A casual conversation with a good friend got Aubrey Latham thinking about playing basketball overseas.

Over the summer, R.J. Evans told Latham, a former Fitch High School and Post University standout, about his experience in England last season playing for the Durham Wildcats, a professional team, and also attending graduate school there.

Latham, who graduated last spring, expressed an interest in going a similar route. So Evans reached out to his contacts.

Next month Latham will attend Durham University and play for its team in the British Universities and College Sports (BUCS) Premier North Division.

"He got me this whole opportunity," Latham said of Evans, a Norwich Free Academy graduate and ex-UConn player. "I owe a lot to him for it. ... R.J. was telling me about it from when he was there. I was like, 'Wow, that would be so awesome to do.' "

"... They gave me an offer. It was something I couldn't turn down. I feel I just got lucky."

Latham, a 5-foot-8 guard/forward, is waiting for her visa and hoping to leave for England any day now. She's been working out at her family's home in Mystic.

"I'm just excited and anxious to get over there," Latham said.

She's looking forward to renewing her friendly rivalry with Kastine Evans, R.J.'s sister. Kastine, who played at Kentucky and NFA, is a rookie member of the Leicester Riders. The Riders and Wildcats will play twice this upcoming season.

"I'm very excited about that," Latham said. "I'm very good friends with their family and played against her in high school. It will be great to play against a familiar face. I know they're one of their big rivals. When I went to Fitch and she was at NFA, we were big rivals, too."

A sports management major at Post, she's entering a one-year MBA program at Durham U.

"Before all this happened, I wanted to start graduate school right away (after graduation)," Latham said. "This was just a plus."

It will be a whole new experience for Latham on so many levels. She's never been out of the country. She'll be living in a house with nine other women, including some Durham teammates. She's unsure what to expect basketball-wise.

"She's going to have a good time," R.J. said. "She can definitely play (at that level). Hopefully, she will come out with some confidence."

Latham finished her college career as Post's all-time leading scorer with 1,790 points and averaged 22.9 points - sixth in the nation - as a senior, earning All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference first team and Daktronics All-East Region honors.

"It was great," Latham said of her experience at the Waterbury school. "After my first year when I tore my ACL, I didn't think I was going to have the career that I did. After that, I was determined to do it. My first coach actually had the record. I told her I was going to break the record the first day I went there.

"It was funny I did."

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe