AN East Kent Crusaders junior has been called up to the England under-16s squad and could be in line for a place at the 2008 European Championships.

Kalil Irving, a 6’2 guard, will attend weekend training camps in December before the squad is narrowed down to the 12 who will travel to the championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovenia in August.

Irving currently plays for the Crusaders under-16s team as well as training with the club’s men’s squad.

Irving first joined the Crusaders eight years ago, aged seven. Former junior head coach Jesse Sazant, now the Crusaders’ Director of Basketball, described him as “one of the toughest defenders to come through Crusaders.”