Last week I took my son and his friend to the opening football match of the season at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea beat Hull City. During the drive from Farnham to London, they were talking about their mate Joel, who was playing basketball for Team GB at the 02 Stadium later in the day.
I have done some research this week and discovered the following information about Joel which I am sure Farnham locals will enjoy reading.
Former Farnham Heath End school pupil Joel Freeland enjoyed 3 games in an international tournament playing for team GB at the O2 stadium last week.
The team lost all three games of the 'Game On' at the O2 tournament over the weekend, but Great Britain forward Joel Freeland enjoyed the experience of playing against Poland, Turkey and Israel and he has been reported as saying
“I’ve really enjoyed the tournament, but I feel especially in this game today we could have got a lot better result” said the 6’10” big-man who was a first round draft pick in the NBA three years ago.
On June 28, 2006, he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft. However, the Trail Blazers encouraged him to return to European play to further improve his game and in August 2006, he signed a 2-year contract with Gran Canaria of the Spanish ACB League.
Joel averaged 14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.8 blocks per game during the 2005-06 season in the Spanish Third Division. The next year he played in the Spanish First Division and this year 2009, he joined the Spanish Euroleague club Unicaja Málaga.
The Best of Farnham wishes Joel good luck and hopes to see him in Team GB at the Olympics in 2012.
Do you know of any other famous or budding 'sons' of Farnham?
