Raiders coach to launch appeal to overturn Blount's ineligibility
MARJON Plymouth Raiders coach Gavin Love plans to ask the BBL to allow teenager Jordan Blount to play in the league this season.
Blount, 15, from Cork, Ireland, is one of two apprentices Love has added to Raiders' 2012/13 BBL roster.
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Gavin Love
However, Blount's inclusion is only informal, because new BBL rules this season do not allow clubs to recruit more than five, non-British players.
Raiders had already signed five senior professionals from outside Britain when they unearthed 6ft 4in shooting-guard Blount at open trials in Plymouth in late-August.
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"There may be a possibility, because Jordan's under 16, we can still play him in the BBL," said Love.
"I'm not sure at the moment to be honest, but I'd love to have Jordan in there.
"He's 15 years old and he's a good player – a really good player. Something like this would only help him."
If BBL loopholes do not permit Raiders to formally sign Blount, who is part of their new academy in the city at Discovery College, the matter could still go to a vote at one of the league's monthly board meetings.
The 12 BBL clubs are all represented at board meetings and all have a vote. A simple majority on the question of Blount would allow him to play.
A BBL spokesman told Herald Sport in an email: "Any change to BBL Rules needs to be agreed by the BBL Board, made up of one representative from each club.
"If Raiders wish to request a change they would need to make such a request to the Board. They just need a simple majority for it to be agreed."
Blount has come off the bench for Raiders in pre-season at the Pavilions, alongside fellow apprentice Tristan Hall, who is from Portsmouth and British and eligible to play in the BBL this season.
Blount, of course, would only see fleeting minutes this season, most likely towards the end of games already won and lost.
But now Love has taken the step of adding apprentices to his squad, he feels a duty of care to school them as well as he possibly can.
"Just getting on that court in the BBL for a few minutes will take Jordan to the next level, because it's different," said Love.
"You're playing in front of a crowd and the spotlight's on you. You're not in the gym anymore. You're at a professional level and it's difficult to make that transition, but Jordan's not fazed."
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