Hoop action with international basketball coach
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
05/02/2008
Basketball action at Burlington Danes
The basketball coach who discovered Luol Deng, Britain’s best paid sports star, is coaching youngsters from Shepherds Bush for free over the coming months.
Jimmy Rogers, coach of the famous Brixton Topcats, is star attraction at the Burlington Danes Basketball Club (BDBC), an initiative organised by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s School Sports Partnership (SSP).
This is the second year of the BDBC, an initiative which offers free professional coaching on Saturdays to local primary and secondary school children and encourages talented youngsters to compete in London-wide and national tournaments.
The sessions, funded in partnership between Burlington Danes Academy and the Big Lottery Fund provide many youngsters with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get expert basketball tips from one of the games’ coaching legends.
Jimmy Rogers unearthed Luol Deng soon after the six foot nine inch superstar moved to England from Egypt. Rogers quickly spotted Deng’s talent and invited Luol and his brother Ajou to play for his Topcats team. His obvious talent made a move to that USA unavoidable. He went to Blair Academy in New Jersey for two years, then to Duke University in North Carolina. Deng now plays for the Chicago Bulls and earns more money that Wayne Rooney and John Terry.
The BDBC runs on Saturdays between 10am and 11.15am for local primary pupils aged seven to 11 and from 11.30am to 12.45pm for secondary students aged 12 to 14. There are also sessions for 14 to 16 year-olds from 1pm to 2.15pm. The community sports programme, which has 30 places for each age group, is open to children and young people who live or go to school in the Shepherds Bush area.
Jimmy Rogers said: "I am really excited to be a part of the Burlington Danes Basketball Club and am enjoying working with young people from the Shepherds Bush area. I hope that everyone who takes part has fun and I'll certainly be keeping my eyes open for any especially talented youngsters who could have a future in the game. I'd like to thank H&F's School Sports Partnership for inviting me to be a part in this excellent project."
Cllr Antony Lillis, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said, "This is an excellent initiative and it really is a coup for the council and Burlington Danes to get Jimmy Rogers on board. We know that basketball is an increasingly popular sport with young people and I am sure that Jimmy and the coaches from the SSP will provide inspiration for all who are lucky enough to attend. As well as putting Burlington Danes at the heart of the community this scheme will help the council to raise the profile of sport for young people in the borough and play our part in developing sporting talent."
The SSP is busy trying to acquire Clubmark status for BDBC. This would see it linked to the Brixton Topcats with the best of local talent given the opportunity to play for Jimmy Roger’s team.
If you are interested it taking part in BDBC, contact Carlos Munoz on 020 7385 0091 / 07847 288 681 or email carlos.munoz@burlingtondanes
