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How to get scouted for basketball in uk


Aspire Programme | Basketball England

The Aspire Programme for talented 11-15-year-olds underwent a reset in the 2021/22 season.

The new structure utilises the new super-region model and will be delivered primarily through camp-based activity throughout the year.

The objective is to provide quality coaching to age-appropriate players (2008-2011 born), reinforcing Basketball England’s Player Development Framework and the Aspire curriculum.

The nomination process for clubs to highlight age-appropriate players for the Aspire programme can be found at the bottom of the page.

Windows of Activity

Stage 1 – Aspire Skills Camps (regional)

All Aspire participants will be involved in camp activity within their region.

11 contact days will be scheduled in these windows:

  • Monday 17 Oct 2022 - Friday 21 Oct 2022
  • Sunday 23 Oct 2022 - Friday 28 Oct 2022
  • Sunday 27 Nov 2022
  • Sunday 18 Dec 2022 - Monday 2 Jan 2023
  • Sunday 29 Jan 2023
  • Monday 13 Feb 2023 - Friday 17 Feb 2023
  • Monday 3 Apr 2023 - Friday 7 Apr 2023

The wider windows are offered as a means of providing flexibility to each programme and final dates will be confirmed by each region as each window approaches.

Click here for further information on dates, venues and staff.

Stage 2 – Aspire Super Region Camps

Selected players from the Aspire Skills Camps will move on to one of four super region camps.

The super-regions are defined as follows:

North – North East, North West and Yorkshire
Central – East Midlands, South West, West Midlands
London – London North, London South
South – East, South, South East

6 contact days will scheduled in these windows:

  • Monday 13 Feb 2023 - Friday 17 Feb 2023
  • Sunday 5 Mar 2023
  • Tuesday 11 Apr 2023 - Friday 14 Apr 2023
  • Friday 19 May 2023 - Friday 2 Jun 2023
  • Monday 19 Jun 2023 - Monday 3 Jul 2023

The wider windows are offered as a means of providing flexibility to each programme and final dates will be confirmed by each super region as each window approaches.

Stage 3 – Aspire AlL-Star Tournament

An Aspire All-Star Tournament will then take place Friday 7 July 2023 - Sunday 9 July 2023 at the National Basketball Performance Centre, Manchester as the final stage of the programme.

Aspire 2022/23: Skills Camps set to start, Super Regions and All Star Tournament to follow

Player Nominations

If a club wishes to nominate age-appropriate players (2008-2011 born) for the Aspire Programme, please click the button below and fill out the form. Eligible players from the 2021-22 programme will be automatically invited to the 2022-23 programme.

The windows for nominations are as follows:

  • Tuesday 9 Aug 2022 - Friday 30 Sept 2022
  • Monday 31 Oct 2022 - Friday 11 Nov 2022
  • Monday 28 Nov 2022 - Friday 2 Dec 2022
  • Tuesday 3 Jan 2023 - Friday 13 Jan 2023
  • Monday 30 Jan 2023 - Friday 3 Feb 2023
  • Monday 20 Feb 2023 - Friday 17 Mar 2023

Nominations received after the window closes will not be guaranteed an invite to the upcoming window, and will therefore be held until the next opportunity. Accepting late nominations will be at the discretion of the Regional Talent Manager.

Player referral should be done in line with the five pillars of the Player Development Framework, which has also been linked as a button below.

Clubs should ensure that before any referral is made, they have spoken to the player, as well as the player’s parents or guardians, about the Aspire programme and have received consent to share their contact information with Basketball England. If consent is not obtained, Basketball England will refuse the referral until the parents or guardians have consent to it.

Once a referral has been completed it will be passed on to the Regional Talent Manager who will review the nomination. Should the nomination be successful, the Regional Talent Manager will pass the nomination on to the Camp Director who will invite the player to camp.

5 Pillars of the Player Development Framework

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Aspire Nomination Form

Talent Pathway: Provisional activity calendar released

Basketball England has released provisional dates for next season’s Talent activity.

With over 1450 players and 75 staff members forming the current Talent pathway, there has been a strong push to draft a calendar to plan around ahead of the 2022/23 season.

The dedicated clubs who support the Talent pathway will also be able to plot around the upcoming dates, creating a joined-up approach to performance basketball across the country.

The first date of note is Saturday 10 September when coaches, Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) personnel and affiliated practitioners will be able to attend the BE Performance Conference (location to be confirmed).

