Jo Leedham – Bourges Basket & GB Star – Hoopsfix Podcast #23

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For this week’s episode of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we got the chance to sit down with Great Britain Senior International and Bourges Basket star, Jo Leedham.

Currently in her fourth year in France with Euroleague Women side Bourge Basket, the GB Olympian and NCAA Division 2 all time leading scorer is fresh off last week’s Eurobasket Women 2017 qualifying campaign with the Senior National Team and sat down with us for an hour to talk hoops.

In this wide-ranging interview, hear from Jo on:

• The recent Eurobasket qualifying campaign and her disappointment at GB not making it
• The new FIBA qualifying windows and how she thinks that affects preparation
• Her feelings about the GB programme and why it isn’t where it should be
• How she first started playing basketball
• The transition to US High School Chester Academy, a school with little basketball tradition
• How she had zero offers from NCAA Division 1 schools
• Why she chose to go to Franklin Pierce University & stay there, despite attracting attention after her Freshman year
• Her highest and lowest moments at Franklin Pierce University
• How she found out she got drafted to the WNBA by text message
• Her career accomplishments so far and the lack of recognition around them
• The conversation she had with the Head Coach of the Connecticut Sun when they cut her from training camp
• How she got a season long contract offer from the WNBA in 2014 but turned it down
• Why the WNBA is no longer a goal of hers
• Her desire to represent England at the Commonwealth Games in 2018
• Why it’s important to be a role model to young basketball players in the UK
• Why she loves playing in France with Bourges
• How difficult it is to get endorsement offers as a British basketball star
• And much, much more!

As always, I’d love to get your feedback, come back after you’ve listened and lets get some discussion going in the comments.

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