JO Leedham will have one eye on the 2012 London Olympics when she pulls on a Great Britain vest next month.

The 22-year-old basketball star from Little Sutton has been picked in her country’s 14-strong women’s squad for the EuroBasket qualifiers against Germany, Slovakia and Ukraine in August.

The aim is to qualify for next year’s European Championships in Poland – and Leedham knows an impressive showing will help to put the team in good shape for the Games in two years time.

“We are feeling really good at the moment,” said the Stateside-based former Catholic High pupil. “We have been training for a long time now and we are all getting used to each other.

“Training is really competitive. There is not one day where you can hit the cruise control button. Every day we are improving and that’s good for both this summer, and for 2012 as well.”

The guard reckons the recruitment of new coach Tom Maher is one of the main contributing factors to the side’s positive morale.

Maher guided the Australia team to Olympic bronze in 1996 and silver in 2000 as well as steering China to fourth place two years ago. Leedham is hoping his track record can help guide Team GB to similar success.

She said: “Tom works us hard but he makes sure we get our rest as well. He’s a good coach and his résumé backs that up.

“To be coached by him is great and the whole team is all working together to make sure we are in the right shape.”

Leedham plays her domestic basketball for Franklin Pierce University in the United States where the sport is big business.

Yet despite its profile being lower in her home country, Leedham expects that to count for nothing when the Olympics come to these shores.

“I think it is hard playing basketball in Britain because it’s not that big but we are all under scrutiny and people will still be expecting us to do well in 2012,” she said.

“Hopefully we’ll have a good summer and it will be a nice pointer towards the future and the Olympics.”

Lloyds TSB is a proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and supporter of Team GB on their journey to London 2012. See: www.LloydsTSB.com/London2012