BASKETBALLER ON JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME

Brad Rathen, one of Mount Gambier’s very best junior basketballers, has taken up the opportunity of a lifetime. He is an outstanding athlete who excels in any sport to which he turns his hands but is fiercely passionate about basketball. Complementing his passion and natural ability, is his determination to succeed.

These natural attributes, attitude and unbelievable basketball achievements have earnt him a two year position in the USA at the North Iowa Area Community College based in Mason, Iowa. He will be living on campus and playing basketball for the College team, NIACC Trojans along with studying a course in Marketing.

His achievements and successes in basketball since he started playing 10 years ago border on the unbelievable. He started playing representative Lakers basketball as a 9 year old in 2007 and enjoyed outstanding successes through the full range of age groups as well as playing in the Division 1 District competitions and representing Tenison Woods College.

He first represented South Australia in 2010, in the state SAPSASA team at the Nationals in Darwin and followed up as by being selected in the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup Under 14 team in 2011. Representing SA Country was an annual event for Brad through all age groups during which time his leadership abilities were recognised in being appointed team captain of the Under 15, 16 and 18 state teams.

As well as leading by example at state level, Brad played his first senior A Grade Club basketball as an Under 16 and has continued with his last being a strong win by Panthers-Wizards over Cougars. He finished with a game high personal tally of 33 points.

Brad started in the Pioneers’ Development squad as a bottom age Under 18 player in 2013 and continued as a member of the team until this last week. In the 2015 summer he was selected in the Adelaide 36ers as a Development player.

2015 was no doubt a highlight for Brad. In possibly the highlight of his basketball career and after his standout performances at the Under 18 nationals, Brad was selected as one of Australia’s best ten players in his age group to attend The Nike Camp in China. He was named as a member of the Top Ten of the Camp. Individual Awards he has received include the SA Country Basketball Bert Bargeus High Performance Athlete of the Year and the Tenison Woods Barrie Holmes Basketball Scholarship.

This year he continued as an Adelaide 36ers Development player, represented South Australia in the Under 20 Nationals in Ipswich, Queensland and attended an AIS Development Camp along with local commitments with the Pioneers and the local SECBL competitions.

Warwick Kettle, Brad’s long term coach as a junior, describe him as very competitive and determined, qualities which will serve him well in his future career.

Head Coach of the Pioneers, Richard Hill, describes Brad as a very talented and committed basketball player whom, in his opinion, has a big future in the game. Hill claims that Brad, at such a young age, has already shown that he is a more than capable SEABL player.

The community of Basketball Mount Gambier wishes Brad every success as he follows his basketball dream.              




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