Mike Okauru, Jordan Spencer and the Newcastle Eagles stars to watch out for this season

The Eagles have made a strong start to the new campaign

Newcastle Eagles have made a promising start in the rebranded Super League Basketball. They boast a 4-1 record in their SLB Trophy fixtures to sit proudly at the top of North Group.

Like the majority of teams, the Eagles’ squad bears little resemblance this season to last year’s roll call though Darius Defoe is a notable exception.

The Eagles start their league campaign on November 3 against the Caledonia Gladiators with several players tipped to star in the months ahead.

Mike Okauru

Mike Okauru has returned to the top division in the UK in style, averaging 16.4 points per game, including a 27 point performance in the recent loss to Cheshire Phoenix, 4.8 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. This new edition is the leading scorer for the team and could prove to be opponents’ worst nightmare.

Those stats are no surprise when looking at his previous seasons. In the 2022 season he played for USK Praha in the Czech league. During the season he averaged 18.4 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game and 2.4 assists per game. This drew attention to the French side Nantes where he spent the following season.

Josh Ward-Hibbert

One of the few returning players this season, Josh Ward-Hibbert is going to be a dominant force on both sides of the ball for the Eagles. Through his first five games in his second season, 12.8 points and a league leading 7.8 rebounds, including a monstrous 14 rebound game in their round two 80-62 win over Manchester Basketball.

Ward-Hibbert was an impact player in his first season with the Eagles where he averaged 8.6 points per game and 5.1 assists. He was a dangerous player in last season's play-offs where he averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 assists.

Jordan Spencer

Jordan Spencer made his return to the top division in the UK by signing with the Eagles as the team's playmaker, averaging 3.4 assists in five matches. This new edition makes Newcastle a dynamic and threatening team with his ability to make plays showcasing how he will be a key piece for the Eagles to win the first SBL.

He returned to British basketball in 2019 joining Leicester Riders, making an impact in only nine games averaging 6.2 assists. He then drew interest from English powerhouse the London Lions where he averaged 3.4 assists. Spencer played a crucial part in the Lions finals run in the 20-21 season, when the Eagles won their most recent championship.