A leader at the University of Worcester has received a prestigious national award for services to basketball.

The pro vice chancellor for partnerships, Mick Donovan, received the English Basketball Fellowship Jubilee Award: Lifetime Award for services to basketball both in this country and internationally.

Mr Donovan said: "I am absolutely thrilled to receive such a prestigious award and have continued to learn from many respected basketball people in the UK and internationally.

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"Whilst achieving success with many of the teams has been fulfilling, the real reward has been in having the opportunity to introduce so many people to the game as players, coaches and educators."

Mr Donovan, who co-founded the Worcester Wolves basketball franchise, has held multiple roles since its launch in 2000, including coach and managing director.

Currently the chairman, he has led the team to multiple successes, including two BBL Cup wins, a BBL play-off win, and a BBL Trophy.

In his earlier career as a PE teacher, Mr Donovan's passion for basketball was ignited as he coached several secondary school teams to the National Schools Finals.

He later served as head coach of the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) basketball team at the University of Warwick for three years.

Since joining the university in 2000 he revamped the basketball program with the university's BUCS side crowned Champions eight times.

His role in the development of the University of Worcester Arena, a venue that has hosted several NBL and BBL finals, international GB games, and the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships in 2015, has also been recognised.

He also played a key role in creating the National Basketball Heritage Centre, now based at the university.

He has developed the university's basketball partnerships with the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, Valencia Basket, and Beijing Sport University, and initiated the Valencia/Worcester Basketball summer camp, where hundreds of youngsters from the UK and Spain participate in a week-long camp every year.

Presenting the award, Andrew Milbourne, chair of the English Basketball Fellowship, said: "It was a huge honour to present this trophy to Mick.

"The Fellowship committee recognised his long standing and continued commitment to basketball at all levels and this recognition is well-deserved."