Melodie Phelps, News Editor
Monticello — When Steven Sexton finished his collegiate basketball career at Coastal
Carolina back in March, the Wayne County native was uncertain if he would
get to play the game again. But with hard work and determination, Sexton has
realized a dream.
He will be part of the USA Select Basketball European Exposure Tour in
September, which could result in a professional basketball contract in
Europe.
"I am pretty excited," said Sexton as he recently talked about the
opportunity. "It's a great opportunity, and I am thankful for it."
USA Select Basketball is an organization that is designed to help
under-recognized players continue their careers in Europe.
The origins of the organization trace back to to the 1980s when
Appalachian State University teammates Sean Kilmartin and David Lawrence
played professionally in Europe.
Because this was a fantastic opportunity for them as players, they
wanted to create this type of opportunity for other elite basketball
players.
Kilmartin now serves as General Manager for USA Select Basketball. Each
year, the organization takes a team of 12-15 recent college graduates on a
tour, playing some of the top basketball teams in Western Europe in a series
of preseason matches.
It wasn't something that Sexton had even thought about, until he got a
couple of letters about the nationwide tryouts that were being held.
There was a series of tryouts, but Sexton had to miss the first one in
May, because he was graduating from Coastal Carolina that day.
Instead, he attended a three-day camp in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"I just thought that if I didn't go, I would look back one day and
regret not trying," said Sexton.
As a senior guard at Coastal Carolina, Sexton averaged 9 points, 2
assists and 1.7 rebounds per game. It was his sharp shooting from beyond the
3-point line that caught the coaching staff's attention at tryouts.
"That is definitely what did it," said Sexton. "They told me that was
the thing that was most impressive."
Local basketball fans remember Sexton's shooting skills, when he played
for Wayne County.
He was part of the 2004 Cardinal squad that won the 12th Region
Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16.
Sexton also impressed the USA Select Basketball coaching staff with his
off-the-court demeanor as well. He was selected from about 86 players who
tried out for the tour.
Sexton and his teammates will fly to London on September 10, where the
tour is slated to begin.
The squad will play established European teams, which will give scouts
for those teams to take a look at some of the players from America.
There is a chance that Sexton may be picked up by one of the teams
during the tour.
England is only the first leg of the trip. Plans are to compete in
Finland, Scotland and France before the team gets back to the USA on
September 28 of 29.
