ITA – Hackett looks ahead to 2014 with Italy
ROME (2014 FIBA World Championship) - Italian-born and raised Daniel Hackett has spent the past seven years in America playing basketball in high school, and then college at the University of Southern California. Though he’s focused right now on embarking on a professional career that will probably land him in the NBA, the point guard has one eye ...
ROME (2014 FIBA World Championship) - Italian-born and raised Daniel Hackett has spent the past seven years in America playing basketball in high school, and then college at the University of Southern California.
Though he’s focused right now on embarking on a professional career that will probably land him in the NBA, the point guard has one eye on 2014 when he wants to be a full-fledged member of Italy’s national side.
Italy are hoping to host the 2014 FIBA World Championship.
“The 2014 FIBA World Championship is closer that we think,” Hackett said in remarks on www.italia2014.com.
“It has to be played in Italy and I am fighting for my place in the team.”
FIBA will announce next month whether Italy, Spain or China are to host the event.
Hackett the Italian
Hackett’s father, Rudy Hackett, played professional basketball in Italy at the end of the 1980s.
The 21-year-old Hackett, who was born in Forlimpopoli and grew up in Italy, moved to America with his family and eventually earned a scholarship to USC where his father is the team trainer.
This season, Hackett helped the Trojans capture the Pac-10 title and reach the NCAA Tournament.
Because he has declared for the NBA draft and is uncertain about possible commitments that follow, he hasn’t been able to give a thumbs-up yet to Italy coach Carlo Recalcati on taking part in the Additional Qualifying Round for EuroBasket 2009.
However, Hackett is friends with many of Italy’s players like Danilo Gallinari and has already forged links with the Italian national team set-up.
“I started to practice with the team two years ago and I managed to grab my spot on the court…,” he said.
“I am Italian and not from Los Angeles and my heart beats for the Italian national team."
Hackett envisions a time when he represents the country of his birth in a major basketball competition.
"It would be fantastic to be able to play at an event like the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Italy,” he said.
“I could finally play in front of my friends and provoke a unique feeling that can only be understood by someone who really loves his home country.”
FIBA