Ballarat Miners import Marqueze Colmen is fired up for his first game of the inaugural NBL1 season on the road against Nunawading Spectres on Saturday night.
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Arriving in Ballarat just over a week ago, the former Nevada Wolfpack guard is already gelling well with his new teammates, as seen in the Hotondo Homes Miners pre-season win against the Geelong Supercats.
"We actually surprised me a lot given that it was really our first game together," he said.
"For a group of new guys I thought we gelled really well, I thought we played really well for all four quarters.
"Now I'm just really looking forward to the season."
The 25-year-old Colmen has been quite the world traveller over his young career, enjoying stints in Germany and Portugal, as well as an appearance in The Basketball Tournament, an annual single elimination tournament before heading down under.
Colmen believes his time in Europe has prepared him well for the Australian competition.
"This league is similar to Europe," he said.
"There's a lot of quick ball movement - a lot of skilled players at every position as well as some big perimeter guys that can put the ball on the floor. The physicality in Europe has really helped me."
The move to Australia has not been without some hardship for Colmen, as he has had to leave his newborn baby in Los Angeles.
"I just had a son, three weeks old today, so it's pretty hard," he said.
"He knows his dad is out here working hard for him. Five months isn't that long until I can come back and see him."
Looking forward to the season, Colmen is confident in what the Miners can achieve this year in the NBL1.
"I expect us to do big things," he said.
"We have our goals written down, we just have to continue to work hard and continue to develop that chemistry."
These sentiments were shared by Miners head coach Brendan Joyce, who has been impressed in Colmen's ability thus far.
"His biggest strength is obviously his explosiveness," he said.
"That ability to get up and down the court - it enables us to get into our offence quickly and on defense he's got the foot speed to contain the opposition."
Colmen's six-foot-three frame allows some freedom for Joyce, who can move him around the court depending on the situation.
"We like the fact that he's a tall, athletic guard which means I can play him at a couple of positions."
When it comes to entertaining the fans, Colmen is excited to get out of the court and show off his elite athleticism.
"They can definitely expect a few highlight plays from me this season," Colmen said with a large smile on his face.
I just love how the community has really embraced me, now I'm just trying to embrace them as well."
- Marqueze Colmen
Only having moved to Ballarat just over a week ago, Colmen is starting to adjust to the cooler climate.
"I'm getting there, it's pretty chilly out but Ballarat is a really nice city," he laughed.
Colmen is joining his former college teammate Jerry Evans Jr in Ballarat.
The two played together at the University of Nevada with mixed results, producing a 27-36 record in their two years together as members of the Nevada Wolfpack.
Evans Jr has previously played in Australia as a member of the Sandringham Sabres in the former SEABL and as a replacement import with the Cairns Taipans, as well as playing professionally in Poland, Greece, New Zealand.
The Miners will open their NBL1 season on Saturday on the road against the Nunawading Specters, before hosting their home opener on 6 April in a double-header with the Rush against the Bendigo Braves at the Mars Miner Dome.
Following this the Miners enter a string of five straight games on the road, ending with a home contest against the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence on May 18 at the Miner Dome.