NORTH Ayrshire youngsters received a surprise visit from the Glasgow Rocks professional basketball Team last Friday.

Four basketball teams recently took part in the Jump2it finals at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow and Glasgow Rocks players returned to North Ayrshire to present each team with a signed poster of their efforts.

The winning team from Hayocks Primary were also able to relive their victories with commemorative videos created and shown in front of their school.

These visits conclude the Jump2it programme in North Ayrshire for 2013-14 where over the course of the year, 13 schools and over 850 pupils have benefitted from the Rocks input on healthy lifestyles.

Over 350 youngsters created more than 40 teams to compete in a regional tournament.

Four teams came out on top over the course of the day and won the opportunity to attend a Glasgow Rocks game and take to the professional court to battle it out for a place in the finals.

The final took place at half time of a Rocks professional game and watched by thousands of fans.

The eventual winners Hayocks Primary were crowned Jump2it champions for North Ayrshire.

Jump2it is a unique, education through sport initiative delivered to primary schools across Scotland by charity, Scottish Sports Futures (SSF).

Rocks players have educated these pupils with facts on a number of health topics including the importance of fitness and healthy eating and the dangers of smoking and alcohol.

Jump2it is part-funded by North Ayrshire’s Alcohol and Drugs Partnership and supported by the Scottish Governments CashBack for Communities scheme, funded by money taken from the proceeds of crime.

The programme was supported throughout by North Ayrshire Active Schools.

Sterling Davis, Glasgow Rocks player/coach said: “It is great to see the enthusiasm from the pupils in North Ayrshire.

"There was a great deal of talented kids involved and we hope they will continue to lead a healthy life through the information we have given them as part of the Jump2it programme.”