GAMES WITHIN HUGH’S REACH

Greenwood had hoops talent to be an Olympian, says Ingles

CROWS rookie Hugh Greenwood could have represented Australia at the Olympics if he stuck with basketball rather than switched to football.

That is the view of Adelaide-born NBA player Joe Ingles, who has been tracking from afar the code-hopper’s journey to AFL ranks.

Greenwood has made a successful transition to football since joining the Crows in September 2015 after turning his back on a contract with NBL team Perth Wildcats.

The Tasmanian impressed across half-forward with Adelaide’s reserves in the SANFL last season then made an eyecatching AFL debut a fortnight ago against Brisbane at the Gabba, kicking three goals.

He had 11 disposals and six tackles in the Crows’ 100-point home win over Fremantle on Saturday night and has been selected to face Geelong at Simonds Stadium tonight.

Ingles, a member of the Utah Jazz and a three-time Olympian with the Boomers, knows Greenwood from national basketball camps.

Greenwood, 25, represented the Boomers against China and Argentina, and played for Australia at two under-19 world titles.

“I think he could have been someone that represented Australia and played in the Olympics, but he did his college stint [at University of New Mexico], went to Perth and obviously decided against it, and wanted to follow his AFL career,” Ingles said.

“He’s played a couple of really good games for them so it’s good for him.

“I guess we’ll never know if he would’ve played [regularly] for Australia but I think he would have, definitely could have.”

Asked whether there was an NBA star who could do well in the AFL, Ingles said “probably anyone, really” because of the players’ athleticism.