Devon moves from Junior Sharks to Spain
After yet another final four for the Junior Sharks, Devon will move on next season to Spanish basketball giant Tau Cerámica in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. It has been a fantastic basketball education at Junior Sharks that has prepared him for this big change. As an U10, Devon played for U13 coach Tom Garrud, who nurtured many of the current U16s to successes; Devon still has the basketball cards given out as rewards after practices, “hardest worker, “ best listener,” etc. Six year later he counts three national championships (U15 and 2 with U16), two national cups (both with U16s), multiple final fours almost every year (one year with the U13, U14, U15 and U16), and two national school titles with Silverdale this year (U16 and U19) among his team awards. He was also named England U16 Player of the Year for his performance in Sarajevo with the England U16 team, and has multiple individual awards, among them the selection to the Jordan Brand Classic in Lithuania. Many coaches have helped Devon progress in his basketball, as he often trained and played with as many teams as possible. After having had the opportunity of basketball work-outs with some of the top Spanish clubs, he has finally chosen current ACB leaders Tau in Northern Spain after a visit there last week with his mother. Tau have a tremendous record of bring on young players and it’ll be a big step for Devon to follow in his predecessors’ footsteps.
It will be an adventure to go the non-American route. Going from GCSEs to a Spanish School set up won’t be easy. He’ll have to become fluent in Spanish soon, but with the help of the support available at Tau, he hopes to complete his pre-University education there successfully in the coming years. In terms of basketball, he will first play in the men’s second team as well as in the U18s, but a lot of time will be devoted to tough individual practices with legendary coach Iñaki Iriarte, who put Devon through his paces last week. This upcoming summer, however, Devon will first be in action, together with Junior Sharks team John Stewart, at the U16 European B Championships (and all the preparations) in Porto from August 6-16. He will then report for duty in Tau. It might be a good excuse for Junior Sharks to go and see some games in Spain by visiting Devon in his new home.
Information about Tau Cerámica:
The practice facility: http://www.bakh.es/es/
