Ayton teenager Grace Roberts has her sights set on more international glory while representing Great Britain Under-16s in Greece this week, only a few weeks after starring in England Under-15s’ victory in the Jr NBA tournament in Rome.
The Lady Lumley’s School student returned from Italy with a Championship ring as England U15s came through as 34-28 winners against Italy in the final, holding the hosts to just nine first-half points to convert a double-digit lead into victory.
Ayton basketball star Grace Roberts is eager to shine for England U15splaceholder image
Ayton basketball star Grace Roberts is eager to shine for England U15s
B. Braun Sheffield Hatters Under-14s and Under-16s star Grace also earned the overall MVP (Most Valuable Player) award for the weekend in Rome, despite being the youngest player selected for the tournament.
The competition formed part of the England Talent Programme (ETP), designed to provide players and coaches opportunities to come together, train and compete against other nations.
Ayton basketball star Grace Roberts is eager to shine for England U15splaceholder image
Ayton basketball star Grace Roberts is eager to shine for England U15s
This aims to expose English talent to as many different playing styles and conditions as possible before potential Great Britain selection.
The 14-year-old is in Giannina, Greece, this week with the Great Britain U16 Women's squad for the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2026 Division B.
GB are drawn into Group F alongside Iceland and Norway as they look to make their mark on the international stage.
Every game carries significance as they look to progress through the tournament.
Screenshot : Great Britain Basketball U16s girls team in Greece, with Ayton's Grace Roberts (no 6) in the squad.placeholder image
Screenshot : Great Britain Basketball U16s girls team in Greece, with Ayton's Grace Roberts (no 6) in the squad.
The championships provide another important opportunity for the country's emerging talent to test themselves in international competition while continuing their development in the Great Britain pathway.
Earlier this year the rising star took part in the Pyrenees Under-16s Cup against teams from Spain, France, Morocco and Chile.
The London-based training programme UK50 is by invitation only and the team went on to win the tournament, Grace also received the MVP award for the weekend competition.
The UK50 Basketball programme is an elite youth development platform dedicated to identifying, training, and empowering the top 50 basketball players in the UK.
Partnered with Basketball England, the programme provides rising talents with international exposure, skill-building circuits, combine testing, and high-performance scouting.