Warrington flier Kevin Penny is being dubbed as the next big thing in Super League yet, but for a twist of fate, he could now be starring in American basketball.

The 19-year-old winger, whose rise to prominence was capped by his selection for the 2007 engage Super League Dream Team, did not start playing rugby league until he was 16 but the Wolves were quick to spot his unique talent.

The athletic Penny was signed after just one trial match and that took the budding basketball player on a completely different career path.

"I had an opportunity to go to Priestley College in Warrington and play basketball there," he explained.

"Someone was going to come over from America and, if I was good enough, take me back on a scholarship, which would happen when I was 19. That's what I had my heart set on. I would be there now.

"But this came along and I ended up signing for Warrington just before I was due to start college. I didn't think I had anything to lose and it's just got better and better each year. I definitely have no regrets."

Penny got his chance in mid-season due to an injury crisis, scored twice on his full debut against Leeds at Headingley and went on to average a try a match with his lightning pace and brilliant footwork.

Warrington moved quickly in July to tie him to a new and enhanced four-year contract but his performances drew comparisons with former Wigan and Great Britain winger Martin Offiah, something the youngster is anxious to play down.

"Martin Offiah is a legend of the game and I've only played 13 first-team games," said the level-headed youngster.

"To be compared to someone like that is brilliant but I've got a long, long way to go to get to where he was."

Penny does, however, have ambitions to play for Great Britain and whether that will be as soon as the Test series against New Zealand starting next month will be revealed today when coach Tony Smith names the first batch of players for his train-on squad.

Penny is not expecting the call just yet and is already looking ahead to next season, when he is hoping to reveal improvements to his game.

"There are a couple of areas that I need to work on my game and I'll be looking to do that over the off season," he said.

"I'm looking to put a little bit more weight on and hopefully come back next year bigger, better, faster and stronger. I'm 12 stone now and I want to get to 13 to 13 and a half."

Penny is one of nine debutants in the prestigious Dream Team, which is chosen by a panel of the media.

St Helens and Leeds provide seven members but no fewer than eight different clubs are represented, including Catalans Dragons who have a player included for the second successive year.

Eight of the players in the line-up are British, including Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock who is named for a record-equalling sixth time in eight years.

The team is: Paul Wellens (St Helens), Kevin Penny (Warrington), Adam Mogg (Catalans), Jason Demetriou (Wakefield), Scott Donald (Leeds), Trent Barrett (Wigan), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Nick Fozzard (St Helens), James Roby (St Helens), Jamie Peacock (Leeds), Gareth Ellis (Leeds), Glenn Morrison (Bradford), Stephen Wild (Huddersfield).

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