Four-time Olympian Ray Borner has urged the Boomers to consider the long run and blood rising huge man Rocco Zikarsky on this week’s World Cup qualifiers.
Borner is anxious about Australia’s top-layer of centre depth, particularly with Aron Baynes nearing the top of his stellar profession.
Baynes, 36, might play in Paris 2024, however its tipped to be his closing Olympic marketing campaign.
The Boomers possess respectable depth through Jock Landale, Duop Reath and a forged of gifted juniors like seven-footer Bowyn Beatty, however the subsequent technology bigs require extra polish and expertise to make the step up.
It’s why Borner desires to see 16-year-old Zikarsky – who has been named as a coaching participant – obtain game-time towards Bahrain and Kazakhstan given Australia has already certified for the World Cup.
“There is nothing wrong with putting in young Rocco now,” stated Borner, a hard-nosed centre who represented the Boomers on the 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics.
“We know he (Rocco) isn’t ready yet age wise, but it’s worth giving him some game time to show him what it is all about.
“It will only help with his development because he’ll understand roles and the team’s culture.
“He can literally grow up as a player with the guys around him in the Boomers squad, rather than just coming in and the expectation is that you are going to be the man.”
Zikarsky, a Queenslander and NBA Global Academy product who stands at 220cm, is presently on the NBL’s radar as a possible Next Star.
He will probably be joined within the Boomers squad by fellow train-on gamers in Western Australian duo Ben Henshall and Alex Condon.
Henshall (guard) and Condon (centre) performed starring roles to steer their state to under-20 males’s glory on the nationwide championships in Geelong final week.
Both had 24 factors apiece within the gold medal recreation as they showcased why they’re among the many nation’s finest basketball prospects.
Borner is rapt to see the following technology Boomers given an opportunity to shine.
He understands the significance of blooding rising gamers after seeing Russia give a younger Arvydas Sabonis a shot in 1982, paving the way in which for him to grow to be an Olympic gold medallist and Hall of Famer.
“Sabonis was around 16 at the time and he was on the end of the bench,” he stated.
“The team would go in for halftime and he’d be out on the court shooting around.
“We saw him, we knew he wasn’t ready, but he was still part of that growth and journey.
“I think our young Boomers players can also benefit from playing still if we give them a chance.”
BOOMERS WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: State Basketball Centre, Wantirna South
Thursday, February 23 vs Bahrain
Sunday, February 26 vs Kazakhstan
Mitch McCarron (36ers), Mitch Norton (Wildcats), Nathan Sobey (Bullets), Kyle Adnam (Phoenix), Nick Marshall (36ers), Dan Grida (Hawks), Todd Blanchfield (Wildcats), Alex Toohey (ACT, Gonzaga), Rhys Vague (Kagawa Five Arrows, Japan), Mason Peatling (United), Isaac Humphries (United), Nick Kay (Shimane Susanoo Magic, Japan)
TRAINING PLAYERS
Rocco Zikarsky (NBA GA), Alex Condon (WA), Ben Henshall (WA)
Originally revealed as FIBA World Cup qualifiers: Boomers urged to blood Rocco Zikarsky in Melbourne video games
Source: www.news.com.au
