Globe Trotter Basketball player settles in Toronto

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Shooting hoops worldwide, Liam Wyatt has used his gift of basketball to play the game all around the World. Born in Poole Dorset, England, Wyatt has played and taught basketball in Europe, Australia, the United States and now Toronto.

At 19 Wyatt was offered the opportunity of a life time, a full time scholarship to Butler College. The Division One NJCAA league paid for his tuition, accommodation, food and books. Living in El Dorado Kansas as a Butler Grizzly for three years is a goal that every young boy who plays basketball dreams about.

The strange part to this story is that where Wyatt comes from young kids don’t even know what basketball is, let alone play it! Growing up in England, the only sport that was vaguely similar to Basketball was Net Ball. Net Ball, mostly played by girls, consisted of a hoop on a pole with no backboard, and no dribbling.

Through a series of events he realized that he wasn’t just good at Basketball, he was in fact a natural.

“I was always good when I played against mates from my own home, but it wasn’t until I went over seas that I realized I was actually really good at basketball.”

After playing sports such as Rugby, Cricket and Football an opportunity arose to try something new. Just down the street from him, the Ex NBA player, Mike Spade, who played for the Seattle Super Sonics moved in. The kids in his town had never really been exposed to the American NBA before. Up until this point, none of the schools even had a basketball court. After meeting Spade and finding a niche that really intrigued him, Wyatt played in a basketball league he created every Friday night.

Spade formed an Under 18 National League that Wyatt played for, he was the youngest guy to ever try out and make the team. After this he started attending Summer Basketball camps, where they brought in American Coaches to teach the kids about the sport. Doing drills all day long, and playing games almost every night Wyatt was quickly learning to perfect the game he loved so much.

“Basketball is competition. Being so competitive helps me to vent. It is also has a good social aspect, there are so many people I have met that I never would have met without Basketball.”

Another NBA player Russell Saunders, took over the Semi Professional Men’s league that was created by Spade in Wyatt’s town. Wyatt and Saunders instantly clicked as they both played guard. Saunders taught Wyatt a lot of one on one lessons realizing his formidable potential.

“At 16 years old I was playing in an under 18 league and traveling all over, I went to Philadelphia and played against Americans for the first time. It was a lot of fun.”

That summer Wyatt was selected as one of the top 100 players in the UK. He was sent to the Nike camp and after showing off his talents received the most valuable player award. It was at this point that people started to really take notice. The American Coaches started approaching Wyatt immediately with offers for scholarships to many prestigious schools.

Playing for the Poole Dolphins at 18 years old in England, Wyatt was approached by Butler College and accepted their offer. After such an amazing experience, he returned to England and was paid to start a Junior Club up there. He was doing a lot of coaching and referring, as none of the teachers really knew the rules of the game.

“I was teaching in pretty much every school in the area. Then when London got the Olympics, basketball became one of the most popular sports. After they realized this they threw a lot of money in to building up the game in England.”

Wyatt moved to America, then to Australia and has now made his permanent home here in Toronto. After playing Basketball all over he is now playing in three leagues here in Toronto. The BWT league (Basketball World Toronto), The skinny Dragon League and  The Hoop Dome allow him to play at least five times a week. He has now been the Skinny dragon player of the week for a couple weeks in a row and was the first European in the league to receive it.

“BWT is the most competitive of the three leagues, a lot of guys played at college level in the states or Canada. The hoop dome is one of the best basketball facilities I have ever seen with seven courts in one building, leagues are being run there pretty much every night.”

Wyatt’s favorite part about being a basketball player and fan in Toronto is that he finally has a Basketball team that he can route for. As an avid fan of the Toronto Raptors, he has been to many games and makes sure to catch every game on T.V..  Although he does advise that young kids should not be watching the NBA for pointers.

“Don’t watch the NBA because the fundamentals are not very good, the guys are so athletic a lot of them are purely playing on athleticism, only a small number of people can actually run and jump like those guys. If you want to learn more, follow college basketball it’s a far more fundamental game.”

At age 27 Wyatt has made his home here in Toronto and loves it. Planning on playing the game that he loves for as long as he can in his new home town he is an inspiration and a great example of if you want something, and work hard at it you will receive it.

- Briony Douglas -