Australian Basketball has let another big fish slip through their net. (these jokes could go all day)
It became known late today that basketball had lost yet another prospect to the AFL.
"We keep a pretty close eye on basketball, especially some of the bigger blokes, given we've had some success there with Dean Brogan," Port Adelaide’s Rohde said.
"Daniel's certainly got some terrific athletic qualities and having been in an elite sporting environment in the States he's already had four years of physical development."
Players get poached all the time, Scott Pendlebury and Jack Watts are two current AFL players who could have easily played college ball. But this one is a little different for me.
I coached Daniel for one year, when he was just a junior. He played all five positions despite towering over all other kids his age.
His was always destined to make it to College basketball, he was just so dedicated to the sport, his craft.
I’ll never forget the final he won off his own bat for our team. His superior confidence and skill saw him call for the ball at the top of the key. Clearly the tallest player on the court, he proceeded to drive to the basket, with a first step reminiscent of Jerry Stack in his prime. As he faded away at the rim, his bank shot fell in while he bounced off the too late defence and slid on his butt for metres from the basket.
Ball game.
Now, the thing is, that was only one of 100’s of games in his life, of which I saw only a handful when he was 15-16 years old. But even at that age, it was clear to everyone. He was a baller.
What I mean is - Daniel was never a two, three sport kid, that gravitated in the end towards basketball because of his height. Basketball was his sport period. He was the kind of kid that would be playing and shooting every chance he got. His dad was a teacher at his high school, Eltham High, and Daniel would come every morning with his dad and would be shooting in the gym an hour before school started most days.
Now, he is lost to the sport.
Another one.
Another one who is without somewhere to earn money at home playing basketball. And not wanting to bounce around from Euro league to Euro league. He wants the financial stability, perhaps the notoriety, the celebrity, that basketball in this country cannot offer our best young players.
I interviewed Daniel on this blog from his College back in 2007, he’s a great guy and a really proud Aussie. You can read what he had to say here.
He attended Metro State in Colorado. The same college that NBL stars Mark Worthington, Dave Barlow and Luke Kendall among others attended.
Good luck to Daniel.
As his Facebook Profile Quote tells us;
“Will make the most of life. Going to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.”
And if the opportunities to play make a living from basketball just aren’t there, who can blame him.
Ryan Mobilia for OneManWeave
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