Sebastian Pace’s rising journey towards College basketball

At just 17 years old, Maltese basketball prospect Sebastian Pace has already mapped a journey across countries and competitive levels in pursuit of a dream – playing college basketball in the United States.

“My basketball journey started with Starlites Basketball Club in Malta. That’s where I fell in love with the game. I learned the fundamentals and spent years gradually improving. In my final season in Malta, I made the move to Luxol – a step up that gave me a new environment to challenge myself and prepare for the next level,” Pace told the Times of Malta.

What began on the island courts of Malta has now taken him to Bull City Prep in North Carolina – one of the most recognised preparatory basketball programmes for student-athletes striving to reach the next level.

Bull City Prep has two programmes with Pace set to start his journey at the Charlotte-based program with a mission to develop student-athletes through top-level competition, academic structure, and personal growth.

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Known for preparing players for NCAA-level basketball, the programme offers a professional environment – complete with rigorous training schedules, strength and conditioning support, and academic oversight.

Competing nationally, Bull City Prep provides exposure to college scouts while pushing athletes to their full potential.

Perfect environment

For Pace, it’s the perfect environment to continue his growth.

“The big leap came when I was awarded a partial scholarship through the MEYR Malta Scholarship Scheme, funded by the Maltese government,” he added.

“That support allowed me to join Real Betis in Seville, Spain. The transition was not easy – the pace, physicality, and level of play were on a whole different scale.”

“But I adapted. Eventually, I found my rhythm, gained confidence, and had consistent scoring performances. My personal best was a 27-point game where I hit 5-for-5 from three-point range. That moment showed me how much the extra individual work I was doing, beyond team training, was paying off.”

Pace said that at Betis, he experienced a professional setup – team gym sessions, access to a club physio, and competition in and out of the city. He described it as a ‘crucial chapter’ in helping him grow both on and off the court.

“Now, I’m preparing for the next challenge: Bull City Prep in North Carolina. It’s an exciting opportunity to compete at a high level, push myself even further, and get closer to my dream of playing college basketball in the US.”