Tamworth's Nick Kay is set to suit up in the green and gold alongside some of the biggest names in the game after being named in the 12-man Australian Boomers team for next month's FIBA World Cup in China and lead-up games in Perth and Melbourne.
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Kay is one of five current National Basketball League players to make the cut, and will join the likes of NBA stars Aron Baynes, Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Ingles and Patrick Mills.
It will be his first major international tournament after playing a key role in helping the Boomers qualify for the World Cup, and is the latest honour in a stunning 12 months for the recently-turned 27-year old (he celebrated his birthday on August 2).
He won his first NBL championship with Perth, was named in the All-NBL First Team, awarded the Gaze Family Medal, won a championship in the NZ NBL and was named the competition's most valuable player.
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Speaking at Wednesday's squad announcement, Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis spoke glowingly of Kay, particularly extolling his defensive virtues.
"If you had perhaps a model of what Andrej Lemanis likes in his four spot for a disruptive defender, you'd put Nick Kay there....," he said.
"Because of his ability to be up the floor and read when to perhaps hit the ball, when to leave to, appropriate times to double on, on-ball screen, all that stuff, he's on point and on the money and I think that's ultimately why we went 'yeah, we need that."
Lemanis also remarked on Kay's ability to "manipulate the offence to the advantage of his team-mate".
"He sees things and flashes to the right spot and makes the right pass and does a really nice job," he said.
"He cuts where he's supposed to cut in a manor that gets other people open."
The Boomers will play four warm-up games before beginning their World Cup campaign against Canada on September 1.
"It is an exciting time for the program as we now settle on our team for China. There are a number of guys getting their first experience of a World Cup, which is exciting for them and for us as a team," Lemanis said.
"Of course, we also have a solid core of veteran players who understand what it will take for us to succeed in China. As a staff, we're really pleased with the mix of skill sets we have to utilise and look forward to watching it evolve over the next couple of weeks."
The Australian Boomers warm-up schedule ahead of the 2019 FIBA World Cup:
17 August: Boomers vs. Canada Basketball at RAC Arena in Perth.
22 August: Boomers vs. USA Basketball at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
24 August: Boomers vs. USA Basketball at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
The Australian Boomers schedule for the 2019 FIBA World Cup: (All times AEST)
1 September: Boomers vs. Canada, 5:30pm
3 September: Boomers vs. Senegal, 5:30pm
5 September: Boomers vs. Lithuania, 9:30pm
7 & 9 September: Round of 16
10 & 11 September: Quarter-Finals
13 September: Semi-Finals
15 September: Medal Games
