Horsham Lady Hornet Faith McKenzie will get the chance to test herself in one of Australia's premier basketball leagues in the coming months.
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McKenzie has signed with the Ballarat Rush for the inaugural NBL1 season, and played her first match last weekend.
McKenzie said it was an incredible opportunity.
"I went down to a few training sessions, checked it out and thought I may as well give it a go," McKenzie said.
"I was just so excited, and just really shocked when I found out [I had made the team]."
McKenzie had planned to spend the winter playing netball with Horsham until she earned the late call up.
McKenzie said while she will miss netball, the opportunity to play in the NBL1 was too good to turn down.
"I have obviously played sport all my life and that's a big part of what I do," McKenzie said.
"I was happy playing netball with Horsham, and that was set up and ready to go. But this was really out of the blue and it's an amazing opportunity. I can't really turn it down.
"I love basketball and I'm really excited for the whole season."
The NBL1 was created to strengthen the pathway for Australia's best basketball talent. 18 clubs across southern Australia are involved in what league administrators have described as the premier basketball league in Australia after the WNBL and NBL.
I was just so excited, and just shocked really when I found out... it was really out of the blue.
- Faith McKenzie
McKenzie will play alongside WNBL listed players and international recruits such as Olivia Hackmann and Chanise Jackson.
McKenzie said she was eager to learn as much as she could from the high standard of basketball.
"I've already learnt heaps from the girls that I'm playing with," she said.
"It's really good to train and play with some really experienced and fantastic basketballers.
"I'm just looking to improve this season. I'll see how I go and hopefully have a good season."
McKenzie got on the court for eight minutes in Ballarat's opening round loss against Nunawading.
She scored a free throw for her first points in the league.
"The quality of basketball was really good, I was just really happy to get on the court to be honest," McKenzie said. "It was really good to get on and score my first points."
Richard Crabtree
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