The first Aspire window will then fall across 17-28 October, with other dates scheduled in November and December before the turn of the year.

The full calendar is available below:

Basketball England’s Head of Talent and Performance Steve Bucknall said:

“We’re pleased to have this draft calendar in place as we look forward to what should be another excellent season of performance basketball.

“As the programmes look to build on what they did a year ago, we’ve worked hard internally to ensure synergy across both the Talent and Competition departments.

“Some dates across the Talent calendar have been released from NBL competition for example, ensuring all our performance players can attend camps and sessions where required.

“With competitions like the Tri and Four Nations plus the Aspire All-Star National Tournament set to return, it’s sure to be an exciting 12 months.”

Across the season, 11 contact days of Skills Camps and six contact days of Super Region Camps are to be delivered. The wider windows are offered as a means of providing flexibility to each programme and final dates will be confirmed by each region and super region as each window approaches.

It is also worth noting that where there is a window scheduled it doesn't necessarily mean activity will take place. Each window will be utilised where required, allowing further flexibility to each programme as to how they operate across the year.

To find out more about the Talent Pathway, please use the button below.

Find Out More

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Basketball has the power to change lives. The #GameTime campaign will aim to raise awareness of the positive impact that our sport can have on people no matter who they are or where they are from.

Basketball England aims to engage one million people in basketball via the Commonwealth Games 2022, 3x3 and more. 

Whether you want to:

  • Support #TeamEngland
  • #GetInvolved as a player, coach, official, volunteer or fan
  • Or improve your local court with #ProjectSwish

...regardless of age, gender or background, across every part of the basketball family, it's #GameTime!

It's #GameTime

Everything you need to know about English language courses in Britain

Find out more about how to organize a trip to England to study English: the features of choosing a language school, the specifics of study programs and accommodation - all this, and much more, you can find in this article.

Studying English in England is the most important direction of development and education, since the English language is heard and heard from all sides today. This is the best way to understand the world around you, to communicate with people around the world, not to get lost in foreign countries. Today, this format is preferred by the vast majority of students who subsequently plan to enter secondary or higher educational institutions in the UK and the world. Language courses for foreign students can be found in almost any country: in the former metropolises of the British Empire, in large countries and small towns.

Learning English abroad is getting easier every year. Courses in the United Kingdom are, after all, very prestigious and provide unique opportunities after graduation, from simply understanding films and books to entering educational institutions in the UK and around the world. In addition, this is an opportunity to acquire a unique and inimitable experience of living in a European state.

Why choose English language courses in Britain

There is nothing more effective and useful, because professional and experienced native teachers teach here. Great Britain is a special country in terms of historical development: for centuries, traditions have developed here in almost every area of ​​British life, and the educational sphere is no exception. Since ancient times, foreign students have come to the UK, and through the centuries, teachers have worked out one curriculum and methodology after another, bringing them to the ideal. In the process, students will be completely immersed in the linguistic and cultural environment, which will allow them not only to learn a lot of new information about the traditions, culture and life of Great Britain, but also, with a high degree of probability and with due diligence, to acquire a light British accent (to acquire a real accent, it is advisable to live among carriers for at least six months to a year).

Such courses are of great importance in the international labor market: many employees of large international corporations and small foreign economic companies, attachés and diplomats, politicians of various levels, lawyers and lawyers, and even doctors come to the country to study specialized English. Such a certificate gives tangible competitive advantages not only when looking for a new place of employment, but also when moving within an existing company. This is an excellent tool for personal growth and expanding your own horizons.

Before the start of any of the language courses, teachers conduct testing for the subsequent distribution of students into groups. In most language schools there is a division into eight levels. During the classes, the group to which you will be assigned may seem inappropriate - do not worry, because at any time you can ask the teachers to conduct additional testing and decide on a different group.

In language courses, the teaching staff offers a balanced curriculum that successfully combines the study of different aspects of the language: reading, speaking, grammar exercises, listening, etc. Rich experience allows you to make courses interesting, rich, varied, include a variety of tasks, examples and materials - learning will be both effective and interesting, exciting.

English language courses in Britain: features and varieties

A variety of programs allows everyone to choose the best option for themselves, depending on personal goals, skill level, budget and desires. There are several main varieties:

  • English in children's language camps - elementary and secondary school students will be happy to go on an interesting and fun journey to one of the many summer or winter language camps for children based on schools or universities. Here, children will not only improve their language proficiency, but will also be able to have a good rest, gain strength before the new school year, meet new friends from around the world.

