Essex Rebels are celebrating young English Talent with three new recruits receiving Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme awards and being added to the WBBL side for the club’s maiden season.
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, education institutions and national governing bodies for sport, that seeks to bring the best out of the country’s most exciting young sporting talent.
As the first Basketball England Regional Talent Hub, the University of Essex aims to attract talented basketball players emerging from the basketball academy system to continue their development. Naming these three talented players in the WBBL squad is a testament to a continued commitment to that process.
Yassin Belle Mbaye – Yassin joins the Rebels following a fantastic year that has included attending England U18 Squad training and having a successful campaign representing the Bridge Academy in London. She joined the University’s post season tour to China following graduation from school where she began her integration into senior basketball and preparing to compete in the WBBL with the Rebels. She is a very strong rebounder and an athletic player who is also developing a perimeter game in that transition from junior basketball.
Grace Sinnott – Another player who has joined the Rebels from the highly respected Ipswich basketball Academy. Grace returned to Ipswich during last season having spent time at college in the States representing Colorado Christian Cougars. She also joined the University’s team for their post season tour to China in preparation to becoming a Rebel. She is versatile player with strengths in both her inside game and also having the ability to step out and score from behind the three point line when required.
Jadzea Quinn – Originally from Sheffield ‘JD’ arrives at The University of Essex having just graduated from the highly successful Myerscough Basketball Academy. A tenacious guard with a fantastic attitude and desire to learn and improve. This is reflected in her ability to pick things up quickly and develop her leadership skills as a point guard – she is fast making the transition into senior basketball and we look forward to seeing her court at the Essex Sport Arena.
As part of the Basketball England Talent Hub, Hilary Subi also from the Myerscough programme Hilary displays a tremendous work ethic in all that she does. She is a tough defensive specialist with an ability to also run the floor offensively. She has bought into all that is required to develop as an athlete, scholar and ultimately basketball player – particularly working hard with the S&C coach to move to the next level. again, we look forward to also seeing her in a Rebels uniform.
Head Coach Mark Lloyd stated: ” We are delighted that we have such a terrific group of younger players from the best academies around the country joining our university programme this year and making the step to work with the senior Rebel players.
“Working with The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) we are able to continue the development time already invested in young players from several high level junior institutions – each of the players brings their own personality and abilities and are already making their mark on campus.
“I really look forward to seeing them mature as senior players over the coming season,” added the play-caller.
The University of Essex is an accredited TASS delivery site and not only supports the athletes within the basketball programme but several other athletes who are continuing in education, across Essex, whilst also continuing in their dream of becoming international sports stars.