WILLIAM Jewell is well on the way to competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil thanks to the Bucks Free Press.

The 6ft 10ins teenager responded to a story in his local paper last year calling for tall youngsters to join the Tall and Talented sports development programme and is now being fast-tracked for the Rio Games as a basketball player.

The 16-year-old said: “I never really expected anything to come of it.”

More than 1,500 youngsters nationwide responded to the advert looking for potential rowers and basketball players and he is one of just four people to be placed on the special development programme by Basketball GB.

He achieved the honour after shining at a series of assessment sessions at Uxbridge’s Brunel University and the Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Now the teenager, who has to duck to get under the doorways of his family home in Flackwell Heath, will receive daily training as he bids to compete for his country in South America in six years time.

He will now go to the Henley College basketball academy where he will study for his A levels in four subjects as well as playing for national league outfit Reading Rockets.

He said: “I am glad mum and dad read the paper and showed it to me but if anyone had said then that I would get this far I would have thought they were mad.”

He didn’t even have a ball or a basketball hoop when he attended the first session, and was much more into playing as a goalkeeper for his football team when he answered the advert.

But he has now given up the goalie gloves to concentrate on his dream.

He said: “I feel very privileged to have got this far especially when you think there were 1,500 people going for it in rowing and basketball.

“I went to the first session thinking I would just give it a go and give it my best. I certainly didn’t think I would get this far.

“But I went with a positive attitude because if you don’t try you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

And the Wycombe Wanderers season ticket holder has been clearing all the hurdles since.

He said: “When it got down to the last 40 I started getting excited and thought it might lead to something and to be chosen as one of just four is really exciting.

“I know I’ve still got a long way to go to make the 2016 team but I have been given a great chance but I know that if I keep training and doing all the sessions I can get there.

“If I want something I will try to get it , and I want this.

“I know it will mean sacrifices and that I will have to put the normal college life on hold but it is going to be worthwhile.”

He certainly has the frame.

Now the youngster, who is nicknamed Crouchy by his friends after England’s beanpole footballer Peter Crouch, is still growing and he is expected to reach 7ft tall by the time he has stopped.

But already he boasts a standing leap of 10ft, six inches, which is six inches higher than the hoop stands on the court.

Dad John said: “If it works out great, if not then it’s been a great experience.”