  • General English courses are classical programs that involve a balanced study of several main aspects: reading, listening, speaking practice, basic grammar, etc.
  • Preparation for schools, colleges or universities - language courses with an emphasis on certain aspects necessary for future education. They provide preparation of applicants for admission to secondary schools or universities in the UK and the world, preparation for passing international language exams, etc.
  • Business, business English - involves an in-depth study of specialized vocabulary necessary for work and career. For success in such courses, a sufficiently high level of basic knowledge is required (however, there are business courses for beginners, but there are not many of them).

All lessons take place on weekdays: from Monday to Friday. The minimum duration is two weeks, but the maximum is often unlimited (up to a year!). The most popular are monthly and two-week educational programs. At the same time, it is believed that two-week language courses are the best choice for most students: during this time, they will be able to immerse themselves in the linguistic and cultural environment, get to know a new city, make friends and relax.

There is no clear seasonality in language programs, but summer is traditionally the most popular season: during these months, both children (they have holidays) and adults (it is easier to take vacations) have the most. And the weather in British cities during the summer months is the most favorable for travel.

Courses can be group or individual (tutoring). Of course, the most effective, but at the same time the most expensive option is individual lessons with a teacher. Such language courses will allow you to increase your level in a couple of weeks. Less expensive courses are lessons in groups of 4-8 people or more.

In terms of the intensity of classes, there are three main types:

  • standard (suitable for those who go abroad to study for the first time, for beginners) = up to 20 hours per week;
  • intensive (suitable for those who would like to master more topics and questions in a shorter time, for hardworking and focused people) = about 25 hours per week;
  • super intensive (suitable for those who value their time or are looking for a challenge) = 30+ hours per week.

Programs can be divided into two groups based on entry level:

There are many courses for beginners: teachers will start with the simplest things, gradually raising the bar so that by the end of even two weeks of courses the student can speak more or less fluently on basic topics . There are also options for those who already have basic knowledge and want to learn the language more accurately, in detail, quickly and effectively improve the level.

Accommodation during studies

Most of the educational institutions provide assistance to students in finding accommodation. Basic options:

British family home, teacher's family

The most popular and effective in terms of learning is living in the home of a British host family. If the child lives with the British, the degree of immersion in the linguistic and cultural environment will increase significantly, which will only favorably affect the effectiveness of the entire educational journey. Most schools have their own lists of cooperating families that provide everything necessary for a foreign child. Conversational practice will take place in the classroom in the classroom, and, even more importantly, in everyday life, in everyday life - the child will learn for himself many aspects of “live” English, which will allow him to overcome the language barrier in the shortest possible time and subsequently speak fluently.

A variant of this type of accommodation is the teacher's family, which is even more efficient. While living with a regular family, the child will not receive feedback about their mistakes or incorrect pronunciation and use of phrases or words (in most cases), when living with a teacher, the child will be able to immediately correct their mistakes due to feedback from the teacher. Having extensive experience in working with foreigners, teachers who host students at home carefully monitor their development, make comments in the classroom and are able to teach children as effectively as possible.

Hotel, hotel, hostel

These options will help you save money. For example, in hostels, only a bed and a locker or bedside table are provided in common rooms designed for 10-15 people, while in hotels, as a rule, there is a flexible tariff system. In the hotel and the hotel you can live with peers, new friends. Students staying in a hostel or hotel will be able to communicate daily with their peers, which will have a positive effect on speaking practice and overcoming the language barrier.

Rented room or apartment

Living in a rented apartment can also save you money. You can rent either the entire apartment (it is advisable to do this together with other students), or just one room. Several students from different countries of the world can live in the apartment. This accommodation option can be quite expensive (if the apartment is with excellent renovation or in a prestigious area), but it is better than others for those who love comfort and freedom, independence and independence. High school students, applicants and students, adult professional students usually live in apartments and rooms.

Dormitory room for students

Living in a rented apartment can also save you money. You can rent either the entire apartment (it is advisable to do this together with other students), or just one room. Several students from different countries of the world can live in the apartment. This accommodation option can be quite expensive (if the apartment is with excellent renovation or in a prestigious area), but it is better than others for those who love comfort and freedom, independence and independence. High school students, applicants and students, adult professional students usually live in apartments and rooms.

