Hawks trio make final cut of Boomers' squad

Basketball Australia on Friday announced its 12-man Boomers team, headlined by Illawarra Hawks trio Emmett Naar, Alex Mudronja and Akoldah Gak, for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers to be held in Okinawa, Japan this month.

The team includes some exciting graduates from the Centre of Excellence including Illawarra junior Kyle Zunic who was instrumental in multiple conference championships at Winthrop University. 

Zunic is joined by Jaylin Galloway, David Okwera and Gak who played together in the under 19s Emus at the 2021 World Cup in Latvia. 

Fellow Centre of Excellence graduate Mundronja will reunite with coach Rob Beveridge where they won a bronze medal at the World University Games in Italy.

The youngest member of the team Tyrese Proctor at only 17 is an NBA Global Academy athlete who played in the FIBA window against New Zealand in Cairns for the Boomers. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d0ZBzb9eTuA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The team will be joined by an international contingent including former Hawk Nick Kay, Angus Brant and Rhys Vague from the Japanese B League and Makuach Maluach and Craig Moller from their respective clubs in Finland and Germany.

The team will be completed with Centre of Excellence graduate and Hawks point guard Naar, who will suit up for the Boomers for the first time.

Boomer head coach and former Illawarra mentor Rob Beveridge is looking forward to the opportunity for the Boomers in Japan.

“We are really pleased with the final team of 12 that we have selected for the games against Chinese Taipei and Japan,” Beveridge said.

“We have a blend of players that have international playing experience as well as a group of up and coming players with huge potential.

“I’m super excited to be reunited with Boomer Nick Kay who will take on a senior role as a leader of this group.”

Boomers Schedule:

February 25 - Australia vs Chinese Taipei

February 27 – Australia vs Japan

February 28 - Chinese Taipei v Australia

Boomers Team for FIBA World Cup Asia qualifiers:

Angus Brandt - Kagawa Five Arrows (Japan)
Akoldah Gak - Illawarra Hawks
Jaylin Galloway - Sydney Kings
Nick Kay - Shimane Susanoo Magic
Makuach Maluach - Korikouvot (Finland)
Craig Moller - Wuerzburg (Germany)
Alex Mudronja - Illawarra Hawks
Emmett Naar - Illawarra Hawks
David Okwera - Melbourne United
Tyrese Proctor - NBA Global Academy
Rhys Vague - Kagawa Five Arrows (Japan)
Kyle Zunic - Perth Wildcats