Basketball star Ryan Richards returning to Kent for sold-out training camp in his home county

Former NBA draftee Ryan Richards is coming home to Kent to help nurture future basketball stars.

Richards, who grew up in Sittingbourne, hosts his first-ever basketball camp in the county next week.

The sold-out event will be held on Monday and Tuesday in the Thinking Fitness gym at Rochester Grammar School, with Richards keen to give back to his home county.

The 6ft10in forward left Kent to start his professional career in Spain as a 15-year-old.

Soon after, in 2010, he was drafted by San Antonio Spurs in the NBA as a virtual unknown.

Double shoulder surgery ultimately put paid to his hopes of breaking into the team but it’s been a career to savour all the same.

Now 32, he’s played for clubs all over the world, in countries including Japan, Iran, Syria and Lebanon, and is still going strong.

His next stop, however, is Kent, where he’ll be working with more than 70 youngsters, aged nine to 19, at the two-day camp.

Richards, who went to Murston Primary School and Westlands Secondary School, had significant sponsorship on the table to host the event in London and Manchester - but his heart was set on Kent.

Those attending are in for a treat, with special guests including American youngster Adrien Isaac, the 6ft10in 14-year-old who’s been tipped for NBA stardom.

“I know other places get a lot of funding, a lot of exposure, and I feel a lot of kids in Kent get a bit lost,” said Richards, speaking from a training camp in Chicago.

“There’s not much for them here and I definitely felt that growing up.

“I felt a bit lost and didn’t feel I had a purpose or knew what I was going to do. I always wanted something that was missing.

“I had opportunities to do this camp in London and Manchester, with sponsorship from big companies, but