The most affordable, popular, demanded and optimal option is accommodation in a student hostel. As a rule, such residences are located directly on the school grounds or in close proximity to the campus. Students live for several people in rooms equipped with everything necessary for comfortable study and recreation.

Children's language camps in the UK

During the summer months, children around the world enjoy their holidays, traveling around the world or spending time at home with friends and family. For those who like to combine leisure and useful activities, there is a great opportunity not only to have a good rest, but also to gain new unforgettable experience and new knowledge - English language courses in Britain in the format of a children's camp. This is a unique opportunity for children from different countries of the world not only to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the culture of a new country for them, but also to have a good time in the company of their peers, find new friends from all over the world and, most importantly, improve their language skills, gaining a lot of knowledge in an easy and unobtrusive form.

An effective combination of study and recreation is the main advantage of the children's language summer camp. Curricula are especially integrated into various recreational activities, games, travel, excursions, etc., so students do not even notice that they are actually learning! There is a wide variety of programs to choose from: for example, each language camp for children has courses for different levels, special programs for children and their parents (most suitable for the youngest students, because they will not be separated from their parents). In addition to direct classes, vacationing students can participate in the work of any creative hobby group or go in for sports in one of the many sports sections - this provides the guys with the opportunity to discover their talents, improve existing creative or sports skills. Among the proposed sports sections include football and basketball, cricket and dancing, surfing (in the case of a good location on the coast) and even horseback riding.

The teaching staff conducts lessons in the form of games, competitions, and not ordinary classes in the classrooms. Entertaining and exciting puzzles are not even perceived by them as school lessons or homework! Teachers create rich curricula and methods in which they include interesting and exciting lessons. The main trick of education in the UK is the individual approach that each teacher finds for each of the students. This has a positive effect on the effectiveness of learning, because in this way the teacher understands what each of his students needs, controls the progress of each of them, and is actually a friend. Moderately informal communication allows you to successfully overcome the language barrier in a short time, straighten your shoulders and start your way forward to the unknown heights of the language.

Most of the guys who have successfully completed language courses in the country and decided to continue their education in the UK or another foreign country in the future easily enter secondary schools, universities and colleges not only in the UK, but also in the world.

The most sought-after summer camps for children are located in London and its environs - this is where students from all over the world aged 8 to 15 love to come. Quiet and peaceful suburbs and nearby counties are the best place for comfortable and safe living. In addition, the picturesque nature of the surroundings of the capital (and other counties) has a positive effect on the quality of children's recreation.

Students usually live in student residences on campus. There is a 24-hour security on the territory, students are forbidden to leave the territory of the language camp on their own - this is only allowed when accompanied by employees during excursions or walks.

English language courses in Britain for students aged 16+

Classic programs include not only language classes themselves, but also a variety of activities, excursions, travel.

Most agencies offer two main options for organizing an educational trip: an independent (individual) or group trip (in a group of students formed in advance).

  1. Individual trip: you can go to study at any time, because you are not dependent on the group (see below). In this case, you or your child will find yourself in a new linguistic and cultural environment without the ability to communicate in Russian (as happens on a group trip) - this will favorably affect the development and improvement of English, you will have to overcome the language barrier in a short time (which, of course, will help teachers). In most cases, the child lives in the home of a British family, however, if desired, accommodation in a student hostel can be arranged.
  2. Group trip: this option is usually cheaper, but you will have to wait for the group to form. Pupils will be able to speak Russian within the group: this can be interpreted both as an advantage and as a disadvantage. On the one hand, there will be no complete immersion in the language environment, and on the other hand, such options will suit shy or unsociable children, those who experience stress when traveling alone.

What to look for when choosing a language school and language course?

The first step is to think carefully about the objectives of the study trip, outline the budget and understand what exactly you want from the language courses. It is necessary to approach the selection process as responsibly as possible, since the effectiveness of lessons and the quality of rest depend, first of all, on the right choice: no one would like to spoil the holidays with an overly complex curriculum or boring classes.

We have compiled an approximate checklist for you, which you can follow when choosing an educational institution and program on your own.

