AUS - Motum learns craft with Bologna, eager to be with Boomers for Spain 2014

ROME (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - In 2009, 19-year-old Brock Motum left his home country of Australia to begin a basketball journey abroad.

His journey first took him to the US where he played college basketball for four years at Washington State. Nowadays, he is getting his first taste of playing professionally for Granarolo Bologna in Italy's Lega A.

Motum has averaged 8.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in the first half of his rookie campaign. And while he still has plenty of club basketball to go before the end of the season, he can't help but have this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup in his sights.

Some of his fellow 1990-born countrymen with NCAA experience - such as guard Matt Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers) and forwards Ryan Broekhoff (Besiktas) and Cody Ellis (Sydney Kings) - have already had a taste of playing for Australia's national teams and now the 2.07m forward is hoping to join them.

Australia is looking to tap the talent pool of this new generation which also includes forward Cameron Bairstow (New Mexico University), guard Dante Exum - who just declared for the 2014 NBA draft - and 17-year-old big man Ben Simmons.

This group of talented young players could make for a nice supporting cast for established veterans such as Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, David Andersen and Brad Newley.

"It's amazing to see such a promising team, I am looking forward with confidence, I would love to be part of the team," said Motum, whose decision to move to Italy was also motivated by the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"When Virtus Bologna offered me a contract, I didn't need much time to decide. This is a historical club, able to offer me an excellent European stage, it could very important for my career and my national team experience.

"I wanted to prove myself in a demanding level of competition like Italian Serie A, I wanted to improve my game."

Despite the huge distance, Virtus Bologna is a well-known side in Australia because it's the same team that recruited Andersen back in 1999. In Bologna, the Aussie star began his excellent pro career, with three Euroleague titles before moving to the NBA.

"David is an inspiration, he has been a sort of trail blazer for all Aussie players," said Motum, who scored a season-high 20 points against league leaders Enel Brindisi on 8 December.

And it's no surprise that Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis is following Motum's progress.

"We are in contact, he had been in Bologna during our pre-season, his interest is important, it's a further motivation."

Motum has starred for Australia at the youth level. At the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand, he was the team's top scorer with 13.6 points per game and helped them to an excellent fourth place.

"Then, the four years with Washington State were important for my game and my experience, as I had the chance to face every night a future NBA player," the lefty forward explained.

"Now, in Bologna, my target is a play-off spot, even if it won't be easy."

After a run of nine losses in 11 games, the club made a coaching change by letting Luca Bechi go and replacing him with Giorgio Valli.

"I am still adjusting to a different type of game because in Europe technical skills are more required than in the NCAA, where the game is more about athleticism," Motum offered.

"The transition to the European game is big, and is useful for my game. I hope I will provide some help to my national team, too."

The Boomers have never managed to medal at the world level (FIBA world Championships and Olympics) and no national team has played more tournaments without earning a single podium.

But, if Motum has anything to say about it, the young guns will try to help the Boomers end that wait and make history.

"We are an interesting generation," he said. "We are still improving, I think we can make some noise in the future with our national team."

FIBA