JOE Hart has set his sights on helping the Great Britain basketball team reach the 2020 Olympics after making his international debut.

The Southend-born 6ft 4ins player was part of the British team beaten 84-63 by New Zealand at the Copper Box in London’s Olympic Park.

Despite the result not being what Hart had wanted, the 22-year-old said making his debut was a memorable experience.

He said: “It’s such a great achievement for me.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing for my country from when I was a young child so to fulfil that dream is a wonderful feeling.

“Now I’ve made an appearance for the GB national side, I want to keep progressing.

“My goals for the next few years are to help the GB team qualify for the EuroBasket and then the 2020 Olympics.”

Hart played for Southend Swifts as a youngster before leaving home at 16 to ply his trade across the pond in America.

He represented Britain many times as a junior, captaining both the under-16 and under-20 national teams.

“I started playing basketball at the age of about eight or nine and once I realised I had the knack for it I never looked back,” said Hart.