Two Centre of Excellence athletes in Angus Glover and Matt Kenyon continue to develop their game in the NBL and will suit up again this weekend for the Illawarra Hawks and Brisbane Bullets respectively.
Both players have been named in the squad for the Australian Emus that will compete in the Under-19 FIBA Oceania qualifiers in December but before the final team is announced, Glover and Kenyon are gaining valuable experience in the NBL.
Turning 18 less than two months ago, Glover is expected to play for the Hawks on Sunday after debuting in Round 1 against the 36ers.
A native of Illawarra and a son of parents who have been life-long season ticket holders, Glover fulfilled a dream when he played ten minutes while scoring seven points in Round 1.
Photo via Illawarra Hawks.
“It’s something I’ve strived for since I started playing basketball. I’ve supported the Hawks since I can remember, so it is definitely a privilege,” Glover told hawks.com.au.
In addition to his seven points (which included two three-pointers), Glover added two rebounds and a steal and while his athleticism is evident to any spectator who sees the guard play, he is also intent on making himself known as a defensive threat.
“I love making the opposition’s life miserable.”
Illawarra host Perth tonight at 7.30pm local time before backing up on Sunday at home against Cairns at 7.00pm.
In their first season back in the NBL for eight years, Kenyon has helped the Bullets to a top-four position after Round 3.
Starting in a couple of pre-season games for Brisbane, Kenyon showcased his talent against New Zealand when he scored 13 points, six of which came in the first term, to spark his team to a victory.
An ankle injury then kept him out of the opening game of the regular season but since then he has averaged seven minutes per contest in four matches.
“He is one of the best basketball juniors in the country with a huge upside that I believe will see him represent Australia on the national stage in the future,” said Bullets Assistant Coach CJ Bruton said.
“Matt reminds me of a young Adam Gibson who also spent time at the AIS and started his pro career with the Brisbane Bullets before representing Australia at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.”
Already an elite defender at a young age, Kenyon impressed fellow NBL players on an Emerging Boomers tour of China earlier this year, playing alongside Jason Cadee, Todd Blanchfield and Mitch Norton.
Brisbane will travel to Sydney on Sunday afternoon (3pm local time) to face the current ladder leaders.
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.