Erin McGarrachan is not just content at taking on the Americans at their own game. She is out to make her mark at one of the top NCAA division one college programmes.

Currently a sixth year pupil at St Maurice’s High School in Cumbernauld, McGarrachan, 17, will join a growing band of Scots playing ball on the other side of the pond.

Remarkably, she will be the seventh Scottish girl currently playing basketball in America at college or high school level.

Mairi Buchan and Rebecca Allison are both at another division one college Old Dominion and the others are: Rose Anderson (Central Oklahoma, NCAA D2), Michelle Duff (Midwestern State, NCAA D2), Annie Rowan (Kansas City Kansas CC, JUCO D1) and Kathryn Taylor (The Kent School, Connecticut, High School).

McGarrachan had interest from several division one colleges but will this month sign for the University of Texas El Paso.

The university currently have six foreign players on their roster including three Latvians who are some of the best players in Europe at their age group.

UTEP won their conference last year, Conference USA, and went to the NCAA tournament.

”With the addition of the foreign girls they hope to go deeper into the tournament and I have no doubt that when Erin begins there in 2010, she will contribute to their tournament ambitions,” says Donna Finnie, head coach to the Scotland junior team.

”Erin is currently a Central Scotland Institute of Sport (CSIS) athlete and has been on basketballscotland's elite program for over a year-and-a-half now.

“The work that has been done with the institute has proven invaluable as Erin has really developed her strength on court and made a big impact when we toured the US this summer.”

McGarrachan has only been playing basketball for four-and-a-half year but now has a four-year scholarship to look forward to in the home of the sport.

"I used to play volleyball and also took part in swimming and ran the 800 metres and I recently won the school triathlon. But I just really loved basketball when I first started playing," she explains.

"It's a team sport and it's so fast paced and I really enjoy playing. Donna has been a tremendous help for me setting things up with the scholarship and my club coaches have also helped out a lot.

"I had to put game film onto You Tube for the coaches to look at over in America and it is a dream come true to get this chance.

"I've never been to the university but I was over in Texas with the Scottish junior team earlier this year and there is talk of a visit to El Paso in April.

"After that it would be a case of joining them next August and I'm looking to do French and Economics as part of my degree over there.

"I want to take my game on to the next level and the Scottish League doesn't really give you that chance. The ultimate dream would be to play the game professionally in the WNBA over there but I know that is a long way off.

"It's an exciting opportunity for me and I know there are other Scottish girls over in America so I can also learn from their experiences.

"The good thing about El Paso is that their programme takes on a lot of European players so we'll all be in the same boat when I go out there and it's not as if I'll be the only foreign player."

McGarrachan currently plays for the Glasgow Rocks at junior and senior level and the work done by her club coaches Jim Lay, Lisa Palombo and Dave Evans, have all helped develop her play to the current high standard.

“At the national team level she is just a dream to have on court as she always gives 100% and is so consistent,” continues Finnie.

“Her statistics at her last FIBA competitions were fantastic and she is just the most complete team player, she can play any spot on the floor and is always willing to handle pressure.

”I have no doubt Erin will be a success at UTEP and that her being given the opportunity to play the schedule they do there, will help her in her ambitions to play at GB level.

“She is already on the radar for the Under-20 programme and hopefully she will continue to develop her game in El Paso to enable her to make that next step.”

RM
© Copyright In  The Winning Zone, MMIX, All Rights Reserved

Images courtesy of David Patterson