University's basketball link-up is a big boost for Chichester

THE University of Chichester Thunder have become a nursery team for British Basketball League team Worthing Thunder.

As well as providing opportunities for the Chichester players to train with the BBL squad, it means the best uni players can be called up by Worthing Thunder if the fixture list allows.

With former BBL players such as Bud Johnston, Jasper Chiwuzie and Liam Mitchell on the Chichester roster, there is plenty of talent in the squad.

The new link also means Chichester, who play in the English Basketball League division four south west, will play some of their matches at Worthing Leisure Centre ahead of BBL matches the same night. The first such occasion saw Chichester beat Guernsey and the link-up happens again on Saturday, February 26, at 5pm they host table-topping Taunton before Worthing’s tussle with Guildford Heat.

Worthing Thunder operations director Alan Sweetman-Hicks said: “We are grateful to the university for their support.”

Sid Fletcher, Students’ Union sports development manager, said: “If you’d said to us when we first met we’d be in this position, to have said it was beyond our hopes is an understatement.”