RILEY DOWNES

TRANSITIONING from football to basketball may be the hardest crosscode combination on earth, but it hasn’t stopped Riley Downes from flourishing in his new sport.

Having made the jump to basketball as an eight-year-old, Riley is now an elite talent in one of Townsville’s most popular sports.

“I wasn’t that good at the start, but I kept training and progressing and I got better,” Riley said.

“The first game I was throwing underarm shots and stuff (laughs). But I got good at it.”

Now a lethal shooting guard, Riley began his career as a centre because of his height.

He’s thankful he now gets to apply himself in the backcourt.

“I’ve learnt to shoot and pass better, things that help me as a guard,” he said.

“I probably shoot for an hour and a half to two hours a day.

“My three-pointer is pretty reliable when we get into the game and we need quick baskets.”

The 13-year-old said 2019 was his coming out party after being given a chance to shine for the Townsville Heat.

“I was a bench player my first time because I was a bottom aged player.

“But last year when I played again I was one of the older players and it was my breakout season.

“I had the ball in my hands a lot more and I was trusted with a lot more shots.

“Now this year I’m bottom age again, but this time a starter and one of the top scorers on the team.”

The Year 8 student said Steph Curry and Ben Simmons were his favourite players, and now he wants to follow in Simmons’s steps and crack the NBA.

“Even though he doesn’t shoot a lot of shots he’s unselfish and likes to get the team involved.

“We’re still trying to decide whether I should go to the college path or the NBL, that’s if I get any offers, which I hope I do.

“Hopefully in 10 years I’ll be in the NBA as a good role player. I don’t need to be the biggest name, I’d be satisfied just by being there.”