ROY Booker is talking big.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When his first South East Australian Basketball League season with the Miners came to a premature end owing to an Achilles tendon injury last year, the United States import immediately announced he had unfinished business in Ballarat.
Booker is back in town and ready to walk the talk.
He is already talking up the Miners' championship prospects.
The 32-year-old will not hear of anything else other than the Miners being a major title contender.
The Miners have not won a championships since 2001 when under the guidance of Australian basketball legend Ray Borner.
Booker.is determined to lead Ballarat out of the SEABL wilderness.
His abbreviated on-court stint last season laid the foundation for just that, averaging 28.6 points and 6.9 assists in 15 games to be a leading contender for the competition's most valuable player award and setting Ballarat on its way to a first play-off appearance since 2006.
He believes that despite some roster changes, the Miners' will to win under the leadership of first-year head coach Eric Hayes and experienced assistant coach David Flint will be pivotal.
While the Achilles tendon surgery is not the first time Booker has had to overcame a serious injury in almost a decade as a professional basketballer, as a scar on a knee testifies to that, he said watching the Miners through the second half of last season had been hard to take.
Booker, whose home base is in Dallas, said there was never any doubt about his return, given he was on two-year contract.
As he said when he left for the US in September: "I love Ballarat and I'm excited to be coming back."
He admits though it was not easy leaving his family.
Booker has played around the world - Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus, Syria, Austria, Israel and France - but this time he said it had been really hard leaving the likes of nephews and nieces behind.
One the other hand, he said he was delighted to be back with good friends in Ballarat.
"Ï like the people in Ballarat and have four or five families who I am really close to."
Booker is confident he can regain the same sort of form he showed last season.
He said his rehabilitation had continued well in the US.
Booker said as well as regular rehab sessions, he had been jogging for six weeks.
"I'm pleased with my progress.
"Ï'm in good shape. Feeling good. Not game fit, but good shape.
"I'll be right by the time the start of the season (in April)," he said.
As well as being eager to suit up with the Miners again, Booker is already enjoying being back working with youngsters.
Not even fully of jet lag, Booker stepped straight back into assisting with Ballarat junior representative squad training.