Luke's exciting basketball journey continues - The Redditch Standard

Luke's exciting basketball journey continues

Redditch Editorial 7th Jul, 2016 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

REDDITCH basketball ace Luke Rankin has returned from America having further enhanced his burgeoning reputation.

At the age of 19, Rankin jetted out to Atlanta, Georgia, shortly before Christmas to pursue his dream of becoming a professional basketball player and began a six-month spell with an elite basketball academy, hoping for it to lead to a scholarship with a US college or a professional contract.

He has recently returned having enjoyed a successful time and with offers to return to the States.

Rankin explained: “I met a lot with my friend Brent Benson who lives in Atlanta and played in the British Basketball League for Birmingham and Plymouth.




“He got me the offers and has his own academy in Atlanta called B3 Academy at which I trained and he took me to various college workouts and showcases.

“I received an offer from Chattahoochee Technical Junior College and went on an official visit to the school, but I declined the offer as I got another offer from a prep school called Action Sports Academy Prep in Atlanta, which I will be attending in September through to next April.


“I decided to take the offer from the prep school as it is one of the top prep schools in the state and I feel I can get a better college offer from this.

“The head coach has been impressed by me and says I have a lot of talent and potential and will be an important player on the team this season as they look to make a run at becoming national postgrad champions.”

Rankin, a 6ft 4in shooting guard from Enfield, began playing the sport during his time at St Bede’s Catholic Middle School and, having starred for Redditch Basketball Club and won honours with the West Midlands county team, he joined the Birmingham Knights Academy before being scouted to join British Basketball League side Plymouth Raiders at the age of 17.

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