06/08/09

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk—— Billy Beddow (Cambridge, Cambridgshire) signs with Methodist University (Fayetteville, North Carolina USA) to continue his education and playing career. Billy becomes the second County Upper Basketball Academy player to sign with an NCAA D3 University.

Methodist University is coached by David Smith. As Monarch head coach, the two-time USA South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year has compiled a mark of 141 wins – 124 losses with four conference regular season championships, two conference tournament championships and two trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament over the last five seasons. Last season, the Monarchs finished with an overall record of 10 wins – 17 losses and a USA South Athletic Conference record of 4 wins – 8 losses. 

During the past 10 seasons under Coach Smith Methodist has had an outstanding record. In the South Athletic Conference Methodist has a record of 80 wins – 47 losses and produced 15 All-Conference selections, as well as a USA South Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and two USA South Tournament Most Valuable Players.

Billy said this regarding his achievement:

“I was beginning to wonder if it was going to happen. I was working hard academically at Hills Road Sixth Form College and was grateful for their support in my AS levels, but I was not reaching my potential at basketball I felt. I knew that my best opportunity of achieving my dream was to transfer to County Upper School and become one of the inaugural entrants of the basketball academy, under the guildance of Coach Johnson. Although this year has pushed me hard, I understand that the real work is only just beginning.  I appreciate so much the people who have helped me and believed in me, even my home village Girton has supported me. County Upper Basketball Academy has been ideal for me as it had the academy and it is also a Science Specialist College, which meant that I maintained my academic life as well as playing my sport to a high level. I will miss the staff and students immensely, but wish them even more success in the second year of the academy.”

“This is great news for County Upper School, Cambridge Cats and Billy” said Coach Johnson, Director of County Upper Basketball Academy. “At the beginning of the season i said to Billy what i say to all recruits and that is if you prove to me that you really want to get to the next level i will do all that i can to help you achieve your dream.  Billy has worked so hard throughout this season to achieve this opportunity, and i am proud of him for showing such desire in achieving his dream. Now Billy must get ready for the real challenge of proving himself at Methodist, as the easy part was signing a letter of intent. I hope people begin to realize that with  Billy, Nick and Austin all moving onto the next level County Upper School Basketball Academy is a place where aspiring basketball players can achieve their basketball goals”. 

Billy becomes the third County Upper School Basketball Academy player to make it to the next level, he follows Nick O’leary (Sheffield Hallam Uni/ Sheffield Arrows) and Austin Wright (Norwich University, USA).

For further information regarding County Upper Basketball Academy please e-mail the Coach Johnson at djohnson@countyupper.suffolk.sch.uk