New Referee Administration Officer – Michael Lake
The Future Development Program (FDP) is the entry-level tier of the High Performance Program for athletes aged 12 – 13 years of age. The program focuses on the identification, support and development of athletes and on the development of aspiring elite coaches. The program aims to identify potential state and national representative athletes at an age where skill development is crucial to an athlete’s future playing career. We sent interview questions to all athletes selected in this year’s program to find out a little bit more about who motivates and inspires them on the basketball court and what they hope to get out of the program. This is the third round of interviews from our 2017 FDP athletes with more to come next week!
Claudia Colbert (Northside Wizards)
Who is your favourite coach and why?
Benita McLeod – Don’t let Neat’s kind nature fool you, because on the inside she is full of hard training sessions, wall sits, suicides, push ups & laps of the oval. However, in saying that, it is all to make myself and my teammate’s better players and individuals. Neat always puts her team first; she encourages strong team values and her positive energy transpires into our team spirit, which has led us to some of our best games. Neat has taught me the majority of the things I know about basketball and she has run me down to the core to make me a better player, and for that, I thank her.
Neat is more than a coach… she’s a friend, a teacher, an inspiration and most importantly, she is my #1 motivator.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
My basketball idol is Elizabeth Cambage. She started her career at just 16, which is so inspiring to me as it shows that age is no limit. She plays with such strength and determination and I love watching her play.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
I have really enjoyed the general intensity of training. The drills are so creative and I really enjoy doing something new every week. It is giving me a new approach to my training and with each session I am learning new skills and knowledge.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
Putting together all of the skills we have learnt and testing them in a game like situation. I am also looking forward to spending more time with the girls and getting to know them better.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
I was so fortunate to be given this opportunity, so I want to make the most of this time by utilising the coaches and their knowledge to challenge myself, train hard and improve my game.
Jordan Billing (North Gold Coast Seahawks)
Who is your favourite coach and why?
Shellie Trinder because she encourages me, helps me with all my skills and encourages me to become more confident in my game.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
Lauren Jackson because she has achieved so much and is positive role model.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
It is really challenging and you learn lots of new skills, meet new people and all the coaches are really encouraging.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
Non-stop basketball for 4 days! And being with all the girls.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
I hope to become a better player by learning new skills to use in game situations. Develop my skills and knowledge of the game.
Jaylon Beecroft (Cairns Basketball) 
Who is your favourite coach and why?
My favourite coach would have to be my dad Mark Beecroft because he challenges me and pushes me to my limits and tries to make me the best player I can be.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
A player that really inspires me is Isaiah Thomas because he is not the tallest player, actually he is one of the smallest players in the NBA at the moment, but that doesn’t bother him. He works hard and always pushes himself to play to the best of his ability. Not many people thought that he would make it to the NBA but he proved them wrong.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
I have enjoyed learning a lot of new skills and drills that will make me a better player.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
I am looking forward to being challenged by the coaches and the other players and hope that they push me and make me work hard. I’m also looking forward to seeing all of the talent that Basketball Queensland has to show in this age group. It’ll be great to meet a lot of new people from other associations and play against the best players in my age group.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
I am hoping to leave the FDP camp as a much improved player and a better leader. I’d like to get a better understanding of the skill level of the under 14 boys in Queensland and what it’s going to take to make it further.
Xavier Chio (South West Metro)
Who is your favourite coach and why?
Scott McKenzie – Representative South West Metro Pirates 2017 Coach & QBL Women’s Coach. Scott has identified each individual player’s strengths and used it accordingly throughout the games. He believed in my team and myself. He gave me the opportunity to contribute in the best way possible to the team.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
Michael Jordan. Most people like him because of his offence or his dunks, but I like him because of his work ethic and his excellence on and off the court. Here is one of my favourite quotes relating to me, “I can accept failure, but I cannot accept not trying.”
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
I have enjoyed playing and competing against some of the best players in the state. Also, I enjoy the challenge and intensity of the new drills.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
I am looking forward to making new friends and to learn as much as I can to improve my game. Hopefully it will prepare me for selection to the Queensland State teams for 2018 onwards.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
I am hoping to incorporate all the new skills into my game and take it to another level. I am eager to learn as much as I can from the high calibre of coaches as well as from the other players.
