Lamunu joins Banguard University

By Charles Mutebi

CLAIRE Lamunu has achieved so much already she could walk away from basketball right now a contented player.

Yet her journey has only just begun. Tuesday saw the dawn a new chapter for the special basketball talent as she travelled to the US to join Banguard University of South California on a three-year sports scholarship.

Lamunu is the reigning FIBA Afrobasket Zone V MVP, National Basketball League Finals MVP and Uganda Sports Press Association female basketball player of the year but going to Banguard is bigger than all that.

For Lamunu, it is also the fulfillment of a dream she always thought would remain just that.

"When I started playing basketball, my two biggest dreams were to play college basketball in America and to become a fulltime professional," the humble player told the New Vision on the eve of her departure.

"But I never thought that I would ever go to an American college," she purred, "Oh my, this is awesome. I am extremely delighted.

"I am prepared for the move even though it is obviously going to be a challenge adjusting to the change."

On the negative side, Lamunu's move rules her out of the Uganda Gazelles All Africa Games campaign.

"But I think I may be able to take part in the Afrobasket tournament," she revealed.

The All Africa Games are due in Congo Brazzaville September 3-19 while the women's Afrobasket tournament is due September 24 to October 3.