COLLEGE DREAM
Mountaineers centre links with NCAA div one side
BASKETBALL: Toowoomba’s Jason Spurgin will become the latest Australian to test himself against the future stars of the NBA in the United States.
The Toowoomba Grammar and Mountaineers centre has put pen to paper to join the Southern Utah University’s basketball program in division one of the NCAA.
Spurgin will link with the Thunderbirds, who compete in the Big Sky Conference, who has produced current NBAsuperstar Damian Lillard, who played at Weber State.
The 18-year-old, said it was a surreal feeling to be able to follow a dream and compete on one of the biggest stages in the sport.
“It was quite surprising and made me quite happy that they valued me over there at such a high level,” Spurgin said.
“It was an amazing experience when they told me they wanted me.
“What I like most is the coaching staff are very focused on the goals of winning, and helping players post-graduation to get gigs as basketball players.
“They’re also focused on helping us to get a degree, which really helps us in the future.”
Southern Utah coach Todd Simon was impressed with what the young centre had to offer, thanks largely to a highlights package sent through, with help from his coach at Altitude Basketball, Kabe Cicolini.
“(The connection) originally came through my coach Kabe,” Spurgin said.
“He helped out quite a bit with creating the video I have and sending it through.
“There was quite a lot of footage from the QBL. I wanted to have as much of that in there as possible because of how well known the competition is and the multiple American imports and NBL players
there too.”
Spurgin had a breakout year for the Mountaineers throughout the 2019 QBL season.
Starting at centre and coming up against a number of bigbodied imports and NBL veterans, the youngster more than held his own, averaging 5.2 points on 51 per cent shooting from the field, along with 5.2 rebounds per game.
For Spurgin, the opportunity to play abroad has been on his mind since rising through the Toowoomba junior ranks.
“I’ve wanted to play at the college level ever since I started really getting into basketball, enjoying and getting pretty good at it,” he said.
“I watch a lot of the NBA and NBL when I can, as well as college.
“In college I see they’re a lot more athletic and they move the ball really fast.
“It’s that higher level of basketball that I’m looking forward to playing in.”
As well as on the court, Spurgin is also looking forward to what the wider college experience has to offer.
When heading overseas midway through next year, he hopes to study sports science or exercise physiology, and said he will continue to train hard until he leaves.