Creek was also crowned the tournament's most valuable player, after averaging 17 points a game and finishing second in efficiency on plus 20.

He joins an illustrious list of past MVP winners including current United States National Basketball Association players David Andersen, Australia, and Nicolas Batum, France.

Leading Horsham basketball coach Owen Hughan said Creek was now among the top junior basketballers in the world.

"He has the world at his feet," he said.

"This is an enormous achievement because he was playing against the best players of his age in the world.

"There will be tremendous offers coming at him from United States colleges and other places."

Hughan said Creek had `once-in-a-generation' talent.

" I have always said he is one of best athletes I have ever seen in Horsham," he said.

"It is just a matter of applying himself. Since he has gone to the Australian Institute of Sport he has applied himself more.

"He has set himself up now. We are seeing the true value of his talent."

The Emus won the gold medal game 68-51 against the German under-18 side which had defeated the United States to qualify for the final.

Creek scored 20 points in the final, along with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Proud father Jeff Creek received an early morning phone call from his excited son yesterday.

"He was over the moon," Mr Creek said.

"He rang me at 3am and said: `Dad, we won, we won'.

"I was following the live statistics over the internet so I already knew that. Then he said: `Guess what? I won the MVP award'.

"It just blew me away. My feet haven't touched the ground."