Two youngsters from York will be spending this summer in the USA in a bid to better their already brilliant basketball ability.

Twelve-year-old Donna Smith, from Oaklands School, and 16-year-old Les Hartland, from Fulford School, have already shown exceptional talent at their age levels, and will be heading off to Boston at the end of June to join up with respective basketball camps.

Hartland, who stands 6ft 7in tall, is looking to take up a place in further education in America and several High School coaches have already expressed an interest.

He will attend the Holy Cross boys' camp, near Boston, while Smith will be going to the girls' team camp at the same college.

She has shown great potential and has been noted by England junior coaches as one for the future.

York-based coaches Graham Salmon and Alistair Raper will also be going to these camps, as the connection between York and Holy Cross continues to help the development of basketball in the city.

Salmon, from Poppleton, will coach at the girls' camp, and Raper, an ex-Bootham School pupil, will coach at both camps.

Meanwhile, female coach and former Holy Cross player Anna Kinne will be on the staff at the Yorkshire International Basketball Camp next month.