A Canvey teenager is off to the States this summer hoping to take the first step towards a career in basketball.

On the bounce - Rikki Broadmore is looking forward to testing his basketball skills at a New Jersey training camp

Rikki Broadmore, a pupil at Furtherwick Park school, is jetting off to New Jersey in June with the chance to impress scouts at one of the top US Basketball training camps.

For the 15-year-old this represents a fantastic chance to build on a successful beginning in the English junior game, and proud mother Lyn is understandably thrilled.

"We're all very excited for him," she said. "There are lots of basketball camps but this one is the biggest in the USA.

"All the major basketball colleges are there scouting for promising boys, and even though Rikki's a bit young for that this year it will be a great experience for him.

"He needs to get out there this year, get a taste for it and hopefully get invited back when he's older and ready to look for a college."

Broadmore plays National League basketball with Baddow Eagles, where he has been involved in some games with the men's team.

And he has appeared for Essex under-16s despite being a year below that age group.

His county involvement saw him invited to an England-wide training camp last summer, and that in turn led to the opportunity to go to the USA.

Published Thursday January 22, 2004

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