Standing 6’9”, Ali Fraser’s sporting career is already mapped out. A sixth year pupil at Graeme High School in Falkirk, he is the latest Scot to be taking a shot at basketball in America.

A member of the Central Institute of Sport, the Scotland Under-18 cap has just returned from the US where he has been assessing his future options.

With a handful of leading American colleges interested, the 17 year-old has signed a four-year scholarship with the University of Maine.

"I visited a number of colleges but I had a gut feeling about Maine when I visited," he outlines.
"I really liked what I saw and I'm looking forward to going over there in August/September.

"I'm pretty surprised at the interest, I must admit. I sent game film of four or five of my games to colleges in America and they got back in touch.

"There are quite a few Scots now at college in America and it shows that there is good coaching over here. I know it will be a high standard in Maine but I'm looking forward to it.

"My ambitions? I'll not really know until I'm over there but I'd love to play the game professionally, whether that is in the NBA or in Europe somewhere.

"I've seen what Robert Archibald has achieved and it would be great to follow in his footsteps. It is also an ambition to make the Great Britain team."

Fraser's credentials were undoubtedly helped by the fact that he was recently placed in the top 30 players in Europe for his age-group.

That is no mean feat for a player considering the professional leagues in Europe and the standards the game has reached in the likes of Spain, Italy and France.

Fraser enjoyed a dominant season in Scotland this year, helping Falkirk Fury to the Scottish Under-18 league and cup and also playing his part as Fury’s senior team won the Scottish Cup.

Donna Finnie, coach to Scotland's Under-18 women's team, is one of the few Scots to have played division one basketball in the NCAA and has been instrumental in paving the way for Fraser to get to America.

"This one has been the most intense recruiting experience I have dealt with to date, Ali was very much in demand and it is incredible the pressure that is put on young people during this process," she explains.

"But he handled it with great maturity and I have no doubt he will have an excellent career as a "Black Bear" and more importantly, continue to strive for Great Britain selection.

“Ali has had great support from his club coaches, particularly Keith and John Bunyan, in developing his game over the last few years, to the level where he is now a force to be reckoned with both here and in Europe.

“He dominates the junior ranks with his physical strength and he and his good friend Jonny Bunyan make a formidable pairing on court as they complement each others’ games so well. Bunyan is also a national team player and a lethal three point shooter with impressive range and the ability to "thread the needle" when Fraser is running the floor as he does so well.

“The Fury teams this year have made great strides and the Bunyan/Fraser connection is a big part of that.”

But it was his performances for Scotland’s junior team in last year’s European Championships in Bosnia that put him in the shop window.

He has since had contact from some top European clubs as well as the NCAA colleges, including Stanford and Notre Dame.

“Ali has the physique and skills to play but, as with most of our elite basketball players here, he excels in the classroom and intends to study Maths at college," Finnie continues.
 
“He is extremely lucky that in addition to his club coaches supporting him, he has a strong family network, and his parents and younger sister Eilidh, regularly travel to watch the Fury and Scotland games.

“There are so many things to take into account though for a young man who has set himself some lofty goals.

“Like former Fury player Mairi Buchan, who now plays for Old Dominion University in Virginia, Fraser has dreams of representing Great Britain alongside fellow Scots Kieron Achara and Robert Archibald.

“Whilst, realistically, 2012 may be too soon for him, he is focused on making the GB squad and hopes that playing at a top Division One school in the US will allow him to continue to grow as a player and provide him with a strong competition schedule.”

RM
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