Jamboree a major success

The event wrapped up on Tuesday afternoon, following a series of games, skill sessions and training seminars.

Basketball Victoria Country General Manager David Huxtable said the event had been a major success.

“It's been excellent,” he said.

“It's been great to see the fun the kids are having, the 240 participants have really embraced the event, our coaches and volunteers and referees have as well, so wherever you go around the event there is a lot of good things happening.”

With the recent surge of popularity of the sport in Australia, and the success of a Boomers side featuring a number of country products at the World Cup, Huxtable said it was important to show young players the pathway that was open to them.

“The profile of the pathway has been enhanced so much by the world cup,” he said.

“Four players - Jock Landale, Nathan Sobey, Mitch Creek and Matthew Dellavedova - are all country Victorians, and I think that shows kids at this level if they push themselves to be the best player they can be, there is an opportunity to be an Olympian or to play for the Boomers at the top level.”

For Huxtable, the opportunity to grow the sport of basketball not only in the country, but across other regions was huge.

“This event is really getting a name for itself,” he said.

“We had 26 delegates from Oceania and Asia who came to see this event. We have had an incredible response to, those delegates have talked about recreating the event in their own areas in order to continue to grow basketball.

“We've already got indications of Indonesia, Tahiti and Vietnam having serious interest in the near future, so it's great to have basketball send out such a positive message.”

A further five years of funding for the event was announced, with the event to remain in Echuca until at least 2023.

The basketball action is far from over in the town, with Echuca to host their annual junior basketball tournament this weekend.