Caledonia Gladiators have added American-Irish forward/centre Matt Zona to their men’s roster ahead of the 2026/27 Super League Basketball season.
The club confirmed Zona as their second new signing for the men’s team, bringing the 6ft 9in New Yorker to Scotland after his first professional season with Cheshire Phoenix.
Zona featured as a forward/centre for Cheshire and, according to Caledonia, helped the Phoenix reach the Super League Basketball Play-Off Final at The O2 Arena. His move gives the Gladiators another frontcourt option as they continue reshaping their squad for the new campaign.
Before turning professional in the UK, Zona played college basketball at Fordham University, where Caledonia highlighted his energy, defensive intensity and basketball IQ.
Head coach Jonny Bunyan described Zona as “exactly the type of player” the Gladiators wanted to bring into the programme, pointing to his competitiveness, effort, team-first approach and defensive versatility.
Why it matters
Caledonia are building for a fresh SLB season in a league that continues to add depth and intrigue. Zona already has recent British basketball experience, and his move from Cheshire to Caledonia gives the Gladiators a player who knows the league and has played in a deep post-season run.
With frontcourt depth often decisive across a long SLB campaign, Zona’s arrival is another useful marker of how the Gladiators are shaping their 2026/27 roster.