Raiders host international trials

The Raiders hope their June trials will attract new talent to the club

Plymouth Raiders are set to host their first ever international trials.

The Plymouth Raiders International Open Tryouts wills run at the Pavilions from 9-10 June with the aim of attracting top-class talent to the club.

"This is not an X-Factor for basketball," said Raiders head coach Gary Stronach.

"A strict vetting procedure will take place and only those players with proven track records in their career to date will be invited."

He added: "If it works, then it's something that we'll look to run every year and will become an important part of Raiders' pre-season schedule."

The club got the idea from an agent based in the United States who felt he had a number of players that they would like to look at.

Players can go to a dedicated website - www.plymouthriot.com - and submit their details to the club. Those whom the Raiders feel might make the grade will then be invited to Plymouth.

The idea of summer trials is not new, with many clubs in Europe holding camps in the close season to try and pick up new talent.

"We scheduled it for this date to maximise the opportunities for players in other parts of Europe to attend," said Raiders chairman Bob Widdecombe.

"The play-offs in some countries aren't over until the last week of May or even the first week of June.

"This will give players based throughout the UK and the rest of Europe, as well as the USA, the opportunity to take part," he added.

The club hope that the trials will be successful. Raiders' management let agents in Europe and the United States know about the trials on Friday afternoon and already had 12 inquiries by Monday morning.