Young star … Dante Exum will compete in the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament in New Caledonia this week. 55180
By Michael Esposito
DANTE Exum will be flying the flag for Victoria when he competes in the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament in New Caledonia as a representative of Australia’s under 17 basketball team.
The 15-year-old point guard, who has that highly-valued ability to score points and defend with equal proficiency, was selected in the national squad after impressing at a week-long development camp in September.
“I felt like all my hard work had paid off,” the Seabrook resident said.
His achievement earned him this month’s nomination for the Don Deeble Rising Star award.
As the nominee he will receive $1000 from the Yarraville Club Cricket Club in conjunction with the Sunshine and Western Region Sports Club, a pair of New Balance runners and a six-month gym membership to the World Gym in Sunshine.
Exum said he will put the $1000 towards his trip to New Caledonia and future development.
It is the second time in four months a basketballer has received a nomination, after Werribee’s Michael Luxford was nominated in July for the yearly award. Luxford, who captained the under 16 Victorian Metro side earlier this year (Exum was vice-captain), just missed out on a place in the Australian team.
Exum, the only Victorian in the Australian squad, said his inclusion in the national team was another step towards his ultimate dream of playing in the NBA.
He certainly has good pedigree – his father Cecil played for four years with the University of North Carolina before being drafted to the Denver Nuggets in 1984. He then played in Australia’s NBL competition for the North Melbourne Giants and Geelong Wildcats, and was a member of the Giants’ 1989 premiership team.
Exum, who plays in the Keilor Basketball Association, said he was confident he could perform well at the Oceania tournament, and like any ambitious sportsperson, wants the ultimate prize.
“I want to come away with a gold medal and get good stats,” he said.
Exum is also training for the Victorian under 18 squad trials. If he makes the cut he would be one of the youngest players in the squad.
The Don Deeble Rising Star Award is sponsored by Yarraville Club Cricket Club and run by the Sunshine and Western Region Sports Club, in conjunction with Star News Group.
