A PUPIL at Ponteland High School is knocking on the door to represent England’s youth basketball team at next summer‘s European Championships.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip9xvqIDmLU

Fifteen-year-old Matthew Armstrong is the only North-East representative selected for England’s U16 squad of 30, the numbers to be whittled down ahead of the Euros, date and venue yet to be confirmed.

Having impressed while playing for a North East side in the National Regional Tournament, point guard Matthew caught the eye of national selectors and has been invited to attend a four-day training camp at St Albans, Hertfordshire, just before Christmas.

And the hard working teenager, who plays for National League side Gateshead Phoenix’s U18 team, is hoping he is one of the hopefuls to make the team of 12 to be taken on the European trip.

He said: “I’ve played for the North East at the regionals for the past four years, and it’s where all the best players from each region all play against each other and the standard is really high.

“I was surprised at first when I was told I was selected to the national squad, but I was so glad as I’ve put a lot of hard work into my basketball and it has all paid off.

“But, I’m not planning on stopping there as I know there’s now a lot more work to do and I just want to keep at it and keep improving.”

The invitation to the training camp is the next step up the ladder for Matthew who dreams of making it as a professional in Europe in the future.

He first became interested in the sport while watching Newcastle Eagles when he was 10 years old, and joined Westgate Hoopstars. He then progressed onto Gateshead Phoenix, where he also turns out for the men’s fourth team.

His PE teacher at Ponteland, Gordon Grier, said the call-up was well justified for all the hours he puts in, taking every spare minute at lunch time or after school to cram in a bit of practice.

He said: “We have had talented basketball players in the past, but nobody at his age group has gone as far as Matthew, and that is down to his hard work he puts in outside of games.

”It’s his work ethic which stands out more than anything, and his approach to games and practice, or playing out in the yard, is with the same intensity and mentality.

“Everything he does is with a purpose, and I think that is what makes him stand out from the rest.”