Grace develops into elite player

IF her commitment to basketball is any indication, Ipswich teenager Grace George is well on her way to achieving her American dream.

Grace George. Picture: Rob Williams

IF her commitment to basketball is any indication, Ipswich teenager Grace George is well on her way to achieving her American dream.

She wants to one day play in the US college system, following the recent move of another Ipswich Force player Meg Essex.

However, at 15, George still has plenty of time to learn and build on her immense promise.

The Coalfalls shooting guard has been chosen in Basketball Australia's Athlete Development Camp in Canberra from January 18-22.

As one of the youngest players selected, the Ipswich Girls' Grammar School student is adopting the right approach. It's the first time she's been invited to the camp, which exposes the participants to how Australian Boomers and Opals teams play.

"I've been told that it's going to be really intense,'' said George.

Representative basketballer Grace George has been selected to attend the national development camp at the AIS. Photo: Rob Williams / The Queensland Times. Picture: Rob Williams

"I'm excited. I want to try and make the most of it.''

Having returned to the court strongly in recent months after a right knee injury, George highlighted her dedication when asked how often she trains.

"I do something every day,'' she said, regularly practising up to an hour and a half at the Ipswich stadium and Ipswich Girls' Grammar School courts.

She also trained with the Ipswich Force state league squad for the first time this season.

Having finished year 10, George hopes to be more involved in Ipswich Force's future senior squads.

This year was particularly demanding being in the state performance program, playing junior representative basketball and co-captaining the Met West school team that won the Queensland championships at the Sunshine Coast.

She made the Queensland school honorary side.

George was also part of the successful Ipswich under 16 Force team which collected bronze at the state titles. She has been included in the Southern Star Cup side, a development competition started by former Olympian Shane Heal.

Hearing her talk about how much is going on, it's easy to see why George is a busy teenager. The sport consumes most of her time.

The development camp George is attending is where Marburg product Essex first started impressing national selectors.

Having seen what Essex has achieved in starting a Newberry College scholarship in South Carolina recently, George is keen to see what she can accomplish.

"I want to play college in the US,'' she said, having spent eight years in the Ipswich program.

"I'll give it my best.

"It's just managing my time.''

Respected Ipswich coach Terry Lindeberg has been one of George's mentors the past three years, overseeing the Force under 16 sides which won bronze at the previous two state championships.

"She's progressing real well,'' Lindeberg said. "She's the ideal build and athlete for the sport.''

Lindeberg said her main attributes were speed, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

However, Grace can't join Lindeberg's under 18 girls side in January due to her national camp being on the same time as the state classics.

"There's not many from Queensland in it so it's an honour for her to get it,'' Lindeberg said. "She's away the whole five days we're away.''

When asked why she loves basketball, George summed up her passion perfectly.

"It's just all of it,'' she said.

"Being able to play at these levels, you get the best competition. And playing with a team, and all the other girls, is just good.''

Rising talent: Grace George

• Age: 15, turns 16 in April
• Position: shooting guard
• Recently chosen: for an Australian development camp in Canberra
• Other achievements: Ipswich representative since 2009; sharing in Force under-16 state title bronze medal successes; co-captaining the victorious Met West team this year, making Queensland honorary side; made the winning 2014 Queensland Basketball U15 Emerging state team; selected in 2013 Future Development Program Queensland Basketball League
• Favourite food: Mum's cooking
• Favourite music: R&B
• Match rituals: listening to music before playing
• Major influences: Basketball Queensland high performance coaches Ben Johnson and Leonard King; Ipswich representative coach Terry Lindeberg