Mckenzie following his dream

Gun Horsham basketballer Jeremiah Mckenzie will take an important step towards his dream of forging a professional career in the sport when he takes up a scholarship in the United States.

Mckenzie, 18, will fly to the States in August to join the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs Mountain Lions program.

The six-foot-four guard follows in the footsteps of other exceptional Wimmera basketballers – including Aaron Bruce, Shane Mcdonald and Chloe Bibby – to take up opportunities in the US collegiate system.

Mckenzie said playing basketball in the United States would be a dream come true.

He said the scholarship offer came as a surprise.

“Last year I was part of a Vic Country under-18 team that played a practice match against Vic Metro as a curtain-raiser when Colorado Springs was touring,” he said.

“I didn’t realise then that they would be looking at me, but about a month after the game I got an email from the Vic Country coach saying the coach from Colorado Springs wanted to talk to me.”

Mckenzie travelled to Colorado to tour the campus in December.

“I made my decision based on the tour,” he said.

“There will be a lot more training involved, including cardio and weight sessions. I’ll also be studying a four-year sports business management course.

“It’s going to be pretty full-on but I’m looking forward to it.”

Colorado Springs men’s basketball head coach Jeff Culver said he was thrilled to welcome Mckenzie to the Mountain Lion family.

Mckenzie said before he received a scholarship offer he was looking at basing himself in Ballarat, after graduating from Ballarat Grammar last year, and trying to make an NBL1 team.

Mckenzie won the Les Hotchin Most Valuable Player accolade in 2019 for his performances for Ballarat Miners Youth before playing in the Big V

Men’s Youth League One Championship team.

He has also enjoyed a stellar Country Basketball League season with his home side, the Horsham Hornets, and will be a key player in the team’s semi-final showdown against Geelong United on Saturday night.

Mckenzie paid tribute to a strong support system that had nurtured his talent from a young age, particularly Horsham basketball legend Owen Hughan.

“Owen has basically got me to where I am in basketball today,” he said.

“Cam Bruce took me on as a senior Hornet at 14 and helped push me through. Tim Pickert took over as coach this season but he’s been the captain as long as I’ve been playing for the Hornets. He’s one of the better team-mates I’ve played with.”

Pickert said Mckenzie was an outstanding young talent and he hoped the pair could continue their campaign for a south-west conference title with a win at the weekend.

“I remember him and his brother Aussie walking into the stadium when they were only five-foot high,” he said.

“Although I’ll be sad to see him go it’s such an exciting opportunity for him.”