Sarah McKay (pictured), a 6ft 7in 22-year-old born in Canada, is the latest recruit to the side that hopes to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

 

Her father, Mike, is a former Sunderland centre who represented England.

 

McKay was born in Mission, British Columbia, raised in Victoria and posted
some impressive stats in her four years at Indiana University.

 

She was discovered playing for the same club in Spain as Megan  Moody, the Australian-Scot who starred for the British women's side last  season.

 

The British men have already recruited top NBA star Luol Deng, of the Chicago Bulls, and are increasingly confident that his club-mate Ben Gordon will also commit to them.

 

The presence of McKay could be a major boost for the women and she is sure to attract plenty of attention in the build-up to 2012 where, if Britain qualifies and she plays, she will be the tallest woman ever to represent this country in the Olympics.

 

Moody said: "She's the real deal all right.

 

McKay has still to decided where she will play next season.

 

She said: "I've had a good offer to play for a Division Two side in Spain but I'm still hoping to play for a Division One side."