U17 Worlds a family affair for Australian Sam Froling
CANBERRA (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - The name Froling and FIBA U17 World Championship have been become synonymous over the years. And the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship is no different
CANBERRA (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - The name Froling and FIBA U17 World Championship have been become synonymous over the years. And the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship is no different as Australia's Sam Froling will likely become the fourth sibling in his family to play at the biennial spectacle.
The 2000-born Froling was selected among Australia's 12-man roster for this summer's U17 Worlds in Zaragoza from 23 June-2 July.
He follows in the footsteps of his older twin sisters Alicia and Keely Froling, who played at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women. And older brother Harry Froling helped Australia to a second placed finish at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship.
The youngest of the four siblings definitely got plenty of congratulations for making the Australian side, which will take on Canada, China and Finland in Group C in Spain.
Congrats to the little bro for making the U17 Aussie team to compete at worlds!!!! Another Froling for the world to see. 🏀🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 #aussie
— Harry Froling (@HarryFroling) May 4, 2016
Massive congrats to my youngest bro Sam!!! Such an exciting thing to be a part of! #worldchamps #aussie 💚🏀💛 https://t.co/ePwuDQLupT
— Alicia Froling (@AliciaFroling) May 4, 2016
Even family friend and long-time Boomers veteran Shane Heal, who played with the siblings’ father Shane Froling at the 1987 FIBA World Championship for Junior Men congratulated Sam’s achievement.
Well done Sam Froling. Taking after big sisters and @HarryFroling.....Huge talent! https://t.co/V9ngNfsxr0
— Shane Heal (@ShaneHeal) May 4, 2016
Sam Froling is the youngest child of Shane Froling, a Townsville Crocodiles great who played 20 years in the Australian NBL; and his wife Jenny, who was a star and four-time champion in the Australian WNBL.
The youngster, who will be a year younger than the rest of the competition in Zaragoza, admitted to the Townsville Bulletin that making the team for the U17 Worlds is a big deal - especially in his family.
I guess there is that bit of family rivalry. They’ve done it before and I always wanted to achieve the same thing. - Sam Froling
Froling is actually one of six 2000-born players on coach Mark Watkins' team, which features a total of eight players returning from last year's FIBA Oceania U16 Championship.
The team has great depth in each position and a good balance of guards and bigs. - Watkins
"Kyle Zunic, Lachlan Dent and Sean MacDonald will lead from the point guard position. Patrick Bines, Tom Fullerton, Dragan Elkaz, and Kody Stattmann are the wing players who all bring different skills in those positions," said Watkins.
"In the big man department, Mate Colina, Samson Froling, Kyle Bowen, Matthew Johns and Callum Dalton will be a big front line. The team is keen to represent their country with pride at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Spain in June."
Watkins selected the 12 players during a tryout with 16 athletes at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra at the AIS.
Watkins and the team will tour China with preparation games from 11-25 May and will also play a preparation tournament in Toulouse, France from 13-19 June before the U17 Worlds.
Australia 12-player roster for 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship: Patrick Bines, Kyle Bowen, Mate Colina, Callum Dalton, Lachlan Dent, Dragan Elkaz, Sam Froling, Tom Fullarton, Matthew Johns, Sean MacDonald, Kody Stattmann and Kyle Zunic.
FIBA