AUS - Bruton bolsters boomers World Championship team

SYDNEY (FIBA World Championship) - Brisbane Bullets basketball star CJ Bruton has been named along with NBA centre Andrew Bogut in the Australia Post Boomers team for the 2006 FIBA World Championship that tip off on August 19 in Japan.

Bruton, who missed the Boomers recent four-game Resi Test Series against the New Zealand Tall Blacks while trialing in the U.S. for an NBA contract, will bolster coach Brian Goorjian’s backcourt and add significant experience to what is otherwise a team of young bloods.

Of the 12-man team, only four players - captain Jason Smith (Sydney Kings), veteran swingman Sam Mackinnon (Brisbane Bullets), Bruton and Bogut (Milwaukee Bucks) have previously represented Australia at the FIBA World Championship or Olympic level.

Despite its youth however the team does feature a number of exciting long-term prospects for the Australia Post Boomers. Among those named to the squad are young Philips Championship stars Mark Worthington (Sydney Kings), Brad Newley (Townsville Crocodiles), David Barlow (Sydney Kings) and Luke Kendall (Sydney Kings).

Also named were college stars Aaron Bruce (Baylor University) and Daniel Kickert (formerly St Mary’s College) as well as seasoned big men Wade Helliwell (Lottomatica Virtus Roma - Italy) and Russell Hinder (Sydney Kings).

The team was named following an intensive six-day camp on the Gold Coast, which finished on Wednesday. Goorjian said he was confident the best possible team had been selected and that his side of young up-and-comers would represent Australia proudly on the world stage.

"This squad is the best combination of players we have available currently and we are excited about the challenges in the first round,” Goorjian said. “Once you’re into the second round, anything is possible."

"We look a completely different unit from the one that played New Zealand a few weeks ago. Our Gold Coast camp was great for us and has really helped us finish off what we started to work on against the Tall Blacks. The camp helped the pieces of the puzzle fall in to place. Bogut has grown into his role with the team a lot better and the addition of Bruton has given us the on-court leadership that can only come with an experienced player like CJ."

Australia’s schedule for the lead up to the FIBA World Championship, which tip off on August 19 in Hamamatsu, sees the Boomers leaving Australia on August 8 bound for China and the prestigious Boris Stankovic Cup where their first round opponents will be European superpowers Greece and France.

The Boomers recently announced a new partnership with Australia Post which will see the team become the public face of Australia Post’s support of the Australian campaign toward the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Australia Post Boomers Team: David Barlow, Andrew Bogut, Aaron Bruce, CJ Bruton, Wade Helliwell, Russell Hinder, Luke Kendall, Daniel Kickert, Sam Mackinnon, Brad Newley, Jason Smith (capt.), Mark Worthington.

Australia Basketball