A SOLIHULL student will be aiming high as he heads off to the United States to play basketball.
Faaris Mughal is a BTEC Business student at Solihull Sixth Form College combines his studies with captaining the Basketball Academy, which is run in association with the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club.
He is the team’s leading scorer and star player and has ambitions to make it as a professional player in the future.
He hopes his move to Los Angeles to play for Prep School next season will be a stepping-stone to achieve that.
Faaris said: “I been playing basketball since the age of six, but I started playing competitive basketball at age 12.
“My ambition is to become a professional basketball player, but I wasn’t sure how to go about pursuing that dream.
“I got some help from the coach of one of the teams we played this year at St Helen’s, who sent my highlights tape off to some of his contacts.
“Thankfully that paid off and I’m super excited to be going to LA.”
Faaris will be playing basketball in Los Angeles from September this year until the season ends in April 2023.
He hopes that his performances will earn him an NCAA scholarship in 2023 and from there college basketball could lead to a professional contract.
City of Birmingham Rockets Coach Peter Mintoft said: “As captain of the College team, Faaris has led the team with distinction.
“He has developed into a very capable player, being able to light any court up with his highly effective three-point shot.
“With his high level of personal performance, he has done a great job of inspiring his teammates to a greater level of effectiveness.
“His dedication is exceptional and if he maintains his application to the task he will fulfil his dream of reaching the professional levels of the sport.”
