Teenager travels 5000 miles to Inverness in preparation to play basketball for Scotland
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MADISON Croall has travelled almost 5000 miles to Inverness in preparation to play basketball for Scotland at the Four Nations Tournament.
The former Millburn Academy pupil flew from her new home in Dubai to travel back to Inverness and train for the tournament in Dublin which starts on Tuesday.
Croall (14) has been selected for the under-16 girls squad which will take on hosts Ireland, England and Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday.
She has been selected along with Highland Bears trio Charlotte Alexander, Grace Alexander and Emily Hill in the squad.
Croall arrived in Scotland last week to train with Inverness Lions before joining up with the Scotland squad which flies out to Dublin on Monday.
Her basketball journey began when she was eight-years-old with the Inverness Lions, followed by two seasons with the Highland Bears before relocating to Dubai last August.
Speaking about returning to Scotland and looking forward to the tournament, Croall says she is excited to be reunited with old friends and is looking forward to representing her country again.
She said: “It’s been great getting to train with my old team mates, Scotland team mates, and coaches while back home in preparation for the Four Nations.
"It's almost the exact same team as our under-14 Scotland team in 2022 so we all know how each other play.
"We fly to Ireland on Monday from Edinburgh, have team training in the afternoon, then our first game is against England on Tuesday morning. They're always really strong, but we have a great team so I'm really excited!"
In Dubai, Croall has had the opportunity to try out for the NBA Basketball School, an opportunity that led to her representing the school at various levels, including U15, U17, and semi-elite competitions.
She has also been chosen to represent the NBA UAE team in the Jr NBA European & Middle East finals in Abu Dhabi.
She will also play in the NBA school games during NBA week in Abu Dhabi, competing against teams from England, Germany, Australia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, and Spain.
Additionally, she was selected to attend the NBA Paris Elite training camp in January.
She said she is grateful for the support she received from Basketball Scotland to help her represent her country now she is living abroad.
She said: “Basketball Scotland has been instrumental in supporting my journey, maintaining communication with national coaches, sharing game footage, and facilitating my participation in selection events at the Regional Performance Centre in Dundee.
"The growth of girls' basketball in Scotland is remarkable, thanks to the exceptional coaches involved at local, regional and national level.
"We feel fortunate to have such support in the Highlands and across Scotland. Basketball Scotland's commitment to nurturing youth athletes, even those living abroad like us, is truly fantastic, and we are immensely grateful for their support.”
