Jeremy Sochan's NBA journey to the Southampton and Milton Keynes
There is a broad smile across the face of Jeremy Sochan - his voice radiating a level of delight - as he contemplates what potentially lies ahead.
The 19-year-old is one of the top prospects going into the 2022 NBA Draft (00:00 GMT, Friday, 24 June). An annual event which sees eligible players selected to join the league.
For the teenager, a childhood dream is about to become a reality - a vision which began on the UK's south coast.
Although originally born in Guymon, Oklahoma, his family moved to the UK when he was two years old.
They settled in Southampton - and with his mum playing professional basketball, he was always surrounded by the game.
"I always remember I used to follow my mum, just being on the court. You know, just playing, trying to shoot, trying to score a basket," he told BBC Sport.
At the age of six, he joined his local team - the Solent Kestrels - and credits the club with developing his skill level and love for the sport.
After a few years living on the south coast - his family were on the move again - this time to Milton Keynes, where he joined the MK Trojans.
"Although I've always been one of the tallest in the class, I never really had any pressure to play basketball. I played football as well, as a goalkeeper. When I was 12, I had to pick a sport to take seriously, and basketball was it," he said.
Like many young basketball players in the UK - Sochan says playing in the NBA was always the target.
Yet he knew the challenge ahead. In the 75-year history of the NBA, only seven players developed in the UK have played in the league. Luol Deng, John Amaechi and Robert Archibald are among the most notable names.
The last British player to enter an NBA draft was Ryan Richards in 2010 - and although the San Antonio Spurs drafted him - he never played a game for the team.
Still, Sochan's family knew his best chance of achieving his goal was for them to move back to America. He was 16 when they made the decision.
Just 60 players each year are selected in the draft. The eligibility criteria mean players wanting to play in the league must have attended college/university in America. A handful of international prospects are invited to be part of the draft process.
"If I wanted to do big things with basketball, I did have to leave England. I think my mum understood that because she played basketball as well. She was open to it, and I know what they've had to sacrifice, but I know why I'm doing it. I love my parents, and I'm doing it for them as well," Sochan said.
After a year spent playing for Baylor University, he's declared for the NBA Draft and has been attracting interest from several teams.
"I mean, it's been crazy—something I never expected. Of course the combine was the first thing that really happened. I talked to a bunch of teams and interviewed with them. I had my pro day as well.
"It was great times. I've already worked out for two teams, San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder and they've both been great. I think just being in that environment, seeing the facilities, I think it's been great for me. So yeah, it's really exciting."
It's almost impossible to miss Sochan on the court. A power forward measuring 6ft 9in and weighing 104kg. He's a 'two-way player' as good offensively as he his defensively.
As a child, Sochan used to call out the name "Kevin Durant" as he launched the ball towards the basket. Now it seems surreal that he could be sharing a court or even a locker room with the Brooklyn Nets player he considers a hero.
"For me, Kevin Durant was that guy. I remember when he was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder and they came to Manchester for a friendly game, so I got to see him play up close.
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