Australia - Boomers stars available

From sportal.com.au
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Olympians Mark Worthington and Brad Newley, and Lithuanian League Champion Aron Baynes have put their hands up for selection in the upcoming Boomers World Challenge series against Argentina.

All three will join the Boomers at a training camp in Perth from June 20-24, with the team to contest the Argentina series to be named at the conclusion of the camp ahead of the first game on June 25 at Challenge Stadium, Perth.

Melbourne will host Game 2 of the series at the State Netball Hockey Centre on Sunday June 27 and Adelaide will host the third and final game of the series on Tuesday June 29 at the Dome.

While 207cm centre Baynes and Beijing Boomer Newley are available for the entire series, Worthington is only able to suit up for the Melbourne and Adelaide fixtures due to family commitments.

Newley has returned home from a successful season in the Euroleague with Turkish side Besiktas, and is looking forward to lining up for the Boomers against Argentina in his home town of Adelaide.

Newley recently signed with Lithuanian club Lietuvos Rytas, a move which could see him line up next to Boomers teammate Baynes next season. In his first year out of college after a successful career at Washington State University, Baynes won the Lithuanian Championship with Rytas.

Speaking from Germany where his Brose Baskets side levelled the German League Final Series on Wednesday night, Worthington is eager to rejoin the Boomers and start preparations for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

"I'm looking forward to starting our preparation towards the World Champs and I'm excited to be on the court with not only a South American power in Argentina but also with some of the Australian guys who have had great seasons abroad and also back home in the NBL," Worthington said.

The 2006 NBL Rookie of the Year also said the Argentina series was the perfect opportunity for some of the younger members of the Australian men's basketball team to make an impact ahead of the World Championship in August.

"I think it's more important that some of the young guys get the exposure, and even more important for people that have been in the system for a few years now to step up and fulfill their international potential," Worthington said.

After a 2009/10 NBL season with the Melbourne Tigers that ended in a disappointing seventh place finish, Worthington is looking forward to the chance to perform in front of the Melbourne crowd again.

"I'm really excited to play in Melbourne again. I hope that the basketball supporters come out and see not only some of Australia's best but also to see Argentina. It would be good to see a packed out Cage enjoy a great standard of basketball and support some of the best from around the NBL and overseas," Worthington said.