FF. How did you get into basketball and have you always been into sports from an early age.
AW. I grew up in Plymouth which is a big basketball city and fell in love with the sport straight away. I have always been active in sports growing up having three older brothers who always encouraged me but never let me beat them at anything. I think thats where I got my dedication to improve at basketball so I could beat them both... which I do now easily (ha ha)

 
FF. When you started playing did it seem natural to you and were you better than all your friends, or did you have to work hard to gain skills early on.
AW. I started playing I had good coordination but not all the tools that you need to play the sport, I had to put in the time and practice, practice, practice. Most of my friends growing up played basketball so there was always someone to train with and improve my game. I wanted to be a great all round player so I did countless hours of dribbling, passing and shooting drills with both my right & left hand. I always watched Michael Jordan dvd's and wanted to dunk so I did alot of plyrometic training to increase my vertical leap which is now a good 40in's.

 
FF. When did you start taking basketball to another level and how often would you train.
AW. I played as often as I could even in the rain before school, seating in class soaked through waiting to play again at lunch time - I was addicted to geting better. I joined a team and started playing local league then got encouraged to go training with the Plymouth under 21's national league squad and started playing up & down the country at 16yrs old.
Basketball requires a good cardio level because you are always moving, be it up and down the court on offence or defence. It also requires a strong legs & a strong core because your are always jumping and being just six foot tall I needed to work harder to jump higher and dunk.

 
FF. How long would it take you to perfect a new move.
AW. Basketball freestyle moves are all created in your imagination it's putting them into practice that takes the time. I started off like everyone else just spinning a ball on one hand, then passing it from hand to hand, infront of me then behind the back, under the legs anything I could think of. Once I got the one ball routines down I progessed onto two balls. I have spent countless hours perfecting a new move be it in the garden, at the basketball court, in my bedroom, I always carried a basketball & practiced. Nowadays as the moves get more advanced & longer routines It can take me anything from a day or so to up to a month to have a move 99% accurate.

FF. Did you know there was such a thing as freestyle basketball when you started, and did you gain inspiration and ideas from other freestylers.
AW. Yes I knew about basketball freestyle and it really amazed me. The worlds best and a good friend of mine Tommy Baker always captivated and made me go wow when he would do his latest moves. Tommy is a Guiness world record holder and has performed all over the world. I have done shows with Tommy and we always compare & compete with moves and it's very rewarding when someone who is a big as him congratulates you on your moves.
Also by being part of groups such as U.E.T (Urban Elite Team) & Streets United I get placed in the middle of great freestylers all the time and ideas even come from a football freestyle that I could create in with basketball.

FF. Have you created any moves that you consider to be yours, if so what are they.
AW. Yes I have many. I would say a the main one that stands out the most would have to be my trademark move, which is where I spin the ball on my finger in a one handed handstand and bring the ball though as I stand up, this move is alway the move that gave me my nickname A2W which stands for Amazing 2 Watch and is also my initials of my full name Andrew William Wilding.

FF. When did you have the confidence and skills to take it to the next level and do shows etc.
AW. I started off performing infront of friends and family who really encouraged me and filled me with the confidence I needed to do shows infront of other people. I get a really big buzz from performing and feed off the crowds reaction to my moves.
 
FF. Tell us about the shows you have done and your best freestyle moment so far
AW. Some of my early performances were in clubs back in Plymouth and Newqauy and I took thoughs experiences to bigger events. In my portfolio have done shows for Disney, Addias, The O2 Arena and also some shows for the BBC. So far I've been in a movie called Freestyle that should be out early 2010. I also feature on a few music videos such as, So Solid - Since you went away. So I guess my best freestyle moments are seeing myself on the telly with all my mates doing what we love!
 
FF. Where do you hope to go in the future with your skills.
AW. Im always working on new tricks and strive to be the best in the world at what I do. Im forming my own company and at this moment in time am building my website www.AndrewWilding.co.uk. I plan to set some new world records next year aswell as touring more countries.
I am also looking to teach freestyle and workshops to see the sport grow.

FF. If others want to get into freestyle basketball how would you say was the best way.
AW. Check out the competition on such social networks like youtube. If you are determined to make it contact agencies and remember practice makes perfect.

FF. Anything else you would like to mention or any one else you would like to thank etc
AW. I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me all these years. I would like to say thank you to Streets United and U.E.T for helping me progress. I would especially like to thank one of my best friends & training partner Carl Potter for encouraging me and challenging to get better.