Two West Suffolk College students will head overseas later this year to fulfil their dream of playing basketball and studying at colleges in the USA.

Tomisin Olumoroti and Samuel Kesinro, both originally from London, have spent three years studying at the Bury St Edmunds-based college, while training with the West Suffolk College/County Upper Basketball Academy.

The pair moved away from home to study in Bury St Edmunds after being seen playing for the same under 16 basketball team by Darren Johnson – coach at the academy.

Tomisin and Samuel lived with host families in Bury during the week while combining their business accounting and sports science studies with daily basketball training.

The students, who both achieved distinction stars – the top grade – in their studies, went to Iowa in the US last year to play a series of basketball games.

Tomisin was offered a place at Iowa Central University while Samuel was offered the chance to play and study at Genesee Community College in New York.

Both will head stateside in September.

Lee Mandley, their course director for sport at West Suffolk college said: “Both young men have excelled on and off the court and truly represent the term ‘student-athlete’.

“They are humble, incredibly hard working, and very personable, being extremely popular amongst their team mates, class mates, and staff.

“For them to leave their London homes in the pursuit of better basketball and educational opportunities, and to be so independent at their age in a very different cultural setting with a slower way of life, is a real testament to them as mature and driven individuals.

“I couldn’t have been prouder to hear from them that they had both received offers from colleges in the US.”

Samuel said: “It’s a big opportunity for us that not a lot of people get.”

Tomisin said: “When people help you its important to give back. If I make it to a pro I would come back and run youth camps.”