Scotland Development Squad Selections
Fantastic news as 4 young Colliers are selected for the National Team. We caught up with each of them regarding this major achievement, here’s what they had to say below.
John O’Boyle, selected for Scotland U11’s
How does it feel to be selected to represent your country?
John: “It feels fantastic! I'm really pleased.”
Who would you say your biggest influence has been and why?
John: “Stephen curry because of his shooting skills.”
Where did you start playing basketball?
John: “Reach for the Sky Basketball Academy – East Kilbride Scorpions.”
What are your ambitions within the sport?
John: “To get an American scholarship when I leave school.”
Katie Burn, selected for Scotland U14’s
How does it feel to be selected yet again to represent your country?
Katie: “To be selected for the third year feels very exciting as I am getting to know the girls in the team very well. I also am proud that I managed to get in seeing that the selection is getting harder and harder every year.”
What are you looking forward to the most being part of the U14 Girls Squad?
Katie: “I am looking forward to the training that lies ahead because I know it will improve my basketball skills. I am also looking forward to spending time with the girls I met playing with the team.”
What are your main influences?
Katie: “My main influences are that I am so determined to represent my country once again. I also feel being type 1 diabetic sometimes makes people think that I can't play Basketball to a national level witch of course makes me want to prove them wrong.”
What do you think you have learned or improved in the most over the past year?
Katie: “In the past year my confidence has improved both in and out of games. I have also learned loads of new skills, moves and techniques during my time at Basketball Scotland.”
Carla Crowther, selected for Scotland U14’s & U15’s
Coming soon…
Valetina Palli, selected for Scotland U14’s & U15’s
How does it feel to be selected to represent your country?
Valetina: “I feel very happy and proud to have been selected again to represent my country.”
Who would you say your biggest influence has been and why?
Valetina: “One of my biggest influences is Diana Taurasi who has played 11 seasons with Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. I really like her style of play and her passion for the game.”
Where did you start playing basketball?
Valetina: “I started playing basketball in Athens, Greece.”
What are your ambitions within the sport?
Valetina: “My ambition in basketball is to keep playing as well as I can.”
Lewis ‘LJ’ Milligan, selected for Scotland U11’s
How does it feel to be selected to represent your country?
Lewis: “It's absolutely brilliant. I've been picked to play for Scotland two years in a row now. It was unbelievable to go away with my team last year, stay in a hotel and play in a tournament in England.”
Who would you say your biggest influence has been and why?
Lewis: “All my coaches have been great. They've taught me a lot about how to be a good team mate and how to work on my skills.”
Where did you start playing basketball?
Lewis: “I started playing at Reach for the Sky. I went to Cambuslang Cougars when they were in Westcoats Primary. I really enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun and the coaches made it exciting too.”
What are your ambitions within the sport?
Lewis: “I just want to play basketball for as long as I can. I'd love playing basketball to be my job but most of all I just want to have fun playing with my team mates.”
