UEL’s Roberts has hoop dreams
UEL sports scholar Lamar Roberts - Credit: Archant
Sports scholar aiming for top in basketball
UEL sports scholar Lamar Roberts has been playing basketball since he was seven years old.
Hackney born and bred, the 21-year-old will be studying Sports Coaching at UEL, looking in future to give back to the community that has helped him achieve such success in his chosen sport.
Although he had always enjoyed playing basketball, Roberts had not necessarily considered turning professional but a surprising find led him to take matters more seriously.
“When I was about 16 or 17 I found a letter from my mum. My mum passed away when I was four, she was young - in her late twenties or early thirties - and had cancer,” said Roberts.
You may also want to watch:
“In the letter she told me I should never forget that she loves me, and was saying to me when you get older play basketball!
“Since then I haven’t stopped playing. It’s been tough, but I have my faith. My faith has helped me get through some hard times. Following my faith has given me a purpose.”
Most Read
- 1 Two in five people in Tower Hamlets may have had Covid-19
- 2 Teenager found dead in Victoria Park
- 3 Driver arrested after police 'drugs patrol' stops car in Whitechapel
- 4 'Laptop bonanza' for schoolchildren in Poplar to help survive lockdown gloom
- 5 Students in rent strike over Queen Mary's campus staying open during Covid emergency
- 6 Leyton Orient sign Dan Kemp on a permanent deal from West Ham United
- 7 Post deliveries in east London hit by Covid crisis among Royal Mail staff
- 8 That's so raven: Everything you need to know about the guardians of the Tower
- 9 500 deaf children wait to see if their education needs will be cut by Tower Hamlets Council
- 10 Hunt for bogus health worker who gave fake Covid jab to woman of 92
Now standing at a statuesque six foot nine inches, Lamar’s mother clearly saw his potential early.
By his own admission, he got into trouble in school and did not expect to be studying further adding: “I am doing a New Beginnings course, which is designed to boost my study skills to degree level. I grew up in east London so to come to UEL is amazing.
“The sports scholarship is a very big opportunity. I believe education can change lives, it has helped me transform my life. I never thought I would get to university and start studying for a degree.
“My plan for this year is to make it a good year for basketball at UEL. I want to win!
“I want to keep developing as an athlete. For the future I would like to play professional basketball and represent to a high standard, and become a really good coach.
“I really want to reach my full potential as a basketball player both on and off the court.
“The fun that I found playing basketball when I was seven, I still have it now. It’s truly natural. I really enjoy playing. The scholarship means a lot to me.”