Tara Murray
Former Keilor Thunder basketballer Zac Triplett could make his debut for the Australian Boomers as the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers in Japan.
Triplett was named in an extended 17-man squad with the squad made up of players from the Centre of Excellence, NBA Global Academy and NBL.
With the NBL season in progress, many of the normal walk up selections were unavailable, with the next generation of players getting their opportunity.
The final squad will travel to Japan for the qualifiers later this month.
Triplett, who is a development player with Melbourne United, said it would be an honour to play for Australia.
He made his debut for United earlier this season.
“For me, one of the biggest things as a kid was watching guys like Andrew Gaze and the Boomers play for Australia,” Triplett added.
“To represent my country and be a Boomer was one of the biggest goals I had for my future, it’s a huge honour to be selected for the squad and then hopefully go from there.”
Triplett said being surrounded by the likes of Matthew Dellavedova, Chris Goulding, David Barlow and Brad Newley, who have all represented Australia at Olympics and World Cups, had been really helpful in his development.
“Being around Delly, CG, Barlow and Newley has been huge,” Triplett said.
“They’ve been massive parts of Australian basketball for a long time, so just being out there on the court with them at a professional level has been huge for us at such a young age.
“I hope we can follow in their footsteps and live out the dreams that they lived out for us.”
Triplett played his junior basketball at Keilor before spending one year in America at college. He returned to Australia last year and turned professional.
Speaking before the season started, he told Star Weekly that signing with United was the best thing for his career right now.
“It’s very exciting, with them obviously coming off winning the championship,” he said.
“It’s super exciting to be part of the side. I was with them during the grand final week after they came back from Perth.
“It’s unreal and they’re a great bunch of guys and great staff and coaches.”
Rob Beveridge, who will coach the side, said that he has no doubt the squad will represent with distinction.
Boomers Olympic head coach Brian Goorjian is excited about the opportunity for the development players and knows they will make Australia proud.
“The rose gold in Tokyo was about basketball at all levels and these development players now have a tremendous opportunity to step up and represent in the green and gold.”
