The sudden death of Lee Linton-Hodges prompted a strong and personal response from those who knew him throughout his long involvement with Ipswich basketball. The Lee Linton Hodges tribute reflects the depth of feeling within the club and the wider community, shaped by a career that began in 2005 and a presence that influenced players and supporters over two decades.
Head coach Nick Drane, who had trained him since he was 15, said there was “not a moment that goes by where I’m not thinking about him”.
“Lee was the cornerstone of everything we’ve built in Ipswich over the last 20 or 25 years,” Mr Drane said. He described him as “probably the most important player, certainly that I’ve ever coached, that’s played for Ipswich Basketball Club in terms of establishing what the club means on and off the court”. This sense of legacy is a key thread running through various tributes to Lee Linton-Hodges.
He represented England at junior level before going on to play for the London Leopards. He also won the National Cup in 2018 with Hemel Storm, according to Basketball England. His achievements on the court formed only part of the story. Mr Drane said he was “such an incredible talent as a young player, such a loyal ambassador as a senior player, but far more importantly, just an incredible role model and pillar of the Ipswich community”.
He added: “An absolute foundation of this family, ethos and culture that I and we build everything around. Lee was Ipswich Basketball Club.”
Club Captain Harriet Welham supported this view, saying he would “always” be a legend of the club. She noted his closeness to the women’s team and said his partner was being supported. “The club does what the club does best, and that’s rallying together when things get tough; that’s exactly what we’ve done,” she said.
A fundraiser launched to assist his family with funeral costs raised more than £32,000. The response reflected the widespread impact he had on those who encountered him, whether through sport or community activity. Mr Drane said: “He will never be replaced on or off the court. A huge part of me is missing.”
Ms Welham said: “He will always be the legend of Ipswich Basketball Club. He’s bigger than life, the biggest, friendliest giant you’ll ever meet, and he is already and will always be missed.” Her remarks underscore how the Lee Linton Hodges tribute is shaped by memories of personality as much as performance.
The collective words of coaches, players and supporters describe someone regarded as central to the identity of the club. The tributes to Lee Linton-Hodges reflects both grief and gratitude, marking the impact of a player who shaped the culture of Ipswich basketball for many years.
