Basketball Australia Under-18 & Kevin Coombs Cup National Championships 2023 live blog – Day 4 (U18 & Kevin Coombs Nationals)

The Adelaide 36ers are determined to look in their own backyard in the search for NBL success, and it starts at this week’s Under-18 Nationals. Read more in the tournament live blog.

The Adelaide 36ers are locked in on NBL success, but the club also has one eye on the future.

This is on show at the Under-18s National Championships in Brisbane with the club’s development officer Michael Lake on deck to survey the rising talent.

Adelaide currently has eight players from the Metro and Country SA Under-18s boys teams in the club’s development program.

Lake believes it’s vital the 36ers continue to build genuine links with the next generation, especially amid a host of NBL stars leaving the league to accept lucrative overseas offers.

South Australia Metro celebrate at the Under-18 National Championships. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

This includes the likes of Nick Kay, Brock Motum (Japan) and Duop Reath (China).

“It’s really crucial that we think about the juniors,” Lake told News Corp.

“The success of our league is going from strength-to-strength and with that it also means that we’re seeing more Australian players leave to play overseas.

“So, we really need to start doing something now to strengthen the pipeline.”

It’s why Lake is attending the Under-18s National Championships in Brisbane.

He is working overtime to invest in South Australia’s finest rising players.

“If we can do that with local South Australian kids, it ticks a lot of boxes for our club,” he said.

“We believe that there is talent locally and we don’t have to go interstate to find that talent.

“The club is really focused on investing. It’s not easy, and it comes at a cost and clubs have to be willing to wear that cost, but it’s worth it.”

Lake has a high opinion of several South Australian players, but he reserved particular praise for SA Metro combo guard James Mackenzie.

South Australia Metro's James McKenzie has been one of the team’s best at the Nationals. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

Alex Dodson is one of several Adelaide 36ers playing at the Under-18 National Championships. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

Mackenzie had eight points, eight assists, three steals and five rebounds in SA Metro’s hard fought 96-91 win over Queensland North on Wednesday.

Lake has no doubts the 15-year-old, who has previously trained with Adelaide’s NBL team, can excel at the highest level.

“James has been part of our academy over the past six months, he comes in at different times and has even trained with the NBL team and held himself really well,” he said about Mackenzie, a Forestville Eagles junior who missed out on the Australian Under-15s team last year.

“He really impressed, especially in his ability to transition up against senior bodies. He has a really good head on his shoulders, where he understands that he doesn’t need to force things and he can select his moments offensively and he is really willing to play defensively and with physicality.

“He is still a light frame, so he has some room to improve in that space as he gets older.”

36ers AT THE NATIONALS

Miller Drewett, Sam Hughes, Mohammed Al-Ani, James Mackenzie, Alexander Dodson, Oscar Sabine, Lem Ajith (all SA Metro) and Aidan Schubert (SA Country)

How Fennell plans to reap Academy rewards

Gifted Victoria Metro guard Luke Fennell has the ability to join the extensive list of Victorians in the NBA, but for now he is keeping all career options “open”.

Fennell, who is among the newest members of the prestigious NBA Global Academy in Canberra, has his sights set on playing on the biggest stage.

The 16-year-old joined the Academy in January – and is already seeing the benefits of working alongside Australia’s best basketball players and coaches.

Victoria Metro guard Luke Fennell in action against Queensland North at the Under-18 National Championships. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

Fennell had a game high 21 points against Tasmania on Wednesday. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

Fennell’s improvement has been on show for Victoria Metro at the Under-18 National Championships in Brisbane this week.

He looked a class above to finish with a game-high 21 points, four rebounds and three steals in a dominant 88-58 win over Tasmania on Wednesday.

Fennell has also made his NBL1 debut this season- and while he is enjoying the experience competing against bigger bodies – he isn’t in a hurry when it comes to locking in his pathway to the top.

“I haven’t committed to anything yet,” Fennell told News Corp.

“I’m just playing basketball and seeing where it takes me.

“My first game of NBL1 I struggled a lot, but I’ve really picked it up and found my route.”

Victoria’s rich history of NBA success, especially in recent years, gives Fennell confidence that he can also one day join the world’s best league.

In the past three years alone – Victoria has had Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Jock Landale, Matthew Dellavedova and Xavier Cooks all join NBA teams.

Fennell sees this success and says it’s inspirational.

“It gives me a sense of hope just knowing that people can make it (the NBA) out of Victoria,” he said.

“It has happened before many, many times, so it’s really cool.”

If Fennell is to make the world’s best basketball league one day, he says he’ll credit his time at the NBA Global Academy.

The respected program has helped produce Giddey and Daniels in recent years while there is plenty more talent being developed.

Berwick College young gun Fennell also featured at the Under-20 National Championships earlier this year.

“I’m really loving it,” Fennell said about the NBA Global Academy.

“I’m getting better, and I can definitely feel it.

“It’s the best decision in my life, I reckon.

“Everybody (at the academy) has that accountability, and every day is hard, but everyone knows it’s hard and we all back each other up.

“It’s very professional.”

Before Fennell even considers the NBA’s bright lights, he is relishing the chance to represent his state at the National Championships.

“This is my favourite part of the year playing for your state - it’s the best feeling,” he said.

“It has been amazing coming here and playing against the best talent in Australia alongside my best mates.

“You know everybody, and everyone knows each other, and you are coming here and just going at it.”

PETRIE FAMILY BREEDING BASKETBALL SUCCESS

Retired NBL forward Anthony Petrie joked there is “something in the water” at the Petrie household as he watched his daughter Emma run around for Queensland South at the Under-18 National Championships in Brisbane.

Basketball and the Petrie family have long gone hand-in-hand, dating back to Anthony’s successful 268 game NBL career for five teams.

His wife Sarah (nee Berry) was also a successful baller in her own right, having won a WNBL championship with the Canberra Capitals.

Queensland South's Emma Petrie in action against NSW Metro at the Under-18 National Championships. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

The pair’s passion for hoops has been passed down to their daughters – Jessica and Emma.

Jess has achieved enormous success at a national and schools level for Lake Ginninderra College, where she won a schools title last November.
She hopes to make the Australian Under-19s team for this year’s World Championships while she recently committed to play US College ball for Nebraska.

Now Petrie’s second youngest daughter – Emma – is hoping to continue the family’s proud basketball tradition of excellence.

Anthony couldn’t help but get emotional watching his daughter don Queensland’s maroon and white on Tuesday as she finished with an impressive 16 points and 13 rebounds in a close loss to NSW Metro.

“You don’t want them to play just because Sarah and I did, but Emma is second in line and just another one in the family who has fallen in love with the game,” said Petrie, who played 34 games for the Brisbane Bullets.

“So, it’s cool for us to just sit and watch our second daughter love the game like we do.”

Petrie has high hopes for Emma’s future in hoops.

Anthony Petrie with daughters Emma, 2 (left), and Jessica, 4, in 2010. Picture: File

From his own professional experience, he also doesn’t want to rush her progression.

“Emma is a real young Under-18s girl,” he said.

“She is 15 and not 16 until September. People want her to be a finished product at this stage, but she is so young in her basketball journey.”

Petrie has been involved in basketball for decades, but he still gets excited about the sport’s strong juniors.

“For me just watching all the youth – both girls and boys from around Australia just loving basketball – it’s fantastic,” he said.

“I can’t believe the level of play – it’s really impressive and it just shows how much our game continues to grow.

“And it’s a lot to do with our development – it’s first-class.”