Territory junior Joel De Barros continues his Australian basketball journey after getting selected in the National Performance Camp

BAKSETBALL NT high performance program athlete Joel De Barros has been selected to mix it up with the best in Australian in Basketball Australia’s National Performance Camp

Joel De Barros has taken another step in his basketball journey after being selected in the National Performance Camp. Picture: Che Chorley

BAKSETBALL NT high performance program athlete Joel De Barros has been selected to mix it up with the best in Australian in Basketball Australia’s National Performance Camp.

The camp at Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence a the Australian Institute of Sport selects the top 30 age group players from around the country for an extensive and intensive training experience.

De Barros played his junior basketball with Ansett who he starred for in the 2020 Championship Men’s League season.

Earlier this year he made the move to SA where he currently plays for Woodville in Adelaide’s Under 18 Division.

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He has also turned in some massive performances representing the NT over the past two Australian Championships.

He was ranked second for rebounding and scoring at under-16s level in 2019 and backed those performances up in the under-18s this year ranked top four in scoring and top six in steals.

De Barros was ecstatic at the prospect at being selected in the camp which marks the next significant step in his basketball journey.

“When I was told of my selection I was super excited,” De Barros said.

“I can’t wait to go and apply my skills against the best kids in the country, it’s going to be an awesome experience.

“And I don’t just want to stop there. I want to keep getting better and see where this experience can take me.”

Basketball NT high performance manager Rod Tremlett cited the young gun as an example of the growing basketball talent in the NT.

And it’s that talent that BNT is looking to preserve in the Territory as they continue their push towards an NBL1 side which will give developing juniors a pathway within the NT.

“Joel has worked so hard for this selection and we couldn’t be more thrilled for him,” Tremlett said.

“His selection is a testimony to the hard work and dedication he had put in and a great endorsement of our high performance program.

“Hardworking athletes can achieve at the highest level developing in the NT. We continue to support our athletes who move interstate to pursue further opportunities in the sport.

“Moves interstate is something our athletes may not have to do if there were professional or semi-professional opportunities in the NT though a locally based team in the NBL1 competition.”