Kavell Bigby-Williams. Pic: Facebook

A Lewisham basketball star has been signed to play at a top level American University next year.

Kavell Bigby-Williams, 18, who stands at 6′ 10″ tall, signed a letter of intent this week to play basketball at Montana State University, an institution that competes in the first division of the National College Athletics Association in the United States.

Bigby-Williams began his basketball career at 15 with the Newham All-Star Sports Academy and then moved on to the Lewisham Thunder Junior Club, where he’s been playing for the last three years.

“I feel very fortunate to be recruited by MSU as it is a great programme and I’m just excited to be a part of it next year. I’m looking forward to playing against better competition,” said Bigby-Williams.

He continued: “I chose MSU because they’ve shown a lot of interest – their head coach came to see me play at the Europeans this summer, and have also visited me at school (Harris Academy Beckenham).”

Head coach of Montana State University Basketball, Brad Huse, said: “Kavell is a long and athletic, hardworking player…There aren’t many players out there who have his athletic attributes and we’re really excited to work with Kavell.”

Thunder Head Coach Steven Bucknall, who himself played collegiate basketball in the United States and was the first Englishman to play in America’s National Basketball Association, said: “We are always proud when players have opportunities to play abroad, I know this has been his dream for the last three years that we’ve been working him.”

Bucknall has high hopes for Bigby-Williams’ development, he explained: “He has all the athletic tools now he just needs the technical skills and then mental attitude to develop.”

The Lewisham coach also noted how Bigby-Williams will have an opportunity to make his mark on British basketball, by showing other young hopefuls that playing at a high level overseas is an achievable goal:

“It’s good for basketball and London basketball in general when we have young men who can create opportunities. He’s done the first step and if he can create a path and do well young players can see that.”

Bigby-Williams will hope to follow in the footsteps of Croydon-born NBA All-Star Luol Deng, who is currently Britain’s only player in the world’s best basketball league.