By LIAM TWOMEY
HE MAY only be young, but Dejan Vasiljevic knows a thing or two about playing on the big stage.
The 16-year-old has been a constant figure in both state and national representative sides during the last few years and the results speak for themselves.
Vasiljevic captained the Under 17 Australian Men’s Basketball team to the gold medal at the FIBA Oceania Pacific Youth Championship last year.
From there he was selected as a bottom age player in the Victorian Under 18 side which won the national championship in Brisbane.
The theme of gold medals didn’t go unnoticed and after the national championships, the Tarneit resident was selected as one of only two Australians to attend the Adidas Next Generation Eurocamp to be held in Treviso, Italy in June.
Vasiljevic said the news came as a big thrill.
“This year I have been doing pretty well,” he said.
“I talked to the Australian coach of the Under 17s and he was really happy with how I was going. My state coach said that I was playing really well.
“I got home one day and dad said he had something to tell me. He gave me this sheet saying that I had been invited to an Adidas camp after nationals.
“It said in the letter that I had been performing at the last two nationals really well and they wanted to invite me.”
The camp will go for 10 days and involve some of the best young talent from around the world, training and playing games together.
It will also be the first time Vasiljevic will travel overseas for his basketball.
While the last 12 months have been amazingly successful, there are no plans to slow down for the young star who has his sights set on making the Under 17 World Championships in Spain next year.
Long term, he is also hoping to play professionally.
“So far I am thinking about going to college after I finish high school and trying to make the professional leagues in either Europe or NBA,” he said.
For his outstanding sporting achievements Vasiljevic has been named this month’s Don Deeble Rising Star nominee.
The award is run by the Sunshine Western Region Sports Club in conjunction with the Star News Group.
Dejan will receive $1000 donated by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club and other prizes to assist in his future sporting goals.
The Don Deeble Rising Star Award recognises young athletes in the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding results at a state and national level.
To nominate someone for the Don Deeble award, please contact starsport@starnewsgroup.com.au or call 9933 4800.
