RISING basketball star Josh Steel is continuing to make a name for himself on his tour of the USA with his basketball club – and has won huge praise from his England U-18 head coach.

Steel, of The Hoo in Harlow, played a crucial role as his team Barking Abbey recorded an impressive victory in the prestigious City of Palms Classic.

The teenager showed incredible composure to sink a late three-pointer as his side defeated Oldsmar Christian 47-45, after being behind for most of the match.

Steel (17) finished with 16 on 6/9 shooting, as Barking Abbey finished in third place in the City of Palms Classic Signature Series in Florida.

“I think it’s an honour that we were invited,” said Steel. “It shows we’re respected as an academy to play in the number one tournament in the US for high school, so it’s definitely pleasing we were asked to go.”

He previously starred for the England U-18 side against Zurich at the Haris Memorial Tournament 2013, finishing with four dunks, including a smooth cradle dunk on the break.

England were crowned champions after defeating Manchester Magic, 58-47, in the final on December 30 at the Amaechi Basketball Centre.

Steel was named MVP (Most Valuable Player), leading all scorer with 17 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter as he held off the Manchester surge, along with eight rebounds, three assists, and five steals.

“He’s a multi-talented young man,” said England U-18 head coach Karl Brown of Steel. “He’s a ’97 [born in 1997] and he just does everything. He handles the ball, he’s a leader on the floor, plays great defence; is long, and he attacks the rim and can hit the jump shot.

“There’s still more that he can give – he’s had a bad foot so we had to sit him out in the semi-finals, so he came back and led us from the front.”

Steel represented England U-16s when he was a year younger than his team-mates at the 2012 Division A European Championships.

He was also in Great Britain’s bronze medal winning team at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival last January.