Crusaders alumni Sam Lane has signed to play for Manchester Giants in the BBL for this season.

The 6’1 guard will be making his debut in the top tier of British basketball.

Lane played his entire junior career with Crusaders, including playing for Crusaders’ academy at Northfleet through Sixth Form. He then went on to study at Loughborough where he played BUCS and National League for them. He returned home last season and played for Crusaders NBL4 team, winning the team’s MVP award.

He relocated to Manchester this season to develop the business he developed with Loughborough teammates Jerelle Okoro and Reiss Haggith, who both now play for the Giants. Tuice is a unique Green Tea Extract lifestyle juice drink that has received national praise and will be launching a sample run next month before appearing at Food Matters Live in November.

The opportunity with the Giants will allow Lane to develop his business and basketball simultaneously. There will be another familiar face alongside him as Dean Wanliss, who played for Crusaders NBL1 team last season has also signed with Giants.

Lane will be one of three Crusaders alumni products in the BBL this season, joining Kalil Irving (Surrey Scorchers) and Disraeli Lufadeju (Leeds Force).

Lane is looking forward to the opportunity, saying, “I feel very excited to sign with the Manchester Giants. This will be my first year playing in the BBL so I am expecting it to be a big learning curve and look forward developing as a player.”

“With previous Crusader academy players Disraeli Lufadeju and Kalil Irving going through a similar process, I hope to bide my time and hopefully find success as they have. It is also credit to the Northfleet- Canterbury Crusaders partnership, which is continuing to prove its success in preparing young basketball athletes.”