Description

An film symbolising the challenges presented to one of the UK's most exciting young basketball talents, as he embarks upon a journey to the United States in order to go to college and pursue his dream of playing in the NBA.

Interview with Kayne

When you ask 18-year-old Kayne Henry-McCalla what he wants to do in life, you needn't grab a pen to remember the answer. 

“I reckon I can get to the NBA. Really. I’m honest.”

Without knowing this young man you already believe him, immediately computing how you can take ownership of a prediction he believes so firmly in. There are a lot of British teenagers who work toward finding a way to achieve such lofty goals, but a minuscule few make it a reality. 

Henry-McCalla left west London for Texas to start his college career and he certainly doesn't see himself only as ‘the next man up’. There’s a big debate in the UK about the best pathway to becoming a professional, but there’s only one way for this young man.

The international performance that put him firmly on the map was a 35-point outburst against Luxembourg in the group phase. It was a showcase of left-handed dunks, right-handed dunks, steals turning to fast break points and corner three-pointers. Describing himself as a position-less, speedy player who let’s his on-ball defence kickstart his offence, the boy who stands 6’ 6”, has a 6’ 10” wingspan and 28-inch vertical is able to take himself to another level.

“Towards the last two minutes, I looked up at the scoreboard and said ‘wow, did I just do that?’. I was getting carried away.”

He was well-prepared for his American adventure thanks to his best friend, Nelson.

“He was on the GB team with me but we joined Westminster at a very similar time when we were younger. We kind of grew up together playing basketball and although the games weren’t that high in number, we just trained a lot together.”

From getting up shots in Ravenscourt Park to running drills at St. George’s school in south Kilburn with Jimmy Markham - the other coach he credits for getting him to this point - it will be a different world entirely. 
But isn't that exactly what he always wanted? Henry-McCalla says he will miss his family, but plans to return so he can put smiles on the faces of those he loves. 

Before throwing in the final pair of socks for the trip, he asks that he can send on an important message to every young baller in the UK hoping to emulate his path.

"NEVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. IF YOU WANT IT AS BAD AS YOU WANT TO BREATHE, YOU WILL SUCCEED." 

Henry-McCalla then wastes no breath coming to a career prediction.

“I do see myself in the NBA. I just have to work hard for it.”