NICK Kay is set to add yet another honour to his growing list of achievements as he prepares to represent Australia at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in September.
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Lining up alongside Australian NBA stars such as Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova, Kay is set to take on some of the world's best players during the two-week-long tournament.
Initially selected in the 17-man Boomers squad, Kay impressed selectors enough to make the final cut for the tournament in China.
"It was a bit of a surprise to get the nod, to tell you the truth," Kay told the Leader.
"I had put my head down, worked hard and hoped I would get an opportunity.
"Now that I am in the side, I will just keep looking to work hard and do whatever my team needs me to do."
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Kay's selection comes off the back of a successful year for the Tamworth native.
In 2019 Kay has helped guide the Perth Wildcats to an Australian NBL championship, while earning himself an All NBL selection in the process.
Kay followed up his Australian success with a New Zealand NBL championship and was named the New Zealand NBL's most valuable player.
"It has been a really great year, but representing your country is the ultimate honour," Kay said.
"I've been lucky enough to have the honour a few times, but being in the World Cup is a step up again.
"We'll be going up against the best the world has to offer and I'm sure everyone will be doing what they can to do Australia proud."
The squad is busy preparing for the World Cup with an intensive training camp before playing warm-up matches against Canada in Perth on August 16 and 17 and the United States on August 22 and 24.
"We have been working really hard since coming together as a group and I've been feeling more comfortable around the group as we go," Kay said.
"So far, we have been doing a lot of very physical activities.
"For me, this training period is about better understanding my job within the team and what I need to do to help us succeed."
Kay said Friday's clash with Canada would be pivotal to the team's World Cup preparations.
"Living in Perth, I know there is a fair bit of a buzz around this game and for us it is a perfect preparation because we take on Canada in our first game," he said.
"It should be a good test for us and then taking on America in Melbourne should really give us a good idea of how we're tracking.
"Hopefully we can get a few wins and come into the World Cup in some good form."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
