NEIL Fingleton's basketball career in the US has received a setback with the announcement that he will not play this year at the University of North Carolina because of back problems.
The 7ft 5in centre, who hails from Durham and weighs 17 stones, is in his first year at Chapel Hill, and last year played in the McDonald's All-American High School game.
But Fingleton, 20, projected as a future NBA player because of his size, has had back trouble and North Carolina coach Matt Doherty has confirmed his player will "redshirt" - meaning he will still have four years of college eligibility left.
Fingleton followed in the footsteps of England captain Steve Bucknall and basketball legend Michael Jordan when he accepted a scholarship to play at Chapel Hill.
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