BASKETBALL
FIBA
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
IT’S been an even bigger month than usual for Traralgon’s Will Hamilton.
A year on from representing his country for the first time, he has been selected to the Australian Goannas Under-17 Men’s team, while it was also announced that he would be joining the men’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) program in Canberra.
This news comes almost immediately after he claimed gold with Australia at the 2025 FIBA U16 Asia Cup following a 27-point smashing of China in the final, with Hamilton scoring 16 points and eight rebounds.
In the Crocs historic fourth consecutive gold medal finish, Hamilton also claimed All-Star Five honours as one of the best players during the September tournament held in Mongolia.
After being selected alongside a plethora of other young basketball stars following a training camp held at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Hamilton made the final cut for the U17 team and now prepares to take on the best of what this side of the world has to offer.
Held in Samoa from December 8 to 13, the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships launches an exciting window for these talented and hopeful players, as a pathway towards the 2027 FIBA U19 World Cup.
The young athletes participating and competing during this time will progress to the Australian Emus (U19) side for next year and beyond.
Just two bottom-aged players remain from last year’s gold medal team, now entering the Goannas U17 side, being Hamilton and two-time teammate Luke Paul.
The Australian Goannas will be led by Brenton O’Brien at the upcoming Oceania Championships.
Hamilton already has experience on the world stage, taking part in the FIBA U15 Oceania Cup last November, where Australia claimed its third consecutive gold medal at the tournament.
The Traralgon star was so good that he claimed MVP (Most Valuable Player) honours for his play across the week, averaging 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
The performance at the tournament, plus being a part of the 2025 National Performance Camp at the CoE with Basketball Australia, led to his inclusion in the nation’s top junior basketball program.
Dedicated to developing the next generation of future Australian Boomers and Opals, the CoE has developed the likes of Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills, Traralgon’s Jade Melbourne, and Mirboo North’s Belinda Snell.
Who knows what the future holds for Hamilton.
It’s been a busy year for Hamilton, having played for Vict Country at the Aus Junior Championships in April, helping them break a 35-year drought to win gold, and also won the Australia Country Junior Championships with the U18 Victorian Bushrangers.
