Josh Lowe, pictured playing in Ashburton in June, will play against an American university basketball side in Christchurch tonight ahead of heading to America on a scholarship himself on Sunday. Photo Erin TaskerJust days out from heading to America to take up a basketball scholarship at a Tennessee university, Ashburton’s Josh Lowe will get the opportunity to test his skills against one of America’s top university sides.

The Saint Mary’s university team from New York was currently in New Zealand on a tour and Lowe had been asked to be part of a Mainland Eagles team to play them both tonight and tomorrow night in Christchurch.

The call-up came just a few days ago, much to Lowe’s surprise.

“I was planning on going up to watch (tonight’s game) already and literally just before I was going to buy tickets I got a message asking if I would play,” Lowe said.

The 18-year-old was looking forward to the opportunity ahead of his departure for America on Sunday.

He was heading to Lee University in Tennessee where he would form part of the university’s basketball team, the Flames, when the American school year began in a couple of weeks.

The Flames were an NCAA division II School and they invited Lowe for a visit earlier this year while he was training at the Impact Basketball Academy in Sarasota, Florida. He impressed, and he was offered the scholarship.

Lowe, a towering 6’8”, said he was feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves, but was excited to get the chance to really test his skills against Saint Mary’s before he headed to the States.

Pip Johnston, who had coached Lowe for three years in the Ashburton College basketball team, said the games would be a good chance for Lowe to see the quality of the division I US sides.

Johnston and Lowe played together for the Checkers club in Christchurch, and Johnston said Lowe’s game had completely changed from last year.

He had become a lot more aggressive, had a lot more confidence on his own shot, and his footwork had improved.

“He could make it to the Tall Blacks one day, he has the right mindset about playing,” Johnston said. “He has a bright future in basketball.”

Both tonight’s game, and tomorrow night’s, would be played at Cowles Stadium in Christchurch.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 6 August 2018