Kent Panthers
Kent Panthers is an English semi-professional basketball club based in Kent.[1] The club is presently a participant in the National Basketball League Division 3, which stands as the fourth tier of England basketball.
| Kent Panthers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Leagues | NBL Division 3 | |||
| Founded | 2019 | |||
| History | Kent Panthers 2019–present | |||
| Arena | RGS Arena | |||
| Capacity | 400 | |||
| Location | Kent, England | |||
| Team colours | Black, White, Gold, Grey | |||
| Main sponsor | Timeline Athlete | |||
| General manager | Sten Mayunga | |||
| Head coach | Daniel James | |||
| Ownership | Ryan Richards, Lee Westbrook, Sten Mayunga | |||
| Website | Official website | |||
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The club came into existence in 2019, founded by Ryan Richards, GB International player selected in the 2010 NBA draft, and Lee Westbrook.[2] The team plays its games at the Rochester Grammar School.
In 2023, the club experienced notable expansion through the acquisition of the Kent Tigers Basketball Club, a successful local league team established and managed by Sten Mayunga. Following this acquisition, Mayunga integrated with the Panthers' organisational structure, assuming the roles of co-owner and general manager. This strategic move served to bolster the leadership of the club and further underscore its ambitions.
In the same year, the Kent Panthers instituted a sports scholarship in partnership with Kent Sports of the University of Kent.[3] This initiative provides students with the opportunity to earn a scholarship bursary of up to £1,000. Additionally, it offers free membership to sports facilities, strength and conditioning coaching, sports rehabilitation services, and other related benefits.[4] This endeavor reflects the club's commitment to enhancing educational and athletic opportunities for local youth.
History
The club was initiated as a pioneering project aimed at introducing a unique style of basketball to the Kent region. This initiative was spearheaded by Ryan Richards, a former NBA draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs, and his business associate, Lee Westbrook. The establishment of the club marked the birth of a dynamic basketball scene in Kent, as the Panthers positioned themselves as significant contenders in the sport.
In the early stages of their formation, the Panthers became aware of another emerging club on the Kent basketball scene that was rapidly gaining popularity called the Kent Tigers. The Tigers were managed by Sten Mayunga, a former athlete with over a decade of experience working for the likes of the Premier League and had also worked within the operations team of the EuroCup team London Lions. Recognising a new vision and opportunity for the club, Richards and Westbrook began negotiations to acquire the Kent Tigers.
After several months of discussions, the negotiations were successfully finalised in February 2023, with the Panthers absorbing the Tigers and bringing Mayunga on board as a co-owner and general manager of the Senior team.[5] This strategic acquisition not only broadened the Panthers' reach but also made them one of the largest basketball clubs in Kent, consolidating their position in the region's basketball landscape.
For the 2023–24 season, the Panthers entered the NBL for the first time in club history.
Honours
MBA D1
- Winners (1): 2022–23 (Kent Tigers)
MBA D2
- Winners (1): 2022–23 (Kent Tigers II)
Joe Jagger Cup
- Runners Up (1): 2022–23 (Kent Tigers)
MBA D3
- Winners (1): 2021–22 (Kent Tigers)
Nobby Crouch Plate
- Winners (1): 2021–22 (Kent Tigers)
Season by season
| Champions | Runners-up | Playoff berth |
| DNQ | Did not qualify | |
| Kent Panthers | |||||||||||||
| Season | Tier | League | Finish | Pld | W | L | Win% | Playoffs | Cup | Trophy | European Competitions | Head coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | DNQ | N/A | |
| 2020–21 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||||||
| 2021–22 | 7 | MBA 3 | 1st  |
10 | 10 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st Round | DNQ | Winners | Jerry Jaranilla | ||
| 2021–22 | 6 | MBA 2 | 1st |
16 | 14 | 2 | .875 | DNC | 1st Round | Quarter-final | Akin Lisk-Carew | ||
| 2022–23 | 5 | MBA 1 | 1st |
14 | 13 | 1 | .929 | DNC | Runners Up | DNC | Jerry Jaranilla | ||
| 2023–24 | 4 | NBL 3 | ... | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | ... | ... | ... | ... | Daniel James | |
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
| Kent Panthers roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 17 September 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable players
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
| Criteria |
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To appear in this section a player must have either:
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Retired numbers
| Kent Panthers retired numbers | ||||
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| No. | Nat. | Player | Position | Tenure |
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Hall of Famers
| Kent Panthers Hall of Famers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | |||||
| No. | Nat. | Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted |
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See also
References
- "Kent Panthers Basketball Club". Maidstone YMCA. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- "Ryan Richards Reveals Ownership Stake in Kent Panthers". Hoopsfix. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "Kent Panthers Basketball scholarship". University of Kent. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- "UK Universities partnership with Basketball programs". Basketball England. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- "Kent Panthers announces Sten Mayunga as their new General Manager". Kent Panthers website. Retrieved 9 February 2023.