FREELAND SHOWING HIS POTENTIAL IN SPAIN
11/17/2008 JOEL Freeland is heading towards NBA fame and fortune after making a huge impact in Spain with ACB team Gran Canaria.

JOEL Freeland could be heading towards NBA fame and fortune after making a huge impact in Spain.

The 21-year-old Brit, whose US rights are owned by the Portland Trail Blazers, has taken the ACB by storm with his team Gran Canaria.

On Sunday, he was top scorer, with 15 points and 8 rebounds in only 19 minutes, as Granca won a thriller 68-67 at Manresa to continue their shock start as joint league leaders.

And with Freeland out of contract at the end of the season, Portland have already stated that they are keeping a close watch on the 6'11" GB star with a view to signing him next summer.

GB coach Chris Finch said: "Joel is certainly heading in the right direction for the NBA.

"He has a lot of the basics that the NBA get excited about, which is obviously why they drafted him in the first place, and now we are starting to see that out on the court.

"I'm not surprised at how well he is doing because we saw his potential playing for Britain this summer. But I am really pleased he has been given the opportunity to show what he can do."

Freeland's form is also good news for Finch's GB team who will face Spain - along with Slovenia and Serbia - in their group in next summer's European Championship Finals in Poland.

Finch added: "It is important for Joel to be playing meaningful minutes at this stage of his career but the way he is playing is also going to help the GB team.

"He has managed to carve out a meaningful role for himself in Spain, which is to his and his team's credit and, given how hard Joel works I think we will see even more improvements."

Ian Whittell for 24/7