Georgina Lennon sits down with Rocks player Gareth Murray...

Gareth Murray will never forget the moment he went up to lift the Arbroath Musketeers Trophy, and just incase he does, there’s video footage to remind him. “As I lifted the trophy I was being so careful not to break it," said Gareth. “I knew it was broken slightly but everyone had managed to lift it without it falling apart. That was until I lifted it. The thing just fell apart – I couldn’t believe it.

Everyone was rolling about laughing and all of a sudden I was acutely aware of all the video cameras recording my shining moment,” tells Gareth (he is even a little red faced, telling this story). Gareth (22) gained his place on the Rocks team by taking part in open tryouts in 2005.

A year after leaving Kalamazoo Valley College in Michigan, USA, Gareth’s went with his best friend to the tryouts, never thinking for a second that he would be chosen. “It was a great feeling when I was chosen. I was extremely shocked.” Gareth had to quickly get over that shock and get himself focused though, as he had his first game with the Rocks three days later. “Being part of the Rocks is a great achievement for me.

The owners were really good to me last season and I absolutely love Glasgow, so when I was asked to stay at the Rocks I couldn’t refuse,” said Gareth. To Gareth, being a Rock means being willing to train and play hard, being trustworthy and being a team player.

The man who taught him that was his high school coach, John Grant, who taught him from he was 12-years-old. He made sure Gareth went to basketball camp every year, got the right practice and always encouraged him to believe in himself.

And if he hadn’t followed that advice, Gareth says he’d have become a P.E. teacher. “That’s what I studied at college so I think if I hadn’t made it as a player I’d still like to have been involved in sport as a career.” Life as a basketball player can be pretty hard going so when Gareth gets some free time he likes to watch movies, play his playstation and get as much sleep as possible.

Haven’t you always wanted to be someone else for the day – Gareth certainly has. “If I could be anyone for the day it would be David Beckham, just to see what it’s like to live his crazy life and be known all over the world” said Gareth. Although he didn’t admit if the appeal of having Victoria as his wife had something to do with reasoning, he did however smile when I suggested that would be an added bonus.

His most important goal is to be the best that he can and aim for the top, which is exactly what he hopes to do with the Rocks. “Last year we had a lot of big name players in our team so it was a bit harder for me to get time on the court. This year though we are a smaller side so are having to work harder, which is definitely a challenge, but in a positive way,” said Gareth. “The benefit of a smaller team is that we are a lot closer as a group and are listening to each other point of view in order to work better as a team.”