Lleyton Ward (Townsville Basketball)
Who is your favourite coach and why?
Rodney Anderson because he improved my overall skills and at the same time taught me how to be a better point guard and run a team.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
Patty Mills because he plays for Australia and he’s a guard that has good handles and shoots the ball really well. He proves that size doesn’t matter.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
Learning new skills & drills, training with different players and learning from different coaches.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
Meeting the other athletes from around Qld, competing against different players and challenging myself. Learning from a variety of different coaches and making new friends.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
Improving my skills, learning the BQ style of play, new training drills and overall improvement of my game.
Joshua Hughes (Northside Wizards) 
Who is your favourite coach and why?
Mik Scott, my Rep Coach. He is smart and very tactical.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
Mitch McCarron because he always tries his hardest at what he does. He gives it his all.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
Meeting new players and coaches. It’s always great to get to know others during programs like these.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
Building on the skills I already have and learning heaps of new things. The food should be good too!
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
Learning new skills and drills and fine-tuning the skills I have already developed.
Josie Josiah (Southern Districts) 
Who is your favourite coach and why?
My favourite coaching team is Jana and Nathan. I was coached by them when I was asked to participate in the Div 1 U16 girls Spartans team trainings. What I loved most about Jana was her passion and her drive for the game. Even though I was 2 years younger Jana still treated me like the rest of the girls. I ran the punishment, learnt the plays and did the consequences like everyone else. Another coach that has had a big impact on me lately is Aja Parham. She taught me how to be physically strong and helped me improve my mental ability. She would attend some of my rep games and then would focus on what I needed to work on during our next training. She was really positive and pushed me beyond my limits because she believed in me.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
A basketball player that inspires me is Jerome Randall. He is my idol because even though he is small in size he plays bigger than anyone else on the court. He has an impact on and off the court, just as I hope to have.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
What I’ve enjoyed so far about the FDP Program, is the competitiveness that each player brings. For example your not going to be the best at every drill but you still challenge yourself to be the BEST. I’ve enjoyed being challenged by other players, taking my skills to the next level and just improving in general.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
What I’m looking forward about the camp is using the new skills that I learn during the term against different players. Staying in a different environment and learning more about the game that I didn’t know. Taking things to the next level and going outside my comfort zone.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
What I hope to get out of being a part of the FDP Program is a strong mindset whenever I go for a trial, training or game. I’d like to become a bigger and better player. To always have a competitive mindset and the ability to push myself further, put in the extra work and be that 1% that make an impact.
Isabella Mulcahy (Burdekin Basketball) 
Who is your favourite coach and why?
Shanay Castello is my favourite coach. She has been coaching our Burdekin rep team for a while and this year we won Division 2 at Classics in Cairns.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
We go up to Townsville often and watch the Townsville Fire play when we can. I think Suzy Batkovic is the player who I most admire.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
We have only trained once so far but Brad Kaan (our coach) has showed us some new training techniques that I haven’t seen yet so that’s pretty good. He is really nice and positive all the time.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
Getting to train with and meet the girls who I usually play against. I don’t get to really know them when we are playing against them. I’m the only girl from the Burdekin so I’m a bit nervous not really knowing anyone.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
Just to learn new things and hopefully get a bit better at everything.
Lilly Walker (Townsville Basketball) 
Who is your favourite coach and why?
Olympian Trish Cockrem. Olympian Trish Cockrem inspires me to reach my goals & fulfil my dreams. She pushes me to my limits to get the very best out of my game.
Who is your basketball idol (player or coach) that inspires you?
Natasha Cloud from the Townsville Fire, because she is a strong and athletic team player.
What have you enjoyed about the FDP Program so far?
Having the opportunity to develop my skills and fitness.
What are you looking forward to about the U14 Camp?
Participating and training in the FDP with other athletes with the same passion for basketball and drive to better themselves.
What are you hoping to get out of being part of the FDP Program?
Measuring myself against other athletes and building on my strengths to gain knowledge of a healthy and fit lifestyle. Building new friendships.
If you are part of the 2017 FDP Program and would like to feature in our 2017 FDP Athlete Interview series, please email [email protected]
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