What Idaho Vandals recruit Hunter Madden learned from NBA gun Andrew Bogut
If things had a been a little different Hunter Madden might have been training with the Parramatta Eels and dreaming of making his NRL debut this season. Instead he’s heading to the US with a brand new sporting goal.
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The closest most teenagers will ever get to an NBA star is cheering from the distance of a stadium seat.
But teenage playmaker Hunter Madden has been up close and personal with one of the biggest names in the game in Andrew Bogut in recent times and made the most of the rare opportunity.
The Sydney Kings development player and recent Shore school graduate is hoping to emulate Bogut, arguably Australia’s greatest NBA player and former No. 1 draft, in making a big impact in the US in the future.
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And he’s been set on the right track, with the talented point guard securing a scholarship with a top US college.
Madden said he loved nothing better as a Sydney Kings development player than hearing Bogut’s stories of playing in the NBA and overseas at other clubs during his stellar career and absorbing the experience around him.
“It was just cool,” he said.
“I loved listening to all his stories, he had so many stories.
“Hearing stories about the NBA, the players and life on the road. Being in San Antonio and getting private escorts out.
“From all of them, the players, I learned to back myself and be confident. To really believe in myself.
“It was crazy. I learned heaps of stuff from the guards and realised I had to get much stronger as well and that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Madden said he knows three things about his new home in Idaho – it’s famous for potatoes, being cold and having a great basketball team in the Vandals.
He is now waiting on word from his coach in the US as to when he can take up his scholarship at the University of Idaho and a place in the Vandals squad.
The 19-year-old grew up in Dulwich Hill and Cammeray and also attended Narrabeen Sports High but is now living in Granville with his mother and brother Samuel.
Despite loving rugby league as a youngster it took him just one basketball session in year six for him to fall in love with the game.
“My best mate started playing so I jumped on the bandwagon with him. I was playing rugby league before that and loved it. I still love Parramatta,” he said.
“But I loved basketball straight away. From the very first moment and my granddad and I went down to the outdoor court in Dulwich Hill and played it.
“Granddad loves rugby union but because I liked it he came down to help me.”
He then learned his craft playing at the Marrickville police citizens youth club before attending Narrabeen Sports High School and eventually Shore.
He is one of numerous young Australian basketballers who will compete in the upcoming Big Sky Conference in the US.
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