I'm a Brisbane boy with a lifelong love for sports, particularly rugby league and the Brisbane Broncos, thanks to my father and grandfather. However, I wasn't always active in sports. A tough experience in primary school, where I was picked last in touch football, changed that. My mum's tough love encouraged me to practice more, leading me to join the school rugby team and make new friends.

Basketball entered my life at 12, and I played for Northside Christian College and the North Brisbane Dragons. Despite injuries, I still enjoy playing competitively. Aside from basketball, there's not many sports I haven’t given a go! I still enjoy playing Oztag competitively at both states and nationals level. As a proud Yuggera man, I’m still chasing the goal of representing the Australian Indigenous Oztag national side - this is a goal I want to achieve for both myself and my father.

What set me apart from other kids my age was how I experienced sports. From a young age, I would beg my dad to take me to the shops to buy VCR tapes so I could record games. I labelled each tape and rewatched the matches later - not just to relive the moments, but to study them. I couldn’t simply accept that a team won or lost; I needed to understand why a team won or lost.

My curiosity about the intricacies of sports naturally led me to basketball coaching at a young age. I began assisting with younger grades at my school when I was just 14 and haven’t looked back since. From 2008 to 2019, I coached at Northside Christian College, where I witnessed the incredible growth of the school's basketball program under Michael “Rocky” O’Neill, now the president of the NDBA. I look forward to coaching against Rocky and his Nets teams for seasons to come!

Beyond school coaching, I volunteered at the club level with the North Brisbane Dragons and Northside Wizards. After finishing school, I took on a paid coaching role at St Margaret’s, further deepening my experience. Currently, I’m the Head Coach for the senior boys’ and girls’ teams at Cannon Hill Anglican College, and I’m absolutely loving my time there.

My curiosity about basketball took a pivotal turn at the end of 2019 when I volunteered at an NBA skills camp run by Drew Hanlen during his visit to Australia. That experience opened my eyes to the gap in player development across the country and the gaps in my own ability to teach it.

Since then, I’ve thrown myself into the world of individual player development, working with various academies before launching my own - Element Basketball - at the end of 2023. It’s been an incredible journey, allowing me to work with a wide range of athletes, from kids picking up a basketball for the first time to professional players honing their craft.

I’ve always believed that basketball is more than just a game - it’s a powerful tool for teaching life lessons. My role as a trainer gives me the opportunity to work closely with individuals, helping them grow both on and off the court. It’s a job I’m truly passionate about.

Which brings me to the Sharks - why am I here?

Australia has a rich tradition of sporting clubs, and the idea of being part of one from the ground up was something that instantly excited me. When I looked at the basketball landscape on Brisbane’s Northside, I saw an opportunity to help build something good.

I’ve always admired the basketball culture in America, where players take pride in representing their schools and colleges. That sense of identity and community is something I’m passionate about creating with the Sharks. My goal is to build a club that fosters a safe, fun, and competitive environment for kids - and, hopefully, in the near future, adults - to play the game I love.

I want to create a club that, through its atmosphere, coaching, uniforms and overall experience, makes people want to be part of it. Whether you’re a highly skilled player or picking up a basketball for the first time, I want to build an environment where you don’t just belong - you thrive and have a great time in the process.

I’m incredibly confident that the vision I have for the Sharks will come to life, and that’s because of the amazing team I have around me. What started with just me, our Vice President - Ash Tuttle - and behind-the-scenes committee member Tim Henry has grown into a phenomenal group of individuals who not only share my values but also bring their own unique strengths to the table.

Our goal for our inaugural season was to reach 50 members - we hit 120. That kind of growth doesn’t happen without the dedication and hard work of our entire committee. When you see them around the NDBA, be sure to show some appreciation - these people go above and beyond, not just for the Sharks, but for the association as a whole.

I am extremely excited for what the future holds for the Albany Creek Shark!