive win. Despite the pre-game presentation, Walker had mixed emotions after his team let a late lead slip to lose 81-78,
"Aside from not winning it was great to go back and see the guys," he said.
"We should have won the game, we had a chance to go six up near the end, but we missed and they hit a three to cut the margin to one. We made a couple of errors, and they proved crucial. I'm still happy with the guys, and we're moving forward."
The Jets have won four of their last six games, after starting 0-3 and currently sit sixth in the BBL Championship table.
They take a break from league action as they feature in 'Knockout Sunday' this weekend with a massive North-West derby against the Everton Tigers which will see one team progress to the BBL Cup quarter-finals.
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