23rd June 2009

The Under 16 Australian Junior Basketball Championships in Tasmania next month will mark the first national competition for rising Eaton basketball talent Carey Watkins.

The 14-year-old is part of a group of country West Australians selected to compete at the tournament at Ulverstone in July, following successful trials in Perth.

Watkins, who was just 13 when chosen for the team, said he was looking forward to the chance to step up and test his skills against the best young basketballers from around Australia.

“It will be great being able to play at that level of competition,” he said.

Selection to the Western Australian country team competing at the championships is the latest in a long list of achievements that belie the age of the gifted athlete, who captained his football team to a premiership last year.

He is an inaugural member of the South West Academy of Sport’s basketball program and can be seen on court representing the Junior Slammers and Eaton Basketball Association.

Watkins has also attended three camps in the past six months as part of the National Intensive Training Centre Program where he was one of the youngest participants.

…ENDS