By Matthew Maguire -
March 20th 2010 @ 1:20am
Get a Roar profile
Loading ...Australian basketball finds saviour in colleges
While the NBL has staggered and all but fallen in recent years, it seems much of Australia’s young basketball talent are instead heading to the US college system to further their careers.
No less than five Australians were in the 12 man St Mary’s squad as the Gaels kicked off their NCAA campaign yesterday, beating Richmond 80-71.
Queenslander Matthew Dellavedova is the pick of the bunch, averaging 12 points a game in his debut season.
In fact, QLD is becoming a rich source for St Mary’s who also have Jorden Page (Maroochydore), Clint Steindl (Mackay) and Mitchell Young (Logan) on their roster in addition to Dellavedova (Maryborough). At nearly seven foot, Melbourne’s Ben Allen, previously at Indiana, rounds out the Aussie invasion at the California university.
Portland Trailblazer’s Patrick Mills, now considered the Boomers starting point guard, recently spent time at St Mary’s and with the assistance of David Patrick, a former Canberra Cannons player and now on the coaching roster at St Mary’s, the Australian influx show few signs of slowing.
The lure of free university tuition in addition to playing at the elite level is becoming a reality for more Aussies with every passing year.
More than 70 Aussies now play across the two NCAA divisions with almost as many again in lesser university programs.
Encouragingly, there are also almost 60 Australian women on university basketball rosters in the US.
With frequent talk of basketball’s demise in Australia, perhaps its saviour is not here at all but in the US collegiate system where the development of young talent can be fast-tracked with specialist coaching and the demands of playing against the best talent week in, week out.
But not everyone makes the big time so expect to see NBL and WNBL ranks swell with former college players in future years.
Kevin Lisch (not an Aussie) proved to be one of the stars of the most recent NBL season, guiding the Perth Wildcats to their record breaking fifth title. Playing for St Louis University just last year, this was his first season as a professional.
His talents, although not deemed sufficient to make inroads at NBA standard, are indicative of what is on offer from the college system.
Should more, particularly Australian players, eventually return to the domestic leagues here at home, basketball could stage a revival in media coverage, attendance and sponsorship.
If the product is good, sport lovers will follow.
Our ‘product’ must always be considered the playing talent we produce. The US college system is the best place for our youngsters to be to ensure the playing talent remains strong.
If the Boomers are competitive and Opals continue to be successful and should enough of that talent choose to ply their trade in Australia, basketball can survive and even thrive.
(6)
bever fever said | March 20th 2010 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
You mean like this kid, big decision pending.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/australias-most-wanted-athlete-sam-day/story-e6frf9if-1225842610630
Dont know about the other football codes around but in Australian football their have been plenty of cases of kids taking scholarships in the US for BB, Baseball, etc but returning home to then resume playing Australian rules football in their early 20,s.
Best of both worlds maybe.
LachieGaff said | March 21st 2010 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
Great article. I never knew the St Aussie Mary’s were so full of QLDers. I yearn for the day when the NBL gets back up to the level it was, both in skills and in popularity. Maybe the college players that don’t make the NBA might resist the lure of European cash and come better the talent in the NBL.
As for the article posted by bever fever, surely if the kid had any economic sense he’d choose basketball. May not become a household name in Oz, but can live very comfortably is able to secure a big contract
bever fever said | March 21st 2010 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
The problem is lachie that contracts are very hard to get, the kid would by the sounds of it be a first round draft choice in the AFL guaranteeing him some good coin, nothing of course like the NBA.
Plenty of fantastic kids at college level in the states who star at college level but dont make it to the big show.
Although the guy may make some good money in Europe playing BB, its hardly the same thing, anyway good luck to him whatever he chooses.
mushi said | March 22nd 2010 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
Yep no sure thing when you need to be in the top 60. It doesn’t really mention which programs are chasing him so tough to know what level his game is at outside of being an athlete.
Paul said | March 23rd 2010 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
Matt Dellavedova is from Maryborough Victoria near Bendigo – not QLD.
Most kids who do go to college are only ever good enough to come back to Australia and play ABA level – not NBL.
Many don’t get real starring roles at Colleges like Andrew Bogart or Patty Mills – just good hard working role players.
A talented AFL junior footballer can get drafted into the AFL and be earning $50k per year as an 18-19 year old. A talented junior basketballer can get a college scholarship for 4 years which could still cost them as much as $100k plus and earn no money for 4 years.
Sam Day would be stupid to choose basketball or baseball with the likelyhood of no income for at least 4 years – because there is no guarantee of an income from these sports full stop.
The NBL is now full of good average players with no public profile – the future still not so bright.
Adrian Bauk said | April 14th 2010 @ 10:05am | Report comment
It’s coming around Paul, I think this season could be a great one.
Many off season signings and new coaches bringing differing styles of play to the league. The Kings are back too, what’s not to love about that?
Bring season 2010/11 on!
http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/04/14/is-the-nbl-ready-for-takeoff/