CURRENTLY playing only his second season of representative basketball, Casey DeWacht’s selection in the Victorian Under 16 Men’s side may have surprised some, but not those at Warrandyte who have been fortunate enough to see him play.

Having just turned 15, Casey stands at 197cm tall and plays an up-tempo, athletic and physical style of basketball.

Playing for the Warrandyte Venom Under 16.1 Boys side under coach Nathan Marsh, Casey has become  a Warrandyte Basketball celebrity to his young team and club mates.

Already a member of coach Beau Bentley’s Venom Big V Youth League squad, the young baller has taken the next big step with state selection on his road to potential stardom.

Chosen as just one of 10 athletes to represent Victoria, Casey has begun a rigorous campaign of training and practice games in preparation for the Under 16 Australian Junior Championships, to be held from July 4-11 in Ulverstone, Tasmania.

“The training environment is great. Every single person pushes each other to get better and we go hard,” Casey says.

State straining has added an extra six hours to Casey’s already busy schedule of club basketball and schooling, including a 6.30am session designed to fast track his game in time for competition.

However, Casey is relishing the opportunity to further improve his game, ahead of the biggest basketball event of his young career in Tasmania.

“What I’m looking forward to most is putting my skills to the test against some of the best players in Australia and to really get out of the experience as much as I have been putting in,” Casey says.

In Australia’s competitive basketball environment, state selection is an extremely difficult path to navigate. Victorian clubs must first nominate their strongest players to attend tryouts in front of representatives of the state program and Basketball Victoria.

Casey immediately impressed head coach Rob Coulter at recent tryouts and is proud to declare his affiliation with the Warrandyte Venom and their role in his meteoric rise to a representative of Victorian basketball.

Level headed and humble, Casey is held in high regard by teammates and coaches alike and is already serving as a terrific role model and aspirational figure to younger basketballers in his club environment.

As athletes and their families fund their state program involvement, the Warrandyte Venom and indeed the greater community have responsibility to rally behind Casey to support this incredible opportunity.

Community members have a perfect opportunity to do this on Saturday (May 16)  at the Warrandyte Sports Complex.

The organisation plays host to a Big V double header from 6.30pm, featuring the Venom Youth League Men and Senior Men.