Teesside Lions vice-captain Anthony Reed is heading to Sweden after being selected to attend the Elite Scania Camp for basketball referees.

While the Scania Cup, a junior competition, takes place over Easter weekend, a refereeing camp is also held.

Officials from across the globe are selected to develop and progress, with Anthony, 21, one of just two from the UK among 32 from 21 different nations.

The Nunthorpe-based official said: “I wasn’t just selected for the camp, but for the elite camp which is a great honour.

“I enjoy refereeing and am reffing two or three games per week. I remember my coach James Thomson suggesting learning to ref improves you as a player and it really does. You are able to appreciate a different perspective of the game.”

He qualified as a referee in 2014 aged 16. In 2019 he attended the Red Star Belgrade Camp in Leeds and was talent spotted by organisers including Alan Richardson as a potential future Euro League standard referee, which is the equivalent of Champions League in football.