Dante Patel leads both his local team, the Richmond Knights, and the Hampton U15A squad with an unmeasurable amount of experience and knowledge about basketball, a game increasingly in popularity in the United Kingdom.
As a regular player in the champions of junior British Basketball, it is safe to say Patel’s expertise at such a young age is a rare sight to see in most sports.
Consistently dazzling on big stages with his majestic layups, he is hard to miss when playing a national game or even just when competing with local schools. To his teammates, the circus-like shots he scores are the norm, however it leaves many viewers in disbelief with his astounding finishes by the hoop.
Willing to improve in every single match and training, it is inevitable that his success in the game will continue in the future. He talks about his experiences in winning a National championship and how he can improve from this milestone already passed in his career.
On the May Bank Holiday weekend, only a few months ago, Dante Patel played against a strong Manchester Magic side for his local team ,the Richmond Knights, in the hometown of his opposition. Despite playing in an unfamiliar setting, Patel was not phased at all from his target of helping his team to victory. His passion and collected approach to the game showed his strong leadership abilities on the court and his skill to stay composed in even the most high-pressure situations. His calm mindset helped his team edge out a 68-60 win, with Patel contributing an amazing 8 rebounds and 7 steals during the match.
His committed attitude in training and his ability to always fight his hardest for the ball separates him from other players, as shown in the finals with his 7 steals; this is a statistic unheard of in even professional leagues. Even when the coaches aren’t looking, he’ll always input that extra piece of work that will almost certainly will reap benefits for his team later on in a match day.
Patel said: “I have always fitted my beloved point-guard role for the team.”
Generally, the point-guard will be the centre of the play and tends to run the attack by themselves. Although Patel is certainly talented in his offensive abilities, his playmaking abilities are equally exceptional. When opponents realise his lethal attacking by the hoop, he says that he has noticed that they try to attempt to close him down.
However, Patel stays calm in these moments, swinging the ball around to an open player on the opposite side of the court from him with pinpoint accuracy. Both these offensive tendencies, matched by his hustle for the ball and indestructible defence, means Patel poses a threat to whichever team he faces.
Although, at times, he may be challenged by fierce opponents, his sedulous attitude to the game always means he will bounce back up from an unsuccessful play without fail.
Dante Patel takes notes from many of the game’s all-time-greats and this clearly shows in his unique style of play. His unique understanding shows his capability to absorb information and play to his greatest ability whilst on the court. Already achieving national awards with his team, his future in basketball is looking promising to say the least.
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