How Furphy went from Smithton to ‘biggest stage in college ball’

Work ethic and IQ. They’re the big factors Jacob Furphy’s former mentors credit for his incredible ascent from small town Smithton to college giants UConn.

Tasmania’s Jacob Furphy has starred for Australia at junior level. Pic courtesy of Basketball Tasmania.

As he put up shot after shot alone at Smithton’s stadium, being chased by college giants University of Connecticut would have felt a world away for Tassie basketball young gun Jacob Furphy.

The town is home to less than 4000 people, but those close to Furphy aren’t surprised in the slightest he’s embraced the tough task of breaking into college basketball’s best program.

Furphy chose the back-to-back NCAA champions over Illinois not only because their European playing style suits his skill set, but his love for a challenge.

Signing a scholarship with the storied college, which boasts more than eight times more students than his home town’s population is a remarkable reward for pure determination.

Ask his former coaches what helped him achieve that goal and ‘work ethic’ and ‘basketball IQ’ are front of mind.

Mark Radford, now a JackJumpers assistant, was Basketball Tasmania’s head coach for several years, and coached Furphy in state development programs when he himself was based in the north-west.

He described the 198cm, 18-year-old’s guard’s decision to back himself to break into UConn’s team as brave.

Tasmanian star Jacob Furphy playing for Australia at the Under-20 National Championships. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw

“The kid has great belief in himself and he has a lot of courage to attack this opportunity,” he said.

“He’s not going to walk out of there with ‘what ifs’, there’ll be none of them with him. The biggest challenge will be from an athletic standpoint, in a very good conference, at a very good school.

“He’s going to have competition, not only with his opponents but with his teammates. He’s never shied away from those challenges, he’s had outstanding tours with the NBA Global Academy where he’s played against high quality athletes.

“One thing he does is he works things out pretty quick. UConn are back-to-back champions and run a very intricate system, it will benefit Jacob with his IQ level.”

Furphy has spent the past couple of years at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence and NBA Global Academy in Canberra.

His family and mentors believe that will prepare him for college life, but Radford said he’s already shown he can stand on his own two feet.

Furphy and his parents would travel from Smithton to Burnie five times a week for training with the Burnie Tigers and the state development squads.

“He’s one of maybe four or five athletes who went well above what they’re meant to do in my time at Basketball Tasmania. I’m sure it’s no different at the Institute, and I’m sure it’ll be no different at UConn,” he said.

“What stands out is him and his family’s willingness to travel from Smithton to Burnie on a continual basis to foster his development.

“He trained on his own at Smithton for a certain period, then he had (fellow Smithton product and Australian under-18 player) Nash Walker as a training buddy.

He was continually improving in the Smithton stadium, shooting constantly and working on his game.

Jacob Furphy playing for Burnie Tigers. Picture: Basketball Tasmania

“The commitment to get into the car and travel can’t be underestimated from him and his parents.

“There’s an old saying you show me an elite athlete and I’ll show you a driven parent. Especially from a rural community, I don’t think that can be underappreciated.”

Radford said he showed natural leadership from the outset.

“It was evident reasonably early in terms of the top age 14s and bottom age 16s he had some special qualities, in terms of his understanding of the game,” Radford said.

“He had a great ability to interact with the other kids and had natural leadership qualities right from the start.

“It’s been evident right through the BTas programs and national junior teams, and I’m sure UConn see those qualities in him as well.”

Sam Pulford has coached Jacob at Burnie, as well as at state under-18 level as an assistant when Tasmania won nationals bronze in 2022.

“His first nationals at top age under 16s level, he blew everyone away with how much he improved,” Pulford said.

“That was his big coming out moment.

“You could tell early on he was probably a little different to some of the others. His size was a big part of that, and his IQ was ahead of other kids at that age.

“As the skills started to catch up to the IQ, it’s two good qualities to have.

“The term that’s been used is he’s a Swiss army knife. He doesn’t have too many holes in his game, now he’s spent a couple of years in Canberra his shooting has gone to another level. “That’s been a real difference maker. That was always the little question mark over him was whether he could shoot it or not. Once he went there (Canberra), it took off.”

UConn’s system is based on ball movement, and that should suit Furphy’s game nicely.

“Every team he plays in he kind of knows he’s the best player, but doesn’t necessarily have to be,” Pulford said.

“He’s willing to get others involved and you probably wouldn’t find a teammate who hasn’t enjoyed playing with him, especially Tassie.

“He hasn’t missed a single step along the way and that’s led him to the opportunity to go onto the biggest stage in college basketball.”

Jacob Furphy goes to work on Serbia in the gold-medal game at the Albert Schweitzer game in Germany.

Most youngsters might take the easy path and choose a college where they’re almost guaranteed big minutes.

But not taking short cuts is the pivotal reason behind Furphy’s ascent.

“It was a really tough decision (choosing between UConn and Illinois),” his mother Alisha said.

“He liked things about each of them, but he felt he fit into UConn’s offensive system better given they play a European style.

And he knows he going to have to work his butt off to get court time, he does want to challenge himself in that respect.

“He’s always one to push himself to the limit.”

Furphy was also a talented footballer but decided to focus solely on basketball around 14.

He and Walker both featured in Australia’s under-18 Asia Cup win earlier this year.

“He played a lot of different sports. He played hockey, footy athletics, swimming,” Alisha said.

“Out in the backyard you’d hear the ball bouncing all the time, and getting him home from the gym would be a problem because he’d want to stay there all the time.

“He’s still like that now.”

Like all talented youngsters Furphy has dreams of playing in the NBA. Pulford said a lack of application won’t be a factor.

“He’s one of the hardest working kids you’ll see,” he said.

“He’s going to give himself every possible opportunity to do it. Whether he gets there or not, it won’t be any fault of his.

“He’s jumped over every hurdle everyone’s set for him, so why not aim for the top and give yourself a chance.”