Basketball star proposes on court

THE England women’s basketball team had beaten Mozambique and it was only moments since the men had triumphed over Cameroon at the Commonwealth Games when Loughborough College graduate Jamell Anderson got down on one knee on court to ask fellow England basketball player Georgia Jones to marry him.

Georgia had contributed nine points to a 78-51 win for the women and Jamell had asked his long-term girlfriend to come along to the postmatch photo following the men’s 81-54 victory in Townsville, Australia.

But as the team formed a huddle Georgia, standing courtside, was totally unprepared for what happened next.

The players dispersed to reveal Jamell on one knee, holding an engagement ring – and Georgia said, Yes.

Jamell has represented Great Britain and England and had a successful spell in the BBL - with Leicester Riders, while studying for his degree in Sport Science and Management at Loughborough College, and captaining Cheshire Phoenix.

Georgia’s brother Callum also plays for the men’s team and was part of the proposal.

“I had absolutely no idea. He told me I was just getting a picture taken,” said Georgia. “I’m just in shock.”

Before his on-court proposal, Jamell gained the approval of Georgia’s father Jeff, a former England international and her head coach with the Women’s British Basketball League Manchester Mystics.

Asked why he chose that particular moment to propose, Jamell – who plays his club basketball for FG La Roda in Spain, said: “We both worked so hard for this opportunity to be here.

“Basketball is a very big part of our relationship so it just made sense to do it here.”