Luke sets his sights high

FORMER NORTON KNATCHBULL SCHOOL PUPIL HOPES ONE DAY TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN THE NBA

Luke Busumbru is dreaming of making it to the NBA and believes the opportunity he has already seized in America has given him a better chance of becoming a pro.

The former Norton Knatchbull School pupil is spending this academic year at Montverde High School in Florida, where he became the first Brit to win a basketball scholarship.

Speaking on his first return to the UK since starting school across the Atlantic, Busumbru, 16, revealed he is relishing the experience he is gaining:

He said: “It’s a challenge. Everyone out there is bigger, stronger, quicker and the basketball is a lot quicker and more technical but I’m coping and always trying to improve.

“The standard is a lot better. I have great players as team-mates, everyone is competing to be as good as they can and to get more playing time, so that pushes us to be better players and better individuals.

“Even the teams we’ve faced, they’ve been a lot tougher, a lot more physical than teams in England.

“It’s improving me as a player and getting me ready for the future.”

It is clear that Busumbru is a driven youngster who knows what he wants to achieve.

The higher standard of basketball played at US high schools could be a vital factor in deciding his future.

And the Americans have a structured pathway to becoming a professional athlete.

From high school, potential basketball stars move on to college, where they can showcase their talent in the hope of being selected in the NBA draft, which is just what the Montverde pupil is striving towards.

He said: “Every basketball player wants to be in the NBA and you’ve got to work hard for it.

“I want to make it to the highest level possible and that’s NBA – I’ll aim for that and nothing less.

‘It’s improving me as a player and getting me ready

for the future’

“I’d like to play in the Brazil Olympics. There’s a lot of talent up and coming for Great Britain but I’m sure that by that time, having played in America for two or three years, I’ll be able to get on that GB team.

“I’m playing for the No.1 team in the world at high school level, so going up against that type of competition every day in practice and playing against the best teams trying to beat us, it always helps.”

The Christmas break has given Busumbru the opportunity to catch up with his friends and family and also meet up with his former teammates, who he played with under coach Andy Sunderland – who was integral to helping Luke achieve his move to America.

Busumbru scores slam dunks and lay-ups for fun, utilising his 6”2 frame and large leap.

But now he has set his sights even higher and he is certainly thriving in the perfect environment to help his dreams come true.

RIO HOPES: Luke Busumbru