BASKETBALL: Miners promote duo after U.S. college rule change

By David Brehaut
Updated November 2 2012 - 1:53pm, first published April 23 2010 - 2:51pm

BALLARAT Miners have wasted no time promoting two highly rated youngsters after a rule change allowing prospective United States college students to play in the South East Australian Basketball League.Josh Wilcher and Shaun Bruce will make their SEABL debuts against Nunawading Spectres at Nunawading tonight.The National Collegiate Athletic Association, better known as the NCAA, has modified an agreement that previously regarded SEABL players as "professional" - and therefore ineligible to join division one and two college programs.This condition remains in place for division one teams, but there will no longer be a blanket rule for all SEABL players.The change means youngsters will be able to play in the SEABL without closing the door on US colleges.Miners coach Guy Molloy said it was a major breakthrough for Australian basketball.He said there was no doubt the rule had held back the development of the game, with emerging talent unable to be part of the country's second highest level of competition while harbouring ambitions to play college basketball in the US.Molloy said the change would make the sport's pathway much clearer.He said there was a gap between players graduating from under-age programs in Australia, and then getting scholarships in the US, and so some of the country's best talent was being lost to the likes of the AFL.He cited North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein as a prime example.Molloy said youngsters would now be able to take up opportunities in the SEABL.Ballarat Basketball Association chief executive officer Peter Eddy said the change was long overdue.Eddy said there were numerous examples of home-grown players missing opportunities to be part of the Miners program.In the past, Ballarat players hoping to get into a college in the US have been restricted to lining up with the Nuggets and what is now know as the SEABL D-League Miners.Shaun Bruce (Horsham) and Josh Wilcher (Sandringham) moved to Ballarat this year to further their basketball careers under the guidance of Molloy, who, as well as being the Miners head coach, is the BBA elite program manager.The two state representatives have already been shining lights for Ballarat in the D-League - Bruce is averaging 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists after three games. Wilcher, who led the scoring in the competition last year while with the Sabres, is averaging 23.3 points, six rebounds and 3.3 assists.

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