Star Ansett junior taking big step in basketball career with move to Woodville

ANSETT star junior Joel De Barros has taken a big step in his young basketball career with a move to Woodville’s under-18 squad on the agenda.

Joel De Barros dribbles the ball for Ansett against Tracy Village Jets. Picture: Che Chorley

ANSETT star junior Joel De Barros has taken a big step in his young basketball career with a move to Woodville’s under-18 program – in South Australia’s NBL1 Central – on the agenda this year.

Highly rated by coaches and teammates alike, the 16-year-old has excelled in senior and junior grades for his club and NT representative squads, and his consistent hard work has caught the eye of Woodville coaches.

The all-round talent has already made his name nationally, attending the under-16 Australian Junior Championships in 2019 where he made the top five in points average, total points and average number of rebounds.

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Also named in the top 14 players of the 2020 DBA Championship after a massive season with Ansett, De Barros continues to prove himself capable of competing at any level.

Ansett senior men’s coach Steve Toohey expressed his pride, feeling the young gun’s talent could take him wherever he wants to go in the game.

“Joel is an outstanding junior and deserves everything he can get as a player and we’re all proud to see him get this opportunity,” Toohey told the NT News.

He’s going to play in the under-18s competition and will leave a big hole in our junior program that will be hard to fill, though we do have plenty of juniors coming through.

Joel De Barros has been a long-time standout junior for Ansett. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Joel is improving all the time. He’s only 16 and that gives him so much room to improve but he’s such a coachable kid who listens and learns and will take a lot from the stronger competition.

“He’s just a strong all round player who has worked on his shot, passes well, rebound well and plays strong defence.

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“He has so much to look forward to and can go anywhere, even NBL, with the talent he possesses as long as he has the right mentality and works hard for it.”