MITCH Creek’s bid to play for Australia at the World University Games in South Korea this year is at the mercy of university bureaucracy.
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Creek was named on Wednesday in a 16-man squad for the Australian team along with fellow Wimmera basketball export Shaun Bruce, but needs to be enrolled at a university to compete.
The squad is made up of NBL players and Australians playing overseas at American colleges.
It represents a potential pathway to the Boomers – Australia’s national men’s team.
Andrej Lemanis will coach the squad.
The Adelaide 36er have applied for a bachelor of science course through SATAC, and could be enrolled at either Flinders University, the University of Adelaide or the University of South Australia.
Creek said his university enrollment had to be completed by the end of today in order for him to be eligible for the team.
‘‘I’ve got an application in the pipeline, but I’ve got to actually hear back from a university and get enrolled physically,’’ he said.
‘‘At the moment I’m in the squad and Andrej has mentioned he wants me in the team, but I can only do that if my paperwork goes through on time.
‘‘I’m checking the mail morning, noon and night.
‘‘It’s a hard process trying to get it done quickly, so I’m eagerly awaiting a response.’’
Despite describing his bid to play as a 50-50 chance, Creek said he still had plenty of hope.
Creek has represented Australia internationally at under-19 level, and said the chance to do so again was a big opportunity.
‘‘Anyone who knows me well enough knows that’s why I play,’’ he said.
‘‘Representing your country is something very few people get to do in the basketball world, so getting a chance to do it would be a special honour. But things have to fall into place first.’’
Creek said if he was picked he would try to provide leadership on and off the court.
‘‘I want to do it more than anything,’’ he said.
‘‘If it doesn’t come off then good luck to the squad and coach, but it’s something I want to be a part of and hopefully I can be a big contributing factor.’’
The squad will train in Canberra next month before being cut down to a final 12-man team.
The team will play warm-up games in China before the World University Games start in South Korea in July.
Bruce is also a chance to pull on the green and gold after being named in the squad.
His older brother Aaron Bruce has previously played for the Boomers.