MVP Cast with Mark Woods

With European youth tournaments in progress, The MVP Cast looks at our next generation of talented males.

US-based Brit, coach and scout Chris Mayes, and stats guru / talent spotter Dave Owen join Mark Woods to go over the names on a trajectory to the top and we assess how the forecasting progress works and who is flagged up as ones to watch.

More at MVP247.com

The MVP Cast looks ahead to EuroBasket Women 2023 and examines Great Britain's chances.

We get the thoughts of head coach Chema Buceta and new captain Temi Fagbenle - plus Hannah Robb and Erin McGarrachan go deep on their pathways to Slovenia and the expectations from within the camp. More at mvp247.com

Great Britain centre Kirsty Brown joins the MVP Cast.

With less than a week before FIBA EuroBasket Women 2023 begins, we catch up with the Leicester Riders star on progress on the road to Slovenia. She tells us about the long round trip from Edinburgh to California and back to these shores, her drive to turn pro and the hopes of a new generation of GB prospects to make a mark. More at mvp247.com

A rough and ready episode of the MVP Cast from The 02 as London Lions make it a double over Leicester Riders in the BBL and WBBL Playoff Finals - as we hear from Ryan Schmidt, Darien Nelson-Henry, Krumesh Patel, Azania Stewart and Stella Kaltsidou.

London Lions men's head coach Ryan Schmidt joins the MVP Cast.

He tells Mark Woods about the learning curve undertaken last season and in mixing with old hands in the EuroCup and the opportunities it has afforded him.

We head back to the start of his love affair with basketball in Portland and how injuries took him from playing in the minor leagues towards a career on the sidelines. And we look back on a season in the BBL that could take a route towards three trophies - but with no driving time behind the wheel. More at mvp247.com

MCing legend Simon Hosannah joins the MVP Cast.

He tells Mark Woods about how he fell into announcing basketball, the big names and big games where he's been the man on the mic, and the work it takes to put on a show. But he also reveals the mammoth change in his life that's put him in a contest of his own - and why it's led him to retire from courtside next month. More at MVP247.com.

WBBL chair Jim Saker joins the MVP Cast to talk State of the League.

Plus reaction following the 2023 BBL and WBBL Trophy finals. Hannah Robb tells us why Leicester Riders will be back, Shanice Beckford-Norton looks inside London Lions win, Azania Stewart explains her retirement - and why she may not be quite ready to finish up.

And following Caledonia Gladiators jinx-breaking victory, David Sloan reveals the emotion behind his game-winner, and Gareth Murray tells us what the win means to him. More at mvp247.com

Caledonia Gladiators and Ivory Coast big Patrick Tapé joins the MVP Cast.----more----

Amid March Madness, he tells us about his own college days which began with combining books and basketball at Ivy League Columbia University, ended with a stint off the streets of San Francisco, and crammed in a spell under Coach K at Duke University. He recounts the impact of his first trip to the homeland of his father Denis to represent his country in the FIBA World Cup. And we look ahead to the BBL Trophy final against Cheshire Phoenix. More at mvp247.com.

A Communicated production.

Bristol Flyers guard Jelani Watson-Gayle joins the MVP Cast.

He tells us about his transformation from being a footballing hopeful with Leyton Orient to throwing his all into basketball - with huge assists from his mother and older brother. We talk the learnings to becoming a leader, the confidence he gained from going to the States at age 15 that's now being put to good effect in the British Basketball League - and the potential for a call-up from Great Britain. More at mvp247.com

Durham Palatinates centre Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby joins the MVP Cast.

She tells Mark Woods about the globetrotting odyssey that saw her grow up across Europe but left her hunting for proper roots in this post-Brexit time.

She reveals the rationale behind her decision to return to the Women's British Basketball League, her early leap into the game in Loughborough and what we might learn from hoops in Germany. And she talks her time in Philly - and her Super Bowl picks. More at mvp247.com