Net gains for Cairns junior from overseas trip
BASKETBALL has taken Cairns prodigy Kody Stattmann to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Spain.
If he continues his upwards trajectory in the sport, the talented 16-year-old will be seeing a lot more of these cities.
The St Augustine’s College student is already receiving interest from American colleges for his emerging basketball ability with Loyola Marymount University, Boise State University and Portland State University sniffing around.
Cairns Taipans Academy coach Jamie Pearlman describes Stattmann as an athletic, knock down three-point shooter, a great size which makes him an interesting prospect going forward.
An American college schol- arship is still a way down the track but it has been a whirlwind last few months for Stattmann.
First, Spain for the FIBA Under-17 World Championships with the Australian squad. Then, Las Vegas for the Adidas Uprising camp then on to LA for the Adidas Nations camp.
The camps in the US aim to elevate the world of grassroots basketball with a dynamic, international approach to exposure camps and look to bring together the top under-19 basketball players from the US, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America.
Remember, the Far North product is only 16.
“I am pretty sure I was the youngest player there,” he said with a laugh. “I was going up against guys that are two years older than me and much more mature body-wise, bigger and stronger than me. “It was a good challenge.” The US camps feature NBA coaches and players, as well as current collegiate players acting as camp counsellors, providing invaluable insight and first-hand knowledge to the participants, illustrating the pressures, rigours and challenges that accompany the rise of any aspiring NBA star.
Before the two American camps, Stattmann and the Australian men finished their FIBA Under-17 World Cham- pionships campaign in seventh place, with Stattmann averaging almost four points a game and two rebounds.
The 194cm small-forward was pleased with the tournament but felt the green and gold could have finished higher in the rankings.
“The speed of the game is a lot different, it was a learning experience to see how countries play,” Stattmann said.
“It was good to see where I was against other guys in the world at the moment and what I need to improve on.”
Stattmann looks likely to be on court with the Cairns Taipans tomorrow against the Eastern Washington Eagles at The Fish Tank from 4pm.