Hemel Storm

Hemel Storm are a British semi-professional basketball club from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Founded in 2006, the Storm compete in NBL Division 1, the second tier of the British basketball system, and play their home games at the Everyone Active Hemel Hempstead Sports Centre. The club had been based in several locations across Hertfordshire and north London before settling into their current, long-term home in 2010.

Hemel Storm
Hemel Storm logo
LeagueNational Basketball League (England)
Established2006 (2006)
HistoryWest Herts Warriors II
2006–2008
Watford Storm
2008–2009
Edmonton Storm
2009–2010
Hemel Storm
2010–present
ArenaHemel Leisure Centre
Capacity600
LocationHemel Hempstead
Team colours   
Main sponsorVanarama
Head coachEngland Mark Clark
WebsiteOfficial website

The club has no formal links to the Hemel Hempstead Lakers, a basketball club formerly in the town which relocated to Milton Keynes in 1998. [1]

History

Originally formed in 2006 as a feeder club for the West Hertfordshire Warriors, the club finished in third place in EBL Division Four (Midlands/South) in their inaugural season, gaining immediate promotion to Division Three (South). Early in the following season, the parent team resigned from Division One due to financial difficulties, leaving the second team to carry on the name alone. The club continued to a fourth place finish despite the off-court upheavals.[2]

The newly independent club moved their home venue to the Westfield Sports Centre in Watford for the 2008-09 season, the move bringing the club a new name (Watford Storm) and another third place finish. However, problems with the Westfield venue led to the club playing in Edmonton by the end of the season, leading to another short-term move for the 2009-10 season, and a further name change to the Edmonton Storm. Finally, the club moved one final time to Hemel Hempstead ahead of the 2010-11 season, renaming themselves the Hemel Storm and bringing basketball back to the town after a 13-year absence.[2]

After settling into their new home, the club went from strength to strength. Over the following seasons, the Storm won the Patrons Cup in 2011, following up with a second placed finish in EBL Division Two in the 2011-12 season and successfully defending their Patrons Cup title. This gained the club promotion to EBL Division One for the 2012-13 season. Five years later the club claimed the National Cup for the first time after a 94-77 victory over Manchester Magic.[3]

Undoubtedly their best season to date was 2022-23, becoming only the 2nd team in NBL History to win all 4 Trophies with an unbeaten record[4] of 40-0. The National Cup was the first trophy of the season secured with a 81-102 win over Derby Trailblazers on 22nd January 2023 in Manchester,[5] followed by the KitKing Trophy success against Worthing Thunder at Surrey Sports Park on 11th March 2023, winning 99-92.[6] The NBL Division 1 League Title was secured with a 107-77 win at Team Newcastle University on 25th March 2023[7] and the season wrapped up with the NBL Division 1 Playoff Final, beating Worthing Thunder in a close 69-63 victory in Manchester on 23rd April 2023.[8]

Honours

National Cup

  • 2018, 2023

Patrons Cup

  • 2011, 2012

KitKing Trophy

  • 2023

NBL Division 1 League Champions

  • 2023

NBL Division 1 Playoff Champions

  • 2023

Players
Hemel Storm roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 1 United Kingdom Hawes, Kavell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
F 2 Guinea Sylla, Hakeem 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
G 4 United Kingdom Newman, Sam 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
G 7 United Kingdom Burnell, Jack 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
G 8 United States Swalve, Seth 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
F 10 United Kingdom Durand, Greg 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
G 12 United Kingdom Disu, Matthew 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F 15 New Zealand Inger, Brayden 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
G 20 United States Allen, Tez 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
F 22 Ghana Hehetro, Bernard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
G 24 United Kingdom Eze, Veron 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F United Kingdom Atiba, Adeoluwa 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)


Notable former players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Season-by-season records

Season Division Tier Regular Season Post-Season National Cup
Finish Played Wins Losses Points Win %
West Herts Warriors II
2006-07 D4 Mid 5 3rd 16 12 4 24 0.750 Quarter-final Did not compete
2007-08 D3 Sou 4 4th 22 13 9 26 0.591 Quarter-final Did not compete
Watford Storm
2008-09 D3 Sou 4 3rd 24 18 6 36 0.750 Quarter-final 3rd round
Edmonton Storm
2009-10 D2 3 4th 20 13 7 26 0.650 Semi-final 2nd round
Hemel Storm
2010-11 D2 3 5th 20 12 8 24 0.600 Quarter-final 2nd round
2011-12 D2 3 2nd 20 16 4 32 0.800 Quarter-final Quarter-final
2012-13 D1 2 10th 26 11 15 22 0.423 Did not qualify Quarter-final
2013-14 D1 2 3rd 26 18 8 36 0.692 Quarter-final 3rd round
2014-15 D1 2 10th 24 9 15 18 0.375 Did not qualify 3rd round
2015-16 D1 2 4th 26 18 8 36 0.692 Quarter-final 3rd round
2016-17 D1 2 8th 26 13 13 26 0.500 Quarter-final 4th round
2017-18 D1 2 7th 24 12 12 24 0.500 Runners-Up Winners, beating Manchester
2018-19 D1 2 9th 26 11 15 22 0.423 Did not qualify Semi-finals
2019-20 D1 2 4th 23 16 7 35 0.696 No playoffs Quarter-finals
2020-21 D1 2 3rd 19 14 5 28 0.737 Runners-Up No competition
2021-22 D1 2 6th 26 16 10 32 0.615 Runners-Up Quarter-finals
2022-23 D1 2 1st 26 26 0 52 1.000 Winners Winners, beating Derby

Record in BBL competitions

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away
2020–21 BBL Trophy R1 Cheshire Phoenix L 77-63
2021–22 BBL Trophy R1 Thames Valley Cavaliers L 86-78

References

  1. "Hemel Storm, Club History". Hemel Storm Club Website.
  2. "Edmonton Storm move to Hemel Hempstead under new management". Basketball England. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  3. "National Cup Win". Basketball England.
  4. "Invincible Company". Basketball England.
  5. "National Cup Finals". Basketball England.
  6. "KitKing Trophy". Hemel Storm.
  7. "Hemel Storm claimed the 2022/23 regular-season title". Basketball England.
  8. "NBL1 Playoff Finals". Basketball England.
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