  1. First, you need to decide which city to go to. Throughout the UK there are hundreds and thousands of language schools. The cost is directly affected by the city itself, the educational institution, the distance from the city center and from the capital. For example, learning English in London is the most expensive, but programs in the suburbs will be cheaper. It is important to consider the prestige of educational institutions (as a rule, the closer to London or to the city center a school is located, the more in demand it is and the higher its completion is valued). The size of the school or university also plays an important role.
  2. Secondly, decide on the intensity of your workouts. The choice of intensity primarily depends on the level of knowledge - the initial one. If this is your first trip, then the standard option (up to 20 lessons per week) will be optimal. In the case of sufficient knowledge, the desire to learn new things and improve the level quickly, it is better to take an intensive (up to 30 lessons) or even a super-intensive course (from 35 lessons).
  3. Thirdly, you need to familiarize yourself with the schedule of classes, the daily routine. Classes in the morning are sometimes more expensive than evening classes: this is logical, because the afternoon hours are the best time for travel and walks.
  4. Finally, find out what methods and approaches teachers use. The educational traditions of Great Britain have been formed for centuries, and teachers have many years of experience working with foreigners, so you can be sure of the quality of education. However, in different courses, emphasis is placed on different aspects: in general lessons, teachers pay special attention, which is logical, to common (basic, universal) topics necessary for everyday free communication, in preparation courses for entering higher educational institutions in the UK - on the specifics of entrance exams etc.

English language courses in Britain: cost and prices

The cost varies from affordable for almost all categories of the population to high (for elite and prestigious courses). The specific price depends on a large number of parameters:

  • places,
  • intensity,
  • duration,
  • type of accommodation / meals,
  • prestige of the institution,
  • season, etc.

Metropolitan programs and schools are always more expensive than those in the suburbs or smaller towns, and courses for adults can be cheaper than children's camps (because children must be provided with accommodation, food, careful supervision, additional care, more staff ).

The average cost for one week of language courses in Britain is as follows:

  • Standard course - from £ 400;
  • Intensive course - from £ 870;
  • Intensive course with accommodation with the teacher's family - from £ 900;
  • Standard course with preparation for the IELTS international exam (the course consists of 20 lessons) - from £ 450;
  • Individual lessons with a teacher (up to 15 lessons) - from £ 1000.

At the bottom of our site there is a special form, by filling out which you can get a free consultation from our specialists at any convenient time. Welcome to England! Min. weekly rate

General English 15-20 8-10 Starter £240+
Intensive English Course 28-30 6-12 Beginner £310+
Super Intensive English Course 35-40 6-10 Beginner £350+
Exam Preparation Courses 20-25 6-12 Intermediate £355+
Business English 20-25 7-10 Intermediate £355+
Intensive Business English 25-30 7-10 Intermediate £ 380+
Academic English 20-25 6-12 Beginner £280+
English plus 10-15 5-10 Intermediate £355+
English for Work 25-30 10-14 Beginner £355+
Vacation English 10-15 5-10 Beginner £270+
One-to-One lessons individually 1 Starter £50+ - 1 lesson

Statistics - education in the UK

World popularity rating 2
World University Ranking 2
Academic reputation 2
Employer reputation 2
Teaching quality 2
Internationalization of teachers 1
Internationalization of students 2
Citation index 2

Sitting basketball star: Kozai Hiroaki at the forefront of the Japanese wheelchair basketball team

Before turning pro in Japan and Germany, wheelchair basketball player Kozai Hiroaki was the star of his faculty at the University of Illinois. He now hopes to help the Japanese team win their first medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.

Wheelchair basketball gets everyone's attention

Anyone who has watched a wheelchair basketball game knows that it is as fast-paced and uncompromising as traditional basketball. Players rush across the hardwood court at breakneck speed, spinning on the pitch, passing, sending the ball into the basket and creating a picturesque mayhem of human limbs and metal as they collide.

Wheelchair basketball is gaining popularity in Japan. Author of the cult basketball manga Slam Dunk Inoue Takehiko depicted this sport in his popular series Real , it is presented as a story of struggle and victory.

Japanese national team player Kozai Hiroaki appreciates the interest in his person, but prefers to draw attention to this sport with his game on the court. Over the 8 years spent in the Bundesliga, Kozai has earned himself a reputation as a real attacking star. And with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics approaching, he has focused his efforts on leading Japan to its first medal in wheelchair basketball.

Bet on quick tactics

Kozai has competed in three Paralympic Games and knows it's not easy to win the podium. Two years ago in Rio de Janeiro, he, along with veteran center Fujimoto Reo, led the national team under head coach Oikawa Shinpei. However, despite the high hopes placed on the national team, the team left the tournament at the group stage.

