Richard Midgley has been working harder than ever in a bid to finish his college basketball career in style.

Now he hopes his crack-of-dawn efforts might help him surpass all predictions and clinch a place in the NBA.

Midgley is starting his fourth and senior year with the University of California Golden Bears, or Cal as they are more commonly know, in the Pac-10 Conference.

How he fares in the back court could decide his future as one of the top basketball players this country has ever produced.

The NBA or a top European league remain realistic targets, though well-placed judges reckon the latter is his more likely destination.

Midgley, the 22-year-old from Burgess Hill, has been doing all he can to make the most of his last winter in the Bay Area.

He said: "I've been working pretty hard. I'd go out and run the track first thing in the morning and shoot about 1,000 shots a day.

"I had to work hard this summer because it's my biggest year. I've dropped about 20lb in weight since last year and I'm probably in my best shape ever."

Team-mate, and room-mate, Rod Benson would vouch for that after being woken at 6am each day as Midgley went training.

Benson said: "Richard's doing dunks now. I saw him doing reverses and 360s. It's really exciting to see the progress he has made with his athleticism."

Coach Ben Braun is equally impressed, saying: "Richard wanted to be quicker off screens, quicker with the ball, and he's quicker defensively. He's playing as well as he has played since he has been at Cal."

Midgley missed three games and played in pain through others after suffering a shoulder injury last season. He hopes his improved conditioning, plus the return of Leon Powe in the front court, will make life easier.

Powe will take a lot of attention, from defences and media alike, off his English sidekick, though a pre-season injury for the big man will have set alarm bells ringing.

Midgley added: "Leon will open up the floor for me because defences are going to be focussed on him.

"Practice is going well. The team is looking good and I have an important role as the most experienced player. I see this season as a chance to win the Pac-10. Let people rank us low. The lower the better."

Cal are being tipped to finish fifth in the conference.

How they fare, and whether Powe helps attract scouts to their Haas Pavilion, could decide whether Midgley, who is likely to spend most of the season at off-guard, makes it to the big league.

He feels he has matched up well with NBA guards like Luke Ridnour and Jameer Nelson in college action and said: "I've thought about the NBA. It depends how I perform.

"Guys don't really talk about it, though. There are a lot of guys who want to play professionally."

A couple of respected judges like Midgley's hard-working style but reckon he will miss out on the NBA.

Jonathan Okanes, who watches Cal for the Contra Costa Times, said: "Richard isn't an NBA prospect. He has had a solid college career. His strengths are his work ethic, toughness and outside shooting.

"But his outside shooting suffered last season because of injury."

Mike DeCourcy, college basketball writer for The Sporting News, pointed at a career in Europe when he said: "Someone who has his passport and his jump shot should be able to play professionally, somewhere, for as long as he wants."

The top tier of European basketball might not be the NBA but it is still a fabulous level at which to be playing.

Wages run to six figures, not seven, and top games might attract 10,000 fans rather than 20,000 but skill levels are high.

DeCourcy added: "I've always liked Richard. I think his career at Cal has stagnated a bit because he has not had a great deal of help and also because he had to play hurt last season.

"He should be a better shooter than he showed last year. But I'm not sure he's got the necessary speed to become a player in the NBA."