Promising young Northern Suburbs Basketball Association referee Guy Richards has been selected to officiate at the Australian Under 16 Championships to be held at Geelong in July.

The appointment of Richards comes after impressive performances in the various Basketball New South Wales junior and senior representative competitions, along with the 2013 Australian Under 14 Club Championships in Darwin last year. He also officiated at the Youth Olympics 3 on 3 competition in Sydney in 2013 and is an active referee coach.

The appointment of Richards to the officiating panel adds a further Norths flavour to the Nationals, with six players and two coaches from the club also been selected to represent their state at the event.

Newly appointed NSBA Head Coach – Referees and Official, Albert Joseph, said the appointment was reward for dedication and constant improvement for the 21 year-old official.

“Guy has worked hard and been prepared to develop his skills at all levels of the sport,” Joseph.

“He has refereed at club, association, school and representative level this year and the Australian Championships will be another opportunity for him to develop as an official and referee at an elite level.”

In other officiating news, FIBA official Riannan De La Torre has joined the officiating ranks of the NSBA and will be member of the panel for the Thursday night Premier Women’s division. A product of the Illawarra Basketball Association, De La Torre gained her FIBA badge late last year and is considered one of the up and coming young officials in Australia. She has officiated at national junior championships, Waratah Championship League and the WNBL and is a welcome addition to the officiating panel at the association.