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Media Credit: Derrick Roffman Orv Salmon, athletic director, talks to students visiting from England about their future in basketball.

America has many basketball courts and parks, even in the inner cities. After talking with a group of high school aged British students who visited DMACC on Nov. 30 students may realize how much these facilities are taken for granted.

"We don't get as much opportunity to train and play," said Gary Miles of the County Upper team from County Suffolk in Great Britain. "I think it's because the amount of money pumped into basketball isn't as much as in the U.S.," said Miles. "We don't have available indoor courts and most of the courts outside aren't well-maintained."

Many of the young men coming from the academy in Suffolk dream of coming to America to play basketball and pursue an education at the same time, something that is unavailable to them in the UK.

The academy is their high school, and most of the young men who attend moved to Suffolk, many from London City, to attend a school that allows them to pursue their love of basketball.

Darren Johnson, a former DMACC basketball player from the UK, came to America and brought his love of basketball back with him to Britain. Johnson set up this trip to America for more than two dozen students, and some parents and grandparents, so that they could look at different schools in the Midwest with strong basketball programs and DMACC was one of them.

While here, Johnson's team played against Marshalltown and our own DMACC Bears. "I wanted them to experience what it's like to play against American teams," Johnson said. "We lost by 34 points, which isn't too bad really."

"It's different because everyone here is quicker, stronger, and more athletic," said Michael Opio, an academy student. "In England, we're not used to that kind of athleticism. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

If any of these young men enjoyed their tour of the DMACC Boone Campus, you may see them in halls next fall, getting ready to play basketball for the Bears.

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