Basketball
7 October, 2024
Livingstone leads Horsham to victory with 22 points in CBL senior debut
Livingstone stars: CBL debut, state development squad selection.
"I just came out ready to go and gave it all I had."
Micah Livingstone had a debut to remember with the Horsham Hornets senior men CBL team during its 76-71 win against Ararat Redbacks on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
The young tall had 22 points, including eight in the last quarter, to help his team record its first win of the 2024 season.
It capped off a memorable week for Livingstone, having been named in the Basketball Victoria state development program and Albury Cup alongside former Horsham talent Levi Munyard.
Aiden Reinheimer will represent Horsham in the under-16 squad.
"I've been playing for my whole career with Horsham," Livingstone said.
"I came up through the juniors and recently I started playing for Dandenong in the under 18 VJBL team."
A natural power forward and centre, Livingstone admits he had to put in the hard work to make the squad.
"The first time I tried out for the state development program, I didn't actually make it because I had broken ankle," he said.
"At the time, I felt it was a bit tough on me because I thought I was good enough to be in there. Obviously, the selectors didn't get the chance to see me.
"During off season I kept working on my game and got to gym; I was focus on improving as much as I could."
Livingstone's hard work paid off, and he was named in the squad the following year.
"I really focused on training well," he said.
"Fortunately, I ended up making it again this year, as well as the Albury Cup, which is the top 20 players from the state development program.
"We will have a couple of training camps leading up to the Cup, which is in January next year."
The lanky, wide-shouldered forward looks up several players from the NBA and NBL, such as three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, 2012 number-one draft pick Anthony Davis and 2023 NBL Xavier Cooks.
He admits to watching highlights and game tape to see how the big men ply their trade.
"I'm not super tall, but I've got a big frame and strong," he said.
"I take advantage of that and sort of bully players around the paint. I see myself as a big Jokic sometimes; I feel like I have an offensive package and can make good passes.
"I feel at home in the paint, but I'm trying to extend my game. I'll back myself as a shooter."
While he dreams of playing basketball professionally in Australia and overseas, Livingstone is now focused on playing good basketball for Horsham and Victoria.
"My goal for the next six months it to play as well as I can in the CBL and the Albury Cup," he said.
"I want to give myself the best chance to get selected for the state team.
"If I can focus on making the states I'll go from there. This is my passion. It's what I love to do."