Stars show Townsville basketball in good shape
THE step up to the big leagues is nothing new for Boston Mazlin and Logan Kyle. Such is the calibre of Townsville’s talent, it is nothing new for the region either.
Mazlin and Kyle will head to Brisbane this morning to begin preparations for the U20 National Championships.
The former has been around the mark consistently for years, but for Kyle it is a return to the national stage built off hard work.
Kyle represented Queensland in the U18s two years ago, but narrowly missed selection for last year’s U19s side.
But his efforts with the Heat and around a set up that “doesn’t lose many games” has lifted his performance and put him back into representative contention.
“Logan has got really good size and can shoot the ball so he’s going to come in and bring energy,” Queensland coach Peter Crawford said.
“Boston can handle the ball but his strength is an elite shooter. He’s one of the best shooters in the state, if not the country, so hopefully he has a good tournament.
“We’ve got a lot of talent in this team, so their talents are pieces that fit into the team.”
Crawford said the consistency with which Townsville produced great talent bred further success.
When he was a junior, former Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis was a prominent mentor in the region and from then athletes such as Harry Froling have launched promising NBL careers.
That quality has continued to filter throughout Townsville’s basketball foundations.
Crawford said that was what was so disappointing about the Townsville Crocodiles no longer featuring in the NBL.
It gave kids the pathway and dream, he said, to go out and represent the region.
But with the likes of Mazlin and Kyle continuing to impress, the young talent in Townsville would continue to prosper as their abilities developed.