Live stream: Dash Daniels prepares to follow in brother Dyson's footsteps at Country Champs (Country Championships Under 18 & Under 16)
A family from Bendigo is taking Australian basketball by storm as the youngest of three prepares to follow in the footsteps of his NBA-bound brother.
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One of Australia’s most exciting basketball families will experience the weekend of their lives in the coming days.
The Bendigo-based Daniels family will have their three boys — Kai, Dyson and Dash — in action across the globe.
Dash will be one of the headline talents at the Basketball Victoria Junior Country Championships pulling on the colours of the hometown Bendigo Braves in the under 16s team.
WATCH THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE FROM 9AM SATURDAY
Dyson, who is touted to be a first-round selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, will participate in the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All Star Weekend after being one of four G-League players invited to participate in the game.
Meanwhile oldest brother Kai faces back-to-back games for Regis University in the United States.
They are the sons of Bendigo Braves SEABL legend Ricky who made the move to central Victoria after his US college stint with NC State ended.
Dash, who is the youngest of the trio, is tipped to follow in the footsteps of his brothers in the coming years with the Country Champs considered to be a big step in his journey.
In recent years players including Dyson, Matthew Dellavedova, Jade Melbourne and Jaz Shelley have all featured at the tournament.
Bendigo Basketball Association coaching director Joe Hurst, who is a former NBL MVP with the Hobart Devils, said he was “expecting big things” from Dash as he continues to develop.
“When I compare him to Dyson I would say Dash is more of a pure point guard,” he said.
“He’s a bit sharper with his ball handling and wants everyone on the court to be involved. Dash is already heavily involved in the state programs and I don’t think it will be long before he’s in the conversations about wearing green and gold.
“He has a hunger to get better that sometimes you can’t teach. The amount of work he puts in outside of the usual training sessions and games is stunning.”
Meanwhile, Dyson’s weekend will be full of bright lights as he prepares to take part in a new Rising Stars challenge format with four teams of eight players.
He will face off against fellow Aussie Josh Giddey.
His teammates for the day will include 2021 number one draft pick Cade Cunningham (Detroit) and Evan Mobley (Cleveland) who is considered to be the leading contender for the Rookie of the Year.
And Hurst revealed Ricky would be in attendance to see his second son on the big stage.
“Ricky had no idea and when he rang me to say he wouldn’t be coaching this weekend because he was going to All Star weekend I could hear the emotion in his voice,” he said.
“Dyson organising those passes for his father shows how important he sees his parents as being part of his development. I’m excited to see him on that stage.”
Hurst said the Daniels family were the “gold standard for giving themselves an opportunity” to play at the highest level possible.
“You never have to twist their arm to do a workout or training session,” he said.
“One of the best things is that when you hear their names mentioned it helps to put Bendigo basketball on the map.”
Watch replays: Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup grand finals
Champions were crowned in Albury-Wodonga on Saturday as Australia’s best junior country basketball players battled it out for gold medal glory. Watch all the grand final replays here.
Watch replays: Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup Day 4
Finals fever hit the courts in Albury and Wodonga on Friday as spots in the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup deciders were won and lost. Watch 10 REPLAYS here.