Munyard vying for state squad
Horsham basketballer Levi Munyard is preparing to play in the under-16 State Combine after winning selection as an under-16 Victoria Country athlete.
The under-16 State Combine is at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne this weekend and brings together the best of Victoria’s under-16 athletes trying out for the final state team selection.
The team will head to Perth for under-16 national championships in July.
Munyard said it had taken a lot of hard work to make selection for the combine team.
“It felt pretty good to have my name on the team selection,” he said.
“I worked pretty hard to get there, with about six months of training nearly every day.
“First I was trying to get into the state development program, which was the first stage, and then I kept going and working harder and progressing through the stages to get to this level.”
Munyard travels to Ballarat once a week as part of a basketball hub that has training days around the region.
This year is his first time trialling for the state team.
“My main goal is to be selected for the state team. Fifteen players will be selected from 28 playing in the combine,” Munyard said.
“Being in Horsham, I feel I have to work extra hard. We’re two hours from lots of main centres where players can play higher levels more often during the week. If I have that in my head, I tend to push myself even harder.
“Every time I play basketball it clears my head. When I’m doing school or anything else, there’s always stress – but when I’m playing basketball it’s stress-free and I focus on the game.
“Playing makes me feel better about my day and I like working hard because I want to be the best version of myself.”
Munyard said he thought he could bring a level of competitiveness to a team.
“I want to push my teammates and myself to play the best we can,” he said.
“I have enjoyed the experience of tryouts and throughout the year have built friendships throughout the state.
“When one of the coaches said Victoria is going to be the best state, and that we don’t want to lose, it made me feel really good that I have made it this far.”
Munyard said he hoped to continue to develop his basketball skills.
“I am hoping to play National Basketball League one day. I hope to do well there and get in the draft,” he said.
“Although, if I had to pick an NBA team to play for it would be the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
The final state team will be announced on March 16, following the State Combine.