WILKINSON READY TO TAKE A LEAD

Savannah Wilkinson believes Great Britain’s future is in good hands despite failing to reach next summer’s EuroBasket Women.

GB complete their qualification campaign in Albania tonight with a possible changing of the guard in prospect before the next cycle begins.

But the 19-year-old Wilkinson is heading a fresh crop pushing into the senior team who are now confident they can take a lead from the generation that went to the 2012 Olympics.

“I was looking up to these guys when I was growing up,” she said. “And when the Under-20s went to Montenegro last summer, we were all co-operating as a team. So I‘m excited about us growing and coming through together as a group.”

GB, who will be without leading scorer Jo Leedham in Tirana, will chase only pride and ranking points against the winless Albanians before looking ahead to the start of the 2019 World Cup qualifying next year.

“We’ve just got to go to Albania and earn our respect again,” Wilkinson said. “That’s all we’re really trying to do. Get a big win and get some more confidence individually before we go back to our clubs.”

Wilkinson, bound for Florida State University next year, showed immense poise in coming on against Italy last weekend, now a trusted contributor following her initial few caps earned from the bench.

GB coach Chema Buceta views her potential. The personable forward will expect much of herself going ahead.

“I was quite nervous sitting on the bench,” she admitted. “I told myself: ‘just be ready in case he wants me to play.’ Then he said my name and I didn’t have time to be nervous or anything.

“I just wanted to go in and do my best and he said to me when I was subbing in: ‘I’m not putting you in to pass the ball. I’m putting you in to be effective.’ I gave it my all.”