Brilliant junior basketballer Sam Stafford’s  reward for his outstanding performances in the 2012 Under 16 national championships has arrived in the form of selection to attend the September 2012 Australian Development Camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from September 24^th to 28^th. This is one of the prized camps which open the door for junior basketballers to the national and ultimately international scene.

Sam was the key factor in the SA Country team being competitive in all its games. The final team ranking of twelfth does not truly reflect the team’s achievements of single figure losses to semi-finalists Tasmania and Victoria Country. As a result Sam’s efforts and being the consistent leading scorer impressed Basketball Australia National Manager – Player and Coach Development, Mike McHugh.      

Sam has dominated his junior age groups over the years and last season led the Lakers Under 16 team to achieve results well above the expectations of Coach Bryan Green. He suffered a serious ankle injury early in the 2012 Country Championships but worked extremely hard to gain full fitness for the nationals. He is a quiet achiever; determined and committed in his efforts to make the best of his undoubted natural athletic ability  

The players invited to this Camp are eligible for selection in the Under 17 World Championships team, which will be coached by former South Australian Justin Schueller, now based in Tasmania.

As part of the team’s preparation for the 2014 Worlds, Australia will compete in the 2012 FIBA Oceania Pacific Youth Basketball Championships to be held in Churchill, Victoria in late November. At the conclusion of the Development Camp Men’s and Women’s teams will be selected to compete in this event.

Australia is one of 8 countries invited to compete in the Youth Championships. Competing teams are expected to come from New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia, Guam, Papua New Guinea, America Samoa and Samoa.