By Laura Michell
Cooper Kirkman dreams of a career in the National Basketball League.
The Taylors Lakes Secondary College year 12 student has taken a big step towards realising his dream after securing a place in the Victorian under-18s boys basketball team that will compete in the Schools Sport Australia championships.
The team will face sides from across the country in Bendigo from August 10-16.
Cooper, who plays for the Hume City Broncos in Big V men’s youth league division 1, said it was an honour to be selected to represent Victoria.
“I have loved playing basketball since I was five years old,” he said. “It is exciting to be selected for this team and I just cannot wait to play.
“When I found out I was selected for the team I was pretty proud of myself to be honest. It’s a great achievement.”
Cooper said he was relishing the opportunity to compete at a high level and was hopeful of helping the team win a gold medal.
“Making the School Sport Victoria team has given me the drive to pursue a higher level of basketball in the future,” he said,
“I’m only 17, but I would love to play NBL in years to come. I really want to take everything I learn on board and implement it into my basketball game.”
Cooper started playing junior basketball at representative level at Keilor Thunder, but this year decided to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Bailey, and move to the Broncos. The brothers now play in the same team.
He said he loved every aspect of basketball – even taking on Bailey and his other brother, Logan, in a friendly game in the backyard.
