IN SEVEN days’ time, Deane Williams will be travelling thousands of miles to begin his new life as a student-athlete in the United States, writes DAN BARNES.

The 18-year-old’s prospects of carving out a career in basketball are set to multiply exponentially when he jets out to Georgia Regents University in Augusta, to begin a full four-year scholarship with the American college.

The 6ft 7in power forward, from Chippenham, impressed scouts through his performances for the Bristol Flyers and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College’s basketball academy and is one of seven new recruits joining the Georgia Regents Jaguars, who compete in NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division Two and were second in the Peach Belt Conference East Division last season.

England youth international Williams, a former Sheldon School pupil, says that he cannot wait to dedicate his life to the sport he loves but understandably, certain members of his family have been getting somewhat emotional over his impending departure.

“My mum (Carol) has been crying a little bit but my family are all happy for me,” said Williams, who represented England at the U18 European Championships in Turkey last year and the U20s in Italy earlier this month, where he racked up 56 points in eight appearances, averaging 3.9 rebounds per game.

“My coach at Bristol, Andreas Kapoulas, helped put together a highlight reel for me that we sent off to colleges. The colleges don’t mess around and another college near Canada also called me after I’d already agreed to go to Georgia and offered me a scholarship too.

“I only really started playing basketball when I was in Year 11 at school but I’ve developed so much as SGS.

“I’m so excited. I’m going to be doing what I love doing all the time and it’s going to be paid for. We went over there to look around a few months ago and the facilities look amazing.

“I’m going to be getting a degree at the same time, so I’ll have something to fall back on. People have asked me if I’m afraid to go but I’ve been abroad a lot before, so I’m not worried about it.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to come back and play for England in the summer too. I’d love to try and make the senior team one day.”

Garrett Siler is Georgia Regent’s only graduate to reach the NBA, the center making the 2009 draft and going on to spend two seasons with the Phoenix Suns.