News
Old hand Junior Williams leads youngsters
Monday, 23 February 2009
Junior Williams, far right at back, with the boys' under-16 team
A BASKETBALL team coached by a former top player has scored first prize at a regional competition.
Ex-pro Junior Williams is helping young people in Lambeth follow in his slam-dunking footsteps.
He has been working at a Lambeth council-run basketball club since it was set up two years ago.
Junior, 31, turned out for the London Towers and Oklahoma City University’s team in America.
He also represented Great Britain.
Last week the under-16s boys’ team coached by Junior won a basketball contest run by Metropolitan Housing Trust.
Junior said: “They came back with a giant glass trophy and all of the players were given T-shirts and basketballs so it was a really good day for them.”
He currently trains four teams, four days a week at the old Lilian Baylis School in Lollard Street, Kennington.
All the teams play under the name Kennington Topcats Basketball Club.
From there players can progress to the senior Brixton Topcats Basketball Club.
Junior, from north London, trained with the Brixton team as a teenager and now works with young people in the area.
He said: “My main thing is to get kids doing something positive and getting them off the street. “The way we run our sessions is disciplined but fun as well.
“Basketball isn’t an easy game to play but it teaches them how to work in a team and gives them a sense of achievement.
“And to top it off they can enter into competitions and if they win it’s excellent.
"We have sessions available for all age groups and girls are just as welcome as boys.
“A lot of girls have never had the chance to try basketball, but once they do they really take to it.
“All the sessions are free and we are really keen to encourage more young people to get involved.”
- Email jwilliams@reachand teach.co.uk for more details.
Email: nadia.gilani@slp.co.uk
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