HOOPS of delight are rebounding around Huntington School after it was earmarked for elevation by English basketball bosses.

Talks with the York and District Basketball Development Forum have finalised an agreement whereby the school will be developed into a basketball centre of excellence for York.

But there is a chance that if the current boom-boom momentum of basketball is maintained at the school then it could finish 2001 by realising the hoop dream of becoming an official satellite centre of the English Basketball Association.

That wonder-net prospect was outlined by Steve Nelson, the EBA's national development manager, who headed a top-line official visit to the school this week.

He was wowed by Huntington's facilities - they have one full-size indoor court and three cross-court indoor courts in the sports hall, as well as one outdoor court, plus another on the way. This Easter and summer Huntington will for the first time host the Yorkshire International Basketball Camp, now in its fourth year of operation.

Nelson praised the eagerness of the school and its governing body to promote the sport that has undergone a massive renaissance in York under the stewardship of the York Basketball Forum.

Said the EBA's national development manager: "Huntington have very impressive facilities.

"There's some keenness here to expand the game and grow with it and we (the EBA) obviously welcome that.

"We are looking forward to working closely with the school in the near future."

For basketball to flourish yet more successfully in England it had to develop a solid infrastructure, said Nelson.

"One of the real weaknesses of our sport is its access to facilities. If we can manage a partnership with the school where we can impact on what goes on and have better use of facilities within school hours as well then we are halfway there.

"We have to look to see how we can grow our sport. A lot of elements go into that and taking the sport into schools is one of our objectives."

The next step up for Huntington is recognition from the EBA as a satellite centre, spreading from its Active Sports programme. The most promising youngsters would then be identified to benefit from more intensive coaching.

But first as the proposed new centre of excellence Huntington is now looking to foster links to feeder schools to promote the sport as well as developing out of school basketball clubs for juniors and their current pupils, explained Dave Smith, chairman of the Y&DBDF.

It's a project enthusiastically welcomed by Huntington School physical education teacher Nigel Curry and Philippa Whitworth, the school's sport development officer.

Said Curry: "Basketball is becoming increasingly popular and we are trying to raise the profile of the school sports-wise.

"The English basketball set-up is getting bigger and bigger and youngsters are responding to that. It appeals to them.

"It is also an exciting development for the school as it gives us greater access to coaches."

Whitworth also enthused about the appeal of the sport, not least because from its American origins it did not bar anyone from taking part.

"It's very much a sport for both sexes. Unlike in previous years where boys played basketball and girls played netball, one of the plusses of the sport to have come from America is that it does not discriminate. It's for everyone."

Updated: 12:19 Saturday, March 10, 2001