AUS - Mills raring to go with Boomers

MELBOURNE (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Australia’s hotshot guard Pat Mills of the Portland Trail Blazers is eager to join up with the national team ahead of the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

The 21-year-old, who just completed his rookie campaign in the NBA, will be in the squad when the Australians take on Argentina in three warm-up games Down Under.

The sides will meet in Perth (June 25), Melbourne (June 27) and Adelaide (June 29).

The teams will also meet in Kayseri, Turkey, in Group A on August 29.

“No question I’m excited to be working with the Boomers again,” Mills said.

“Playing for Australia is definitely my number one choice and being a part of the Olympic camp in Beijing was great so the next couple of years I’m just looking to continue to represent Australia with pride and it’s starting with the Argentina Series.”

It was a positive, albeit difficult year for Mills.

Last summer, he broke his foot and that cut down on his opportunities with the Blazers.

He only appeared in 10 regular-season NBA games and three play-off games.

Mills said: “The year that I’ve had, I haven’t really had the chance to get out there and play a full solid game for a while so I’m looking to just get out on the floor and get that feeling back, just trying to get as prepared as I can come the World Championship.”

FIBA