ITA - Young Sylvester teaches Will Ferrell some moves

LOS ANGELES (Lega A) - Basketball players are not noted for their ability to move from court to silver screen - as anybody who saw Michael Jordan in the long-forgotten SpaceJam can attest.

Matt Sylvester may not have the same basketball profile as Jordan, but he`ll hope his on-screen career is somewhat more memorable.

The 24-year-old, the son former Milano and Virtus Bologna player Mike and born in Pesaro, had been hoping to follow in his father`s footsteps and to the Italian hardwood.

But a back operation put paid to that ambition for now, and led him in a different direction.

Sylvester’s mother saw an advert on the internet requesting people with basketball experience, without earrings and tattoos.

That’s because Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson are filming Semi-Pro - a movie set in the final year of the American Basketball Association in the 1970s, before the age of basketball bling.

Sylvester answered the ad without great expectations.

"I thought to myself that I would get three days to rest in Los Angeles and I would see a Lakers game," he said.

But he was selected as one of 25 to join the crew and is currently earning $250 per day teaching Ferrell some of his moves.

"Will is not exactly a player,” said Sylvester “He has a very normal shot. He can't use his left hand - if they cut that hand off, it wouldn't make a difference.

“I don't know how long my face will appear in the film, but I will always be able to tell the story of how I worked with Will Ferrell."

The film is scheduled for release in 2008, by which time Sylvester hopes to have his playing career back on track.

"I will be in Italy for the Summer League and I don't think I will have any problems in finding a team, I think having the dual nationality helps.

"In Hollywood, life is expensive and I'm not really earning much money, but it feels as though it was a never-ending party."

Cindy Garcia-Bennett
FIBA