AUS - Young and the restless for Boomers

CANBERRA (FIBA World Championhip) - It has been a case of the young and the restless for the Australian Boomers in the lead up to the FIBA World Championship in August.

With the Boomers starting their preparations last week in Canberra, several senior national team members demonstrated their commitment to their country, while a number of youngsters showed they are ready to step up to the highest level of basketball.

Dual Olympian Jason Smith, NBA star Andrew Bogut and Euroleague Finals MVP David Andersen all attended the 5 day development camp, despite being given the week off by Boomers coach Brian Goorjian.

And the impact the trio made on the gathering of future Boomers was not lost on Goorjian's assistant coach Rob Beveridge.

"They set the standard of the camp," Beveridge noted, "(They) weren't required to be there but they chose to come up to the camp. They're pretty keen to be a big part of the campaign."

31 year old Smith has become known as a vocal leader in Australia's NBL, and was particularly determined to make an impact on the young squad.

"Jason wanted to come in as a leader and set the pace. He is part of our leadership group and it was great to have him and Bogut there."

Yet these experienced international players were not the only Boomers to make an impact in Canberra.

Sydney Kings small forward David Barlow, fresh from averaging over 20 points per game for the Kings in a series against the Chinese national team, continued his meteoric rise with a performance that impressed Beveridge.

"David Barlow was very, very good. He just gets better and better every year."

And while the 22 year old Victorian has been on the national team radar for some time, Beveridge believes he is now more than just a player with potential.

"He really stood up and was one of the main players."

Another young Victorian forward to excite the Boomers coaching staff was St Mary's University graduate Daniel Kickert. The 209cm three point shooter drew favourable comparisons to former national team starter Tony Ronaldson.

"He is a lot more versatile and can handle the ball better. He can play inside and outside and is very difficult to defend," said Beveridge, emphasising Kickert's excellent display by adding, "Daniel Kickert had a very good camp."

And Kickert appears desperate to represent his country, having past up several NBA trials, after receiving a call from Brian Goorjian, to attend the camp.

Another young player with eyes on the NBA is Nathan Jawai, and his enormous physical presence certainly caught Goorjian's attention.

"All you have to do is have a look at him when he walks through the door," the Boomers coach told Damien Stannard, referring to the 19 year old Queenslanders 206cm, 128kg frame.

"I've been in this country 30 years and in that whole time I've never seen some one in this country with his physical presence."

But Jawai, who is likely to attend Universtity in Texas next year, impressed as much with his skills as his imposing physique.

"He does the dirty work, rebounding, setting screens, and then he can pass the ball to the open man." Goorjian enthused.

"If he's passionate about basketball and development, then I think he's got a gift."

And this performance was enough to ensure a place in the Boomers next camp, starting this week in Gosford. Barlow, Kickert and national junior team star Patrick Mills have also graduated from the development camp.

Beveridge believes these players will do more than make up numbers, with the up coming series with New Zealand a chance to stake a claim for a world championship berth.

"If we take some younger players over there and they're not quite up to it you then we can make adjustments."

And the long time national junior coach was delighted with the development camp, believing the future of Australian basketball is very bright.

"We've got a good group of young kids full of enthusiasm, passion and a desire to play for their country."

Paul Kennedy
FIBA Official Correspondent in Australia.