Young Basketballers selected for America Callum Holt & Kaelan Molin.
Four rising basketballers from Young are about to take the trip of a lifetime, after being selected to represent Australia as part of the prestigious Team Oz development squad. Liam, Sam Scott, Callum Holt, and Kaelan Molin have earned their spots among 40 elite young players from across the country and will be heading to the United States this July for two weeks of high level basket-ball, training, and cultural experience.
Chris Holt, president and coach of the Young Pacers, couldn’t be prouder of the boys and the incredible opportunity in front of them.
“These boys have been selected for Team Oz, which is an Australian squad put together to compete overseas. There were trials held in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and the Gold Coast so to have four boys from a town like Young selected is absolutely massive,” Holt said.
The team will spend the first week in Los Angeles, where they will participate in a two-day tournament, daily training, and scrimmages. They’ll also tour several college campuses a chance for the boys to see first hand what life as a student-athlete in the U.S. might look like.
In the second week, the group will travel to Las Vegas for one of the largest NCAA-sanctioned tournaments in the country.
“This Las Vegas tournament is the big one it’s the pinnacle of all the NCAA events they’ll attend,” Holt explained.
“It draws talent from around the world, and even though our boys are in the development tier, they’ll be getting incredible exposure and experience.”
Team Oz structures its squads based on merit. The top 10 players form the first team, competing against the best international talent. The development squad, which includes the Young boys, is designed to give emerging players valuable experience against similarly skilled opponents. But it’s not just the games that matter, it’s the training, the coaching, and the environment that make this tour so special.
“The games are definitely exciting, but the real benefit is the two weeks of working with some of the best coaches in the country,” Holt said.
“Warren Rosen, who runs Team Oz, has coached at the highest levels including as an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings and the Illawarra Hawks. His development programs have produced players who’ve gone on to earn college scholarships and even play in the NBL.”
The experience is particularly meaningful for Callum and Caleb, who aren’t currently playing representative basketball, unlike Sam and Liam. Holt said getting them into higher-level competition in Canberra was part of the push that led to their selection.
“Liam’s already had a few games in the Premier League, and he’s playing against some serious talent we’re talking kids who are dropping 50 points in a game,” Holt said.
“It’s a steep learning curve in terms of physicality and game speed, but it’s where you want to be if you’re serious about developing.”
Holt emphasises the fact that four players from Young, with limited access to high-level basketball resources, have made the national development squad is a testament to their hard work, their fami-lies’ commitment, and the support of the local basketball community.
“It’s just crazy to think about,” Holt added.
“Out of all the kids around the country, to have four from our town get picked? It’s something really special.”
While the trip will be a dream come true, it also comes with a financial challenge. The boys and their families are currently working to raise funds to cover travel costs, uniforms, and accommodation for the tour. Community support whether through local sponsorship, fundraising events, or donations could make a huge difference in ensuring these young athletes get the most out of this life-changing experience.
“This is such a rare opportunity not just to play, but to learn, to grow, and to represent Young on an international stage,” Holt said.
“We’re incredibly proud of them and just want to give them every chance to make the most of it.” The community is encouraged to get behind Liam, Sam, Callum, and Caleb as they prepare to represent Young and Australia with pride. With the right support, this trip could be the first step in a much bigger basketball journey.
-Liam Stuart
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.
