2013 U23 MEN’S WHEELCHAIR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER - AUSTRALIAN PLAYER PROFILES MICHAEL AUPRINCE (4.0) Peakhurst, NSW Age 20 Australian Debut 20 year old Michael Auprince is a dual Paralympic Medallist, but not in wheelchair basketball. A born athlete Michael picked up two medals in the pool in London and now switches his focus to wheelchair basketball. Auprince is a big man with a post-up game as good as any and he will be valuable if selected to go to Turkey. JORDAN BARTLEY (4.0) Cleveland, Qld Age 18 First represented Australian U23 Fazza Cup 2012 (Dubai) Jordan has had huge wraps on him for a number of years and with Rollers big man Bill Latham unavailable for the majority of the 2012 National Wheelchair Basketball League season, a then 17 year old Bartley shouldered the bulk of responsibility for the RSL Queensland Spinning Bullets. Jordan plays a physical style of game and is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with bigger, more experienced opponents. JANNIK BLAIR (1.0) Horsham, Vic Age 21 First represented Australia - U23 World Champs July 2009 (Paris) First represented the Rollers at World Challenge Aug 2009 (Canberra) The most capped player in the U23s squad, Jannik will be looked to as a leader for this team. The Dandenong guard has taken his game to the next level in the past two years and broke into the starting five for the Australian Rollers in their silver medal winning campaign in London. Solid defensively and works hard for his forwards, opposition teams cannot leave him unguarded as he is a genuine scoring threat. MARCUS CHIAVELLI (1.0) Yarrambat, Vic Age 20 Australian Debut Marcus Chiavelli is a super exciting prospect that has national coaches salivating. A born athlete with an exceptional work ethic, Marcus is not only new to the game of wheelchair basketball, but new to his wheelchair as well. First noticed at the Kevin Coombs Cup in 2012 in his first basketball tournament, his development has been fast tracked it won’t be long until Marcus is pulling on the green and gold in the senior team. Expect him to play big minutes with this team. BRADLEY FISHