{"id":235806,"date":"2021-09-08T09:25:32","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T07:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/?p=235806"},"modified":"2021-09-08T09:25:32","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T07:25:32","slug":"newcastle-eagles-sign-wesley-person-jr-to-replace-matt-scott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/newcastle-eagles-sign-wesley-person-jr-to-replace-matt-scott\/","title":{"rendered":"Newcastle Eagles sign Wesley Person Jr to replace Matt Scott"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newcastle Eagles have moved quickly to replace summer signing Matt Scott after the US star suffered a potentially season-ending injury.<\/p>\n

Scott was due to link up with his new team-mates on Tyneside this month after head coach Ian MacLeod successfully landed one of his top targets.<\/p>\n

But former Plymouth and London City Royals guard Scott suffered a knee injury during a summer practice session\u00a0and is likely to be out for the majority of the 2021-22 season.<\/p>\n

And Newcastle have turned to Alabama native Wesley Person Jr. as the Eagles prepare to defend their BBL Cup and Playoff titles.<\/p>\n

\u201cMatt is a great guy and I really felt that he was the right fit for this team this season,\u201d said MacLeod.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a player I\u2019ve wanted to work with for a few years now and I\u2019d finally made that happen.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing for everyone but especially for Matt and my heart goes out to him. He just wanted to kickstart his career back in the BBL.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be staying in touch and keeping tabs on his recovery. We\u2019ve had a long-term interest in Matt and that doesn\u2019t change \u2014 everyone at the club would like to wish him all the best during the next few months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Person Jr. played four years at NCAA Division One Troy University before the guard was drafted by G League franchise the Maine Red Claws in 2019.<\/p>\n

That move failed to work out and the 6ft 3in star earned his first professional contract with Italian Serie A2 side Roseto Sharks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWesley had a really successful season in what\u2019s a very tough European league,\u201d said MacLeod.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike Matt he didn\u2019t play last season but I was surprised he was still available when we started to put the feelers out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great for Newcastle that we\u2019ve been able to bring in a player of his calibre at such short notice and everyone at the Eagles is excited to welcome Wesley to Tyneside.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s someone who can shoot the basketball very well and he can play the point too which will complement the return of Rahmon [Fletcher].<\/p>\n

\u201cIt goes without saying that I\u2019m very happy to announce Wesley, albeit in difficult circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

Person\u2019s father, Wesley Person, enjoyed a decade-long NBA career with seven franchises including Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old is the nephew of ex-Indiana Pacers star and 1987 NBA Rookie of the Year Chuck Person.<\/p>\n

And Wesley Person Jr. emerged as one of college basketball\u2019s hottest prospects during a stellar four-year stint with the Trojans.<\/p>\n

In his four seasons at Troy, the sharp shooter finished his career averaging 15.9 points, three rebounds and 1.5 assists per game across 128 appearances.<\/p>\n

In his senior campaign, Person broke the Troy scoring record, the Sun Belt three-point record and became the first-ever Trojan to score 2,000 points.<\/p>\n

Set to follow up on his breakout professional campaign at Roseto, Newcastle\u2019s latest signing was poised to continue his career development at Hungarian outfit Egis K\u00f6rmend last year.<\/p>\n

But the global pandemic stopped Person in his tracks and MacLeod added: \u201cWesley just wants to get back out on court doing what he does best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newcastle Eagles play the visiting USA Select this Friday night at the Vertu Motors Arena in a game which is set to sell-out as the first tip-off with spectators since March 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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