ADELONG’S Amelia Hassett is about to return to the United States for the next chapter of her dream career in basketball.
Amelia, now 20, started playing when she was just 6, mainly because her brother was playing, and played in the Tumut competition, before going to Wagga and Cootamundra and then Albury.
“In year 12 I thought maybe I wanted to go to America,” she said.
“I went through an agent, and she helped get my name out there in American and I decided to go to junior college just to see if I liked it, and see what type of basketball was over there and went, and loved it,” she said.
She first played with Eastern Florida State College, and it was an incredible experience.
“It was amazing,” she said.
It was the first time she’d been overseas. As it is a junior college, she could only stay and play for two years.
“I had to find another school, and obviously I wanted to go to a division one, higher level school,” she said.
“I was recently committed to Virginia Tech, and then the coach decided he was going to take a job in Kentucky, so he asked me to come with him, so I’m going on June 19 to Lexington, Kentucky,” she said.
She’ll be playing in the NCAA Division One, in the SEC Conference, a high level indeed.
“I’m very excited,” she said.
She’ll be playing in the power forward position, shooting threes and being able to get rebounds on the offence and defence being among her strengths.
This latest chapter is part of a dream come true for Amelia, and she admits is feels surreal at times.
“It’s crazy to see, everything that’s happening, coming from such a small town.”
Her family are right behind her.
“They are very supportive,” she said.
“Mum and Dad have come over a few times, which is great. My brother hasn’t come over yet but I’m hoping that he will.”
She has made plenty of good friends playing in America.
“I’ve made a lot of good friends in the past two years,” she said.
“Obviously a lot of international girls which is great, and going to Kentucky now; I know a few girls going there, but obviously I’ll make more friends, which will be good. There’s another Aussie there from Melbourne; she’s been with the coach for four years, so this is her fifth year.”
She is hoping to play at Kentucky for the next two years, and is hoping to then get drafted or maybe go to play in Europe.
“And hopefully play for Australia one day,” she said.
She hasn’t forgotten where she comes from, and is enjoying her time in Adelong.
“It’s always great to go home,” she said.
