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Northants Lightning basketball star Angelina Browne will be playing her basketball in America for the next two years. Browne who is currently a pupil at Northampton School For Girls has been offered a place at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.

Oak Hill is recognised throughout the States for producing basketball talent, with no less than fourteen former students having gone on to play professionally in the NBA, including Jerry Stackhouse, Rod Strickland, Ron Mercer and recent No. 3 draft pick Carmelo Anthony.

Oak Hill Athletic Director, Steve Smith wants to establish an equally prestigious programme for girls and has recruited a number of international players including Browne.

For Angelina this is an amazing opportunity of eventually securing a scholarship to an American college or university. Oak Hill will prepare her not only on the basketball court but also academically.

Speaking on behalf of the Northants Schools Basketball Association, Coaching Co-ordinator, John Collins said, “We will miss Angelina enormously but if she is to develop as a player it has to be through regular practice and high quality play. Unfortunately, we can’t offer either in England. We wish her every good fortune and know that her appetite for hard work combined with her massive natural talent will stand her in good stead.”

Browne starting playing basketball under the tutelage of Karen Risk at Delapre Middle School and then became involved in the county Development Programme. At just 13 years old, she played for Karen Goodrich’s Northants Junior (Under 18) team and with that team won the National Cup, two Southern Conference titles and the C.O.B. Calais International Tournament. At Easter, playing for Northampton School for Girls, Angelina scored an incredible 56 points in the National Schools Final helping her school to the national title.

Angelina’s ability was soon spotted by England coach, Ian Day and she helped the England team qualify for the Finals of the European Under 14 BAM Championships. More recently she was in the England Cadette (Under 16) team that won a European Qualification Tournament and then just failed to make the European Finals. At the moment she is preparing with the England Junior (Under 18) team for a European Qualification Tournament in Lisbon next month.

Almost immediately after that tournament Angelina will jet off to the States for the biggest adventure of her short life. Two years at Oak Hill could be followed by four years at college and just the possibility of a career in the WNBA, a feat previously only achieved by one English player - Andrea Congreaves.
Source: Northants Schools Basketball Association