A YOUNG basketball player's talents could bounce him into the big league.

Sam Attah, a pupil at St John's Comprehensive School, Bishop Auckland, plays in what is thought to be the only under-16s basketball team in County Durham.

The Wear Valley Warriors have only been running 18 months, but already have made a name for themselves.

Within the next few weeks, a representative from Newcastle Eagles basketball team will watch the 16-year-old play, to see if he is good enough for the East Durham and Houghall Basketball Academy, one of the few in the country.

Coach Ian Hirst said: "We have two players of exceptional ability.

"The coaches are coming to see Sam in the next few weeks; they say he is good enough for the academy and, hopefully, there will be the opportunity for him to go to the United States to train.

"It's obviously a big step; maybe too big for a 16-year-old. He is a bit of an icon to the other kids."

Since the club's inception, the players have gone from strength to strength, playing regular fixtures in Tyne and Wear because they have nobody to compete against in County Durham.

They recently took part in a national competition.

The youngsters' achievements over the last year were marked at a ceremony at Crook RAF club on Monday, when the Wear Valley Warriors were presented with plaques by the Newcastle's Eagles head coach.