Manchester Giants basketball player aiming high
Growing up in Nottingham Jamell Anderson didn’t experience any exposure to basketball until spotting a poster for a tryout in his school corridor, writes Toby Meadowcroft.
Since that day Jamell has won multiple trophies, played overseas and represented his country at the Commonwealth Games.
If it wasn’t for that poster the 31 year old may have never even tried basketball and achieved all the things he has.
Jamell told UCLan Live: “I started playing basketball in year 8, there was a poster for a try out and that is how I got into it.
“I didn’t really know anything about the game at that point I had never saw a game of basketball.”
Throughout his career Anderson has been apart of several teams including: Essex Pirates, Leicester Riders (where he had two spells), Cheshire Phoenix, Townsville Heat (Australia), La Roda (Spain) and his current club Manchester Giants.
Being able to play the game he loves and travel was a vital part of why he went abroad but while there he had a very successful time on the court after winning the QBL (Queensland Basketball League) and overperforming expectations in Spain.
Although never playing in America it was always on the table for the Nottingham native but didn’t take on the challenge.
Anderson said: “I spoke to coaches and there was a few options but I never really got serious about it.
“Over the years I had a lot of offers to paly abroad but I didn’t accept them.
“I think I was too naïve as to what I could achieve as a player.”
Anderson made his team GB debut in 2009 when he was called up to represent the under 20s at the Commonwealth games in Macedonia.
This was a huge honour as at the time Jamell was playing division three basketball so the jump up in level was big but he stepped up and made himself a regular within the team.
He most recently was selected to play for Team GB in the Commonwealth Games on the Australian Gold Coast.
Anderson said: “Being picked for the GB under 20s was the first real acknowledgement of work that I had put in.
“Probably the closest thing I had to an Olympic experience, being around world class athletes form all different sports is something I will never forget.”
Now playing in Manchester he is joining an organisation which has just undergone a whole change with new owners and head coach.
Leaving a successful club like the Leicester Riders to join the Manchester Giants has not changed Anderson’s goals and believes that the Giants are moving in a positive direction.
After losing to his former team in the cup final the positives that the Giants and Anderosn can take are vital to what the 31-year-old believes he and the team can aim for on the future.
Anderson said: “When I first joined Leicester it was very similar to how Manchester is now, a lot of hope a lot of planning, a lot of goals.
“We had a chance funnily enough against Leicester to win the cup but that didn’t work out too well, but we gave it a good shot.
“Leicester are almost eight years ahead of where Manchester want to be and I think with the new owners and coach we are at the beginning of that journey.”
