JUNIOR Horsham basketballers Ben Hobbs and Austin McKenzie have earned selection in the under-16 Victoria Country side.
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The two players were included in the 10 player squad that will contest the Australian Championships in Maroochydore
Horsham Basketball Association junior representative director Tony Sleep said it was exciting to see two players selected for the squad.
“It would be number of years since we’ve had two players in the sate squad,” he said. “Both of the boys are extremely hard working and had both been named as emergencies for the squad as bottom-age players last year.”
Hobbs was selected from a particularly impressive group of guards.
“That group of boys have got a lot of guards that are very similar,” Sleep said. “It is sometimes like watching twins out on the floor with Ben and Jordan Michel from Shepparton. The challenge for Ben was to have a point of difference – I think his aggression and how he’s developed his offensive game over the past year really helped.”
McKenzie was selected at the four position as one of the rare bigs to come out of the country squads.
“Austin has competed against men for the past two years and has an ability to go out and get his own shot,” Sleep said. “It’s his ability and willingness to compete hard no matter who he is playing on that has seem him come a long way from last year to this year.”
New under-16 head coach Joe Anderson said the side’s athleticism and all-round capabilities will help it rise back up the ranks in 2018.
“The Country boys team will have elite perpetrators at almost every position, complemented by a host of perimeter shooters to assist them in stretching the floor,” he said. “On top of that they’re an incredibly athletic and intelligent group of young men.”
The squad was selected after players attended the state combine at the State Basketball Centre on Saturday. Sleep said the boys was back in Horsham working on their game by Sunday.
“I was talking to them when they were getting shots up and it was plain to see from the look on their faces how much they were looking forward to the opportunity,” he said. “It will be a great experience to be exposed to the best players from across the country as they compete for a national title.”
The national championships will be played from July 6-13.