Four Newcastle College students were given the opportunity to test themselves against professional opposition after taking to the court against Newcastle Eagles' men's first team in a pre-season fixture on Sunday 6 September.
Newcastle College Eagles Academy players Tyler Cadete, Joseph Osarenkhow and Mo Sanyang joined Newcastle Sixth Form College student Luca Snee as part of a development team made up of players from Newcastle College, Newcastle Sixth Form College, Newcastle University and Northumbria University.
The team stepped in at short notice to face the Eagles after their original opponents, Surrey 89ers, withdrew from the fixture.
The change of opposition presented the students with a rare opportunity to compete against professional players and experience first-hand the intensity and standards of elite basketball.
Tyler is currently studying a Level 3 National Diploma in Sport and Exercise, while Joseph studies a Level 3 National Diploma in Graphics and Mo is completing a Level 2 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. Luca is a student at Newcastle Sixth Form College.
The fixture provided another example of the opportunities available through Newcastle College's basketball provision and its close relationship with Newcastle Eagles, allowing talented young players to develop alongside their studies and experience the demands of the sport at a higher level.
Mo Sanyang, one of the Newcastle College students who took part in the game, said: "Playing against the Eagles first team was an incredible experience and a great opportunity to test myself against professional players.
"The intensity and standard of the game showed me what it takes to compete at the highest level and has given me even more motivation to keep developing.
"Being part of the basketball programme at Newcastle College with Newcastle Eagles has helped me improve both on and off the court, and opportunities like this make the experience really special."
Jonathan Rees, Director of Health, Science and Welfare at Newcastle College, said: "This is what college sport is all about - giving students the opportunity to develop their academic and sporting skills week in, week out, while creating experiences they simply wouldn't get anywhere else.
"For four of our basketball students to test themselves against a professional team at just 17 years old is an incredible opportunity and one they will remember for a long time. It also demonstrates the strength of the partnership between Newcastle College, Newcastle College University Centre and Newcastle Eagles, and the opportunities that partnership continues to create for our students."
Paul Blake, Managing Director of Newcastle Eagles, said: “One of the things that makes our partnership with Newcastle College so special is the opportunities that it is creating for the development of so many young people.
“For a number of years, we’ve built a performance pathway for the region’s up and coming basketball players. To see student-athletes from Newcastle College Eagles Academy step up and go head-to-head against our professional men’s team for the first time was a real milestone moment for the programme.
“These opportunities are invaluable experience for these young players, showcasing the talent being developed here in the North East."
Earlier this year, Newcastle Eagles Academy at Newcastle College was awarded Category 1 status by Basketball England, recognising the strength of its basketball programme and the opportunities available to aspiring players.
The Academy competes at the highest level of college basketball, with its men's and women's teams playing in the Elite Academy Basketball League (EABL) and Women's Elite Academy Basketball League (WEABL).