MEDIA RELEASE

13 July 2011

AUSSIE NAMED AS ONE OF TOP FIVE PLAYERS AT WORLD TITLES

Tasmanian basketballer Hugh Greenwood has capped off a spectacular showing for the Australian Emus at the recent 2011 FIBA Under 19 World Championship in Lithuania by being named as one of the top five players of the tournament.

The Emus' captain was named as one of the tournament's best players after averaging 17.1 points per game across eight matches, as well as 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He shot the ball at 43.9% from the field, including 37.7% from three-point distance.

The 190cm former Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder joined tournament MVP Jonas Valanciunas of Lithuania, Serbian Aleksandar Cvetkovic, Dmitry Kulagin of Russia and American Jeremy Lamb on the tournament's prestigious All-Star Five.

The modest Greenwood said he was surprised to be named to the all-tournament team.

"I wasn't expecting it," he said. "I was sitting there and they came over and told me and I didn't really know what to do. I sat there for a couple of minutes and I had to go find my dad in the crowd. I was really happy he was there. There were about eight thousand Lithuanians in the crowd so I had to go and try to find him. I eventually found him and gave him a hug. A lot of hard work paying off."

The honour was especially impressive given he had struggled to play through the pain of an ankle injury which forced him to miss a game during the tournament.

"I was just happy to be playing again. When it happened I was shattered because I kind of felt like I let the guys down because we lost that game to Latvia. Being able to play again I was relieved about that and was very fortunate that I was able to play well, but I was more relived that I was able to play at all."

"We had guys step up and play well in different games so that kept me going while the ankle wasn't great. Then I eventually just forgot about the ankle, we had a rest day before the finals which was really good. And then when it started to get better and I was able to move better, I guess the stats show that the ankle was getting better."

The Emus finished sixth overall at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship with a 6-3 record, after falling to the USA in a nail-biting final contest, 78-77.

Despite not making the medal rounds, Greenwood said the bond with his teammates was still strong.

"Everyone was pretty upset at the time, against the USA we lost by a point but we played really well. I think the guys were just upset that it was all over and the reality of the last game and sitting down for the last time. We've been doing this for the last four years, putting in the work for the last four years, and living together at the AIS you build such a big bond and now we're all going in different directions. At the airport today everyone was buggered and jet-lagged but it was still pretty sad."

Greenwood shone for the Australians throughout the tournament and finished with 26 points, five assists and six rebounds against the powerful Americans in a dominant display. His performance impressed international scouts, as well as 'Golden Star' Boomers head coach Brett Brown.

"Our coaching staff is thrilled with Hugh's recent performance at the World Under 19 tournament and we are proud of his All Tournament selection," Brown said. "Hugh has been a part of our Boomer program since he was 17. His continued development is a result of his dedication and some outstanding coaches that have helped along the way. He is an emerging wing who we all have high expectations for."

The coach of the US college team Greenwood will join next season was equally impressed.

"For Hugh to make First Team All-Tournament is an incredible honour," New Mexico coach Steve Alford said in a statement.

"His experience at the FIBA U-19 World Championships will certainly benefit him down the road."

Greenwood returned home from the world titles this morning and will immediately begin his preparations for the upcoming 'Golden Star' Australian Boomers training camp on the Gold Coast from 25 - 29 July. There the 19 year-old will vie for a place in the Australian senior men's national team to take on the New Zealand Tall Blacks in the FIBA Oceania Championship for Men, where a berth at the London Olympic Games is on the line.

The 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship for Men will be held in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney on the 7th, 9th and 11th September respectively.