AN Urmston teenager is following his dream of basketballing success.

Pharroh Burston, jetted out to the United States on Tuesday, after securing a life changing four year basketball scholarship at college/university on the East Coast.

The 6ft 4in player, who has been coached by former NBA star John Amaechi, is a former pupil of Urmston Infants and Urmston Grammar, and has just finished his A Levels at Loreto.

Ahead of being awarded the scholarship, the teenager has been turning heads with his sporting prowess in both the English national basketball under 18 and senior teams.

Before he left, Pharroh told the Messenger how he got into basketball: " I first started playing after seeing a leaflet with things to do over the summer holidays and a Flixton Flyers basketball session was one of them. That was 11 years ago."

Upon arrival in the States Pharroh will study at the College of St. Rose in Albany, while playing for the NCAA Division II St. Rose Golden Knights, one of the best teams in the East Coast Conference. He will be coached there by the legendary Brian Beaury.

Pharroh is delighted with the scholarship which he hopes will lead to even greater success He explains: "Being given an opportunity to play NCAA basketball for free is an unbelievable prospect. The level of competition is increased, the facilities are better, as well as opposition quality.

"Even more so is the fact that I also get a high quality education, which will set me up for my after-basketball life."

Pharroh, whose sporting hero was the iconic basketball player Michael Jordan said: "Life In Albany will be very different to life back home with different people, places and accents.

"However, I am looking forward to it massively, it's a life experience not many people get to have. The thing I'll miss the most about Britain will definitely be my friends and family.

And how does he see his career going ten years from now, he adds: "I'd like to be on a professional contract somewhere in Europe or America. It's an extremely hard thing to achieve, but I'm more than up for the challenge."

His mum Sally, who is head teacher at Delamere School said: "We are all very proud of Pharroh who has gone on to achieve great things both academically and on the court."