Matt Dunks Award

Jan 22 2003 By Christopher Beesley, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

BASKETBALL: A YOUNG Ellesmere Port basketball player has made himself a household name in Yugoslavia after playing a starring role for England at an international tournament in Belgrade.

Matt Williams, 13, turned on the style against host club Red Star and Sports World of Novi Sad and was named the competition's MVP (Most Valuable Player).

His proud mum Sarah said: 'Basketball is one of the major sports in the Balkans and all the games were shown on the channel SOS on Serbian television.

'Reports were also published on the back pages of two national newspapers so Matt must have proved to be quite a hit.'

The tournament, for players born in 1989, was part of the England national team's build-up for the high profile Bam Championships in Spain this summer, which attracts the cream of Europe.

And Matt's performances were even more impressive considering he had only just returned from a serious injury picked up in November.

Sarah said: 'He fractured his ankle while playing for his club, Manchester, in a National League match and the trip to Yugoslavia was his first big test since being out of action.'

Matt's terrific talents ensure he also has a busy schedule of matches for his school, Ellesmere Port Catholic High.

He represents the Year Nine, 10, 11 sides while also turning out for the sixth form team alongside his older brother Stuart, 16, who is part of Chester Jets' senior squad.

Despite being three years younger than Stuart, Matt is already three inches taller than his him, standing 6ft 5in and still growing!

Sarah said: 'It was as an 11-year-old at St Saviour's that Matt first took up basketball on a visit to one of Jets' summer camps.

'Mike Burton took both Stuart and him under his wing and I'm delighted with both their achievements.

'But with both of them playing at such a high level at such a young age, I have to split matchday duties with their dad, Bernie, and we each go to alternate games.'