Four young Colliers have been selected to play for Scotland after continuing to impress their coaches and national coaches in their games, the future Starz programme and national team trials.

 

Lewis “LJ” Milligan from Cambuslang has been selected to play for the under 11s squad who prepare to travel to the Surrey Basketball Festival in England on the 6th & 7th June.

 

LJ’s Collier’s coach Stephanie McLean commented that: “LJ's determination and willingness to learn makes him a fantastic player to coach.”

 

“He challenges himself every session and continues to show great potential as a player.”

 

LJ had the following to saw about his selection:

 

“It feels Amazing, I’m an Under 10 player but I got picked for the Under 11 squad.”

 

“I was really excited when I got the email saying that I had been picked and that I'd be playing in a tournament in England and playing for Scotland.”

 

LJ has worked very hard to develop his potential at training sessions and with his dad Derek, LJ said: “I feel like I've really improved my skills since last year.“

 

“I'm much better at ball handling and shooting now, I go to training with the Colliers Under 14s and my own team which is for Under 12s.

 

“All of my coaches are really good, I've also been getting extra coaching because I was picked for Future Starz.

 

“I really enjoy playing for my Reach for the Sky team the Cambuslang Cougars too, especially in the Academy Development League games on a Saturday morning.”

 

LJ has his sites set high as he told us: “I would love to play in the NBA or get a job as a basketball player for any team really, for just now I just want to keep playing with the Colliers and Reach for the Sky and have fun and get better.”

 

“It would be great if I kept getting picked to play for Scotland, as I get older too.”

 

LJ models his game on his favourite player Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma Thunder, he said: “he's a role model for me playing basketball, he's strong and powerful but has lots of skills too.”

 

“He also works really hard and always tries his best for his team.”

 

LJ said his favourite moment since hes been playing basketball so far has been: “there have been lots of things. I like playing in tournaments and I have played for Lanarkshire in a National Challenge for Under 10s and I really like playing in the Regional Development Leagues for my Colliers teams too.”

 

“But getting picked to play for Scotland has been the best moment in basketball for me so far.”