Player Name/Nickname

Pike or Pikey

 

Singlet Number and is there a reason why you wear this number?

I have the number 33 because I am a big Celtics fan and it's Larry Bird's number. Also I just like the number 3.

 

When was the first time you played organised basketball for a North Adelaide Team?

I played under 10s basketball at North and have been there ever since.

 

Who was your favourite player growing up?

I had a few favourite players. Ray Allen and Larry Bird because they were such great scorers and also Tim Duncan for his willingness to do anything for his team to see them win and his great leadership skills.

 

How many games/seasons have you played Premier League?

7 seasons in the squad.

 

How many times a week do you do something to improve your basketball (eg trainings, shooting, running, lifting weights)?

Outside of regular training and games I shoot around once or twice a week.

 

What advice would you give to a current U18 player if they aspired to play in the Premier League?

My advice would be to find what your weaknesses as a player might be and work hard to improve those areas. If your weakness is defence then at trainings match up against the best offensive  player and challenge yourself to stay in front of them. If it is your shot then work hard getting your technique better and your shot will improve. All things in basketball can be taught and helped, but one thing that cannot be taught by a coach is the willingness to work hard and do the little things to help your team win. It might be diving on a loose ball, boxing out hard so you or a team mate can get a rebound, or even being unselfish and spreading the floor in offence so your team can have more room to work with.

Unless you are an absolute superstar people that play premier league are people that work harder than anybody else and hard work beats talent any day.

 

What is your favourite part of playing Premier League?

Who doesn't play sport with the goal of winning but in saying that the best part is when your team just clicks in a game and everyone is in sync with each other. You're getting lay ups, stops in defence, easy shots and the other team has no idea what to do to stop you.

 

What is your least favourite part?

Preseason is always very difficult but it is definitely worth it when you are done.

 

What hobbies/interests do you have away from basketball?

I am always listening to music and trying to find new and different songs and artists. I also have a great group of friends and hanging out with them is always a great time.

 

If you were stranded on a desert island and you could choose 2 team mates to be there with you, who would they be and why?

I would choose Lucky because he is a bit of a handy man and can fix and make a lot of things. We also both think alike and we could think ourselves out of the situation.

The second person I would choose would be Joel because after 2 days in the sun he would be so tanned and any local people that might appear would think he was one of them and then he could get us food and supplies.

 

Which player in the NABC Men’s Premier League Team has the worst fashion sense?

I was going to say somebody else but after John Wernham shaved his beard off he looks like he could replace Zac Efron and star in the movie 17 again.