This was a bitter disappointment for a player proud of his achievements in the professional leagues. Kozai explains that in Beijing and London, he was the youngest player on the team. “I always gave my best because I wanted to make sure my skills were world-class. But in Rio, my goal was different. I wanted to show my strengths to give the team momentum before the Tokyo Games. However, the performances of our team convinced me that we must completely change the approach to the game.


Kozai throws during the group stage game against the Netherlands at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (© Jiji)

After Rio, the team did not rely on individual skill, but on the tactics of quickly moving from defense to attack. To work with the national team, professional coaches were attracted, the purpose of which was to develop the mental and physical endurance of the players necessary for quick tactics. The changes also affected Kozai's professional career: he changed the club BG Baskets Hamburg, where he spent four seasons, to the best Bundesliga team RSV Lahn-Dill.

The team's efforts seemed to pay off when Japan defeated the higher-ranked teams from Australia, Canada and Germany in June this year to win the four-team Mitsubishi Electric World Challenge Cup held in Tokyo. However, just two months later, at the World Championships in Germany, the team was disappointed - it finished in ninth place.

Kozai admits that this result suggests that the team has a long way to go before it can be considered a real medal contender. “Our goal was to be in the top four! We could well beat such strong teams as Italy and Turkey, and we really lost to them by a minimal score difference. This proves that we are moving in the right direction, but we still lack the consistency and fortitude needed to develop an attack from the back line or stay on top of it.

Wheelchair basketball is dominated by teams from North America and Europe. Kozai's alma mater, the University of Illinois, not only boasts a leading wheelchair basketball development program, but is also a leader in intercollegiate competition. In Canada, there is a national academy for the preparation of players, and in the UK this sport is so popular that many cities have their own professional clubs. The professional leagues in Germany, Italy and Spain attract top players from all over the world.

However, even with such strong competition, Kozai is confident that the Japanese team has a chance to become the best. “Even though we didn't get the result we were aiming for at the World Cup, the team is ready to play with quick tactics. Our players have the technical skills necessary for a fast-paced game and if we continue to work on mental and physical fitness, we could very well count on a medal in 2020.”

Early start

Born in Chiba Prefecture, Kozai grew up as an active, sports-loving boy. He still wears number 55 when he plays for Japan, in honor of his childhood hero, New York Yankees player Matsui Hideki. Although he was born without lower limbs, Kozai believes that he inherited his athletic nature from his father, who was a player on the school's basketball team.

Kozai first hit the court at age 12 when his mother saw an advertisement for a wheelchair basketball competition organized by the local Chiba Hawks. He began attending games with his father and was fascinated by the specially designed wheelchairs used in the sport. “I was delighted,” he fondly recalls this time. “Sport wheelchairs were much lighter, faster and easier to drive than regular wheelchairs.”

During the competition, the captain and current assistant coach of the national team Kyoya Kazuyuki advised him to join the Chiba Hawks. A former professional player in the Japan J Football League, Kyoya became a wheelchair basketball star after suffering a spinal cord injury in a car accident. Kozai also caught the attention of his future mentor, Oikawa, who advised the hard-working youth on how to properly organize training.

Master of the Game

Kozai entered his first major training camp as an eighth grader. This camp, hosted by Oikawa in Sapporo, Hokkaido, was taught by legendary wheelchair basketball coach Mike Frogley. During the camp, Kozai's game received special recognition, which strengthened the boy's determination to dedicate his life to sports.

Kozai says that was when Frogley recommended that he train with him in the United States, and admits he didn't take the suggestion seriously as a teenager. However, after seeing the level of players around the world after he himself made his debut for the under-23 team while still a schoolboy, Kozai seriously considered inviting Frogley.

Persuaded by his father, who sensed his son's hesitation, Kozai decided to try his hand at the United States. After high school, he crossed the Pacific to train with Frogley, who was then head coach of the University of Illinois wheelchair basketball team.

The path to the pros

The days leading up to his departure were a real test for the emotional state of a teenager, and Kozai reluctantly admits that before leaving Japan, he "cried like a child." However, once in America and becoming a community college student, he immediately began to work on improving his communication skills in English. Two years later, he successfully entered the University of Illinois, where he specialized in sports management.

Frogley believed his players needed to be successful both in class and on the court. Looking back, Kozai notes that it took him the concentration of all his strength to play basketball and keep up academically at the same time. “However, I never even thought about giving up,” he says.

While playing for Illinois, Kozai was the captain of the team and several times in a row he was recognized as the MVP - the most valuable player of the national championship.


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