Chantelle Handy

D.O.B: 16/06/87

Height: 6′3″

Weight:

Position: Small Forward

Notes:

One of the most exciting young talents to emerge in British basketball for some time, Handy entered the 2009-10 season, her senior year in US college hoops, playing for Marshall and with two international campaigns already under her belt. A 6’3” small forward, Handy made her GB debut in 2007 as the team clinched promotion from Eurobasket’s B Division and returned in the summer of 2008 for their inaugural A Division campaign. However, college commitments ruled her out of the 2009 relegation play-off tournament. Originally from Durham, Handy attended high school in Wheeling, West Virginia, where she excelled at basketball – being named among the top 50 high school forwards – and soccer.

Handy’s college career got off to a delayed start after she was forced to sit out the 2005-06 season because of an academic technicality but, in her debut season, she appeared in every game and saw her statistics improve in each of the following two years. In the 2008-09 season, Handy was a starter and averaged 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

Although she missed out on GB duty in 2009, Handy still tasted international basketball as part of the GB team at the World University Games, where she averaged 11 points and 7.6 rebounds over seven games, another indication of the bright future she has at the international level.

Damian Jennings says: “A big, and very feisty, guard or forward, Chantelle is a tenacious character with a nice jump shot and the ability to play well with her back to the basket. She’s a good practice shooter who, so far, has not always duplicated that in games but she’s very physical and athletic and we feel she has a strong future with us.”