大象传媒

Rema started playing basketball aged just five at what was then the Derby Storm basketball club. His dad was playing in the men's team at the time and Rema acknowledges his father's role in getting him involved in the sport: "My dad played basketball for a long number of years so ... it was his influence really."

Since starting his career with the club Rema has seen it go through a dark patch in the late nineties where the club nearly disappeared. Fortunately it was reborn in 2000 under the new name Derby Trailblazers.

None of this seems to have hindered Rema though and he has gone from strength to strength making his international debut in Majorca in April this year. He talks fondly of this moment and recalls how the locals in Spain gave the players a warm reception: "They all adore basketball, all these little kids and they're asking us for our shirts and everything, signatures and everything ... it's very surreal."

Rema in his training shirt

The games in Spain were a preparatory exercise听 for an international tournament in Austria this May. A tournament at which Rema and the English team managed to finish third.

At this point in time Rema is busily preparing for the European championships this August. The England team is yet to be picked so he is putting in the hard work, training on his own every day, to try and assure himself of selection.

Preparation also involves monthly trips to London for team sessions. This is a big commitment on Rema's time, fortunately he is well supported though. The England coach lives locally so is able to take Rema to training sessions. His school is also very supportive and has been able to give him some financial assistance.

Long term Rema hopes he will represent his country in an Olympics and perhaps play professionally in Europe. He is modest though and when asked if he could play in the NBA - America's basketball league which is seen as the highest level of club basketball - he acknowledges: "It's very hard to play in the NBA."

Hopefully Rema will continue his development and we will see him on court in the England vest for years to come. Whilst Beijing has come to soon for him in four years time he will be 19 and in with a chance of making the Olympic team for London 2012. Again his modesty shines through as he says this would be "a dream."