Fullarton doesn’t want comparison to previous Australia teams

CANBERRA (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Australia have reached the Final of the last two FIBA U17 World Championship. But Tom Fullarton doesn't want this year's Aussies to be compared to previous successful editions.

The Australians worked their way to a final showdown with the United States in both 2012 and 2014, losing both times despite having the likes of Dante Exum and Ben Simmons on the team four years ago and Isaac Humphries and Dejan Vasiljevic at Dubai 2014. 

"Obviously, the groups before us did very well. But we don't look at them and look at us and compare ourselves to them," Fullarton said ahead of the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship. "We have a pretty solid group. I think we're in good shape now and we'll bring it in Zaragoza and try our best." 

Australia have their work cut out for them as they are drawn into a tough Group C with Canada, China and Finland. The team that finishes second then could end up facing the United States in the Quarter-Finals if USA win their Group A and reach the Last Eight. 

Regardless of whom Australia play, Fullarton believes his team is a strong unit.

"Our different aspects make us good. We had a pretty small team at (2015 FIBA) Oceania (U16 Championship), but we were really a run-and-gun team and good shooting," he said. "So I think being a quick, up-and-down, lock-down defensive team can really disrupt teams on defence and start our offence off that."

The 2.00m wing was the captain in Wellington at the qualifying tournament but there will be plenty of leaders in Zaragoza.

Obviously the groups before us did very well. But we don’t look at them and look at us and compare ourselves to them. - Fullarton

"They'll look at me as a leader since I was the captain of the previous team, but we have a good solid leadership group in this team."

Another reason the others on the team might look towards Fullarton is because he has already cut his teeth in international competition by competing at the 2016 Albert Schweitzer Tournament - a global U18 tournament held in Germany.

"Playing against the 1998s challenged us immensely and gave us a great learning curve," Fullarton said of the tournament in late March, where four others on Australia’s U17 roster also played - Mate Colina, Callum Dalton, Sam Froling and Kyle Zunic. 

"I learned to be strong with the ball. The tournament really highlighted the individual skills and parts of my game that I need to improve before I get to the U17 Worlds." 

Fullarton, a native of Buderim near Sunshine Coast, still has plenty to work on in his game. But he has a role model in fellow Australian Joe Ingles. 

Joe Ingles is a role model for 1999-born Australian Tom Fullarton

"I look up to Ingles as a player because of his passing ability. He’s a similar player to me, a tall guard who can shoot the ball," said Fullarton. 

He also is impressed by Ingles' path to the NBA and the Utah Jazz.

"His journey to get to the NBA was something special because he made it without going to college. I just want to make my own journey to the NBA."

Fullarton also wants to make his own journey deep into the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship - just like the past two Australia teams.

FIBA