Ballarat Miners imports Davon Usher and Marvin King-Davis are still coming to terms with quite a few aspects of living in Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As much as each loves their food, they are yet to tempted to try some Australian favourites. Not surprisingly Vegemite is one.
“No way” was their reply to whether they had been convinced to give it go. Another is fairy bread, while it has taken a bit of work to have them try a standard Aussie meat pie.
And they’re yet to find bacon the way they like it.
These are no more than throw away lines for Usher and King-Davis, who leave no doubt that they are enjoying life in Ballarat and most of importantly life as GMHBA Ballarat Miners basketballers.
Usher and King-Davis, who were teammates at the Delaware University Fightin' Blue Hens, are particularly impressed by the way the Miners roster has gelled together.
Usher said his past experience in the US and Europe showed that teams did not always get on as well together, with players tending to focus on what was best for themselves as individuals rather than the team.
“There’s a real good feel.”
King-Davis said the players were really comfortable with each other – on and off the court.
Each are also impressed by head coach Eric Hayes and assistant coach Nathan Cooper-Brown.
The first-year recruits said they had appreciated the assistance they had been given to adjust to the Australian way of basketball.
King-Davis and Usher said tempo was the biggest difference – a little slower than what they had been accustomed to.
Peter Hooley is also feeling good about his new venture in Ballarat and return to Australia.
The South Australian spent more than four years playing basketball and studying in the US before moving to England for a year, playing in the British Basketball League.
While the three newcomers have played in three practice games, it will be a much difference experience when they open the SEABL season against Geelong Supercats at Geelong on Friday night.
Usher will play as a shooting guard, King Davis a power forward and Hooley as a forward as they combine with captain and point guard Ash Constable and centre Craig Moller, who is back after two fill-in stints with the Miners last season.
Ballarat Skoda Rush also plays Geelong Supercats.