Pupils from Southend were graced by basketball legends for a once-in-a-lifetime coaching experience – just hours before the NBA London Game at the O2 Arena.

Ten boys from Shoeburyness High School were part of a group of 40 children who spent the morning working with NBA stars and coaches at a Jr. NBA day clinic at CitySport in Clerkenwell.

The event was staged as part of the activities relating to the NBA London Game 2019 between the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks, providing another fantastic opportunity for Jr. NBA participants to enjoy incredible experiences through basketball.

Three-time NBA champion Bruce Bowen, 1978 champion Phil Chenier, Wizards legend Gheorghe Muresan, the tallest player ever to play in the NBA, and John Amaechi, a Brit who played in the NBA for three different teams between 1995 and 2003, were among the stars coaching on the day.

And for Shoeburyness student Will Gibson, 12, the Jr. NBA activity was the perfect opportunity to develop his game, striving to become like his hero and basketball legend, two-time MVP Steph Curry.

He said: “The professionals were good to have around because they’ve played to a high level and teach you what they know.

“They helped me with my pivoting back and forward and how it’s key to getting space.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to see the professionals and motivates you with what you want to work on. Jr. NBA makes it more fun by linking up with the professional game.”

Other stars helping out included 2015 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne, her Washington Mystics teammate Natasha Cloud and their coach Mike Thibault, who has the most wins of any women’s coach in the sport.

Manchester United Women’s football players Siobhan Chamberlain, Mollie Green and Millie Turner also attended and took part in the coaching session.

All the athletes completed a question and answer session with the children before posing for photos and signing autographs.

Jr. NBA Basketball England Leagues are designed to leverage the excitement of the NBA to inspire participation, and the programme aims to promote the shared NBA and Basketball England values of teamwork, leadership, fitness and healthy living through league games, Jr. NBA youth clinics, and league Finals events.

In 2018, Basketball England expanded their Jr. NBA offering significantly, moving from five to 13 leagues across the country, with more than 4,500 children aged 11 and 12 now participating in the programme annually.

Dan Seaman, teacher and basketball coach at Shoeburyness, said: “It helps the kids gain a great understanding to the sport as newcomers.

“It was an awesome opportunity for the kids but for us too as coaches and teachers.

“For the players it gave them a chance to develop and make sure individually they build their fundamentals while enjoying the game.

“We have 70 kids playing basketball at school and this just motivates them to keep playing more and more.”

 To find out more about Basketball England the Jr. NBA programme, please go to www.Basketballengland.co.uk/Jrnba