SUDAN-born, London-bred Luol Deng may be the figurehead of British basketball’s lofty ambition.

But another of the stars pushing Team GB towards their ultimate goal of a place at the 2012 Olympics in London, bears the tag ‘Made in Manchester’.

Nick George has made a telling impact alongside NBA superstar Deng and some of the nation’s more established players in the opening games of the Eurobasket Division A tournament – and will get the chance to do so again in front of a sell-out crowd at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday.

George started a career that has taken in a stellar US college stint and spells in Italy, Spain and currently France, in the more modest surroundings of Manchester Magic’s Amaechi Centre in Whalley Range.

Mentored by club chief Joe Forber as an aspiring Burnage High School student, George went on to become the most successful talent to come off the Magic production line.

Reputation

Now he is cementing his reputation further among the GB big guns that ply their trade in the States – in Deng’s case as a genuine household name – and in the top leagues in Europe.

George’s former Magic coach Jeff Jones has been impressed with the big forward’s progress after cameo performances in the opening overtime defeat in Israel and the wins over the Czech Republic at London’s O2 Arena last weekend and Bosnia in Birmingahm on Wednesday.

“He has made a good impression, “ said Jones. “His playing time and impact is important to the team and it will improve and he will become even more part of things in the future.

“His progress is very pleasing, for him and from the club’s point of view, and we will be seeing a lot more of him – a little in this tournament but definitely as GB push on.”

Jones, whose Magic team take on BBL rivals Everton Tigers before the GB Israel clash, is confident that Britain have what it takes to be a success in their group.

Status

Maintaining their Division A status is all-important, as that would give them a ticket from world governing body FIBA to the 2012 Olympic competition.

And Jones added: “It is easy to get carried away but the group they are in gives them a great opportunity.

“If they look after the home games they will stay up and have a chance to win their group.”

GB are tied with th Czech Republic at the top of Group D.
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