The point guard becomes the third Ballarat GMHBA Miner to join the club, following teammates Craig Moller and Sam Short.

“I set myself one goal when I came to SEABL and that was to get into the NBL,” Hooley said.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs along the way but I never stopped working towards it, so to be rewarded is an exciting feeling and I’m thankful for it.” 

He said some familiar faces would help with the transition.

“In basketball you’re always on new teams, so to have some guys you already know makes you feel comfortable going in and you know how they play on the court as well,” he said. 

With the Miners’ regular season coming to a close, Hooley said it was a “huge” relief to know where he would be next.

“It has been on my mind, especially over the last month,” he said.

“I had some places call me from overseas, but I really didn’t want to go over there right now.

“It’s my first time in Australia in a long time, and I really wanted to focus on that, so to be able to have that in concrete for the next few months has taken a lot of pressure off me.”

Hooley has averaged 20.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Miners, with his best performances to date in games against Albury-Wodonga, collecting 44 points and 39 points.

But Hooley said training with Melbourne United had already been a step up from any other league he had played in. 

“There is a difference in physicality, speed and what is expected of you,” he said.

“It is definitely not easy, but that comes with the territory. 

“My job will be to take the opportunities when I get them, and just play hard and push myself at training to be the best that I can be.”