SOARING high towards the net, Desta Rudder-Smith, 23,celebrates a £400,000 windfall for stars of the future.

Members of the Oxford Hoops basketball team were showing off their skills at the Alexander Court in Woodstock Road.

The National Lottery-funded Sportivate scheme was launched on Tuesday to encourage teenagers into sport in the run-up to the Olympics.

More than 4,000 young people will get the chance to receive up to eight weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice, including basketball.

Steve Kemp, from the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, which got the cash, said: “Our aim with this programme is to help young people have a positive experience of sport and physical activity and provide opportunities for their continued participation.”

Some of the money will help support Street Basketball 3v3, a city tournament launched last month.

Oxford Hoops coach Franky Marulanda said: “This is great news.

“I think the council found that whenever they went into sports centres, kids wanted to play basketball but didn’t know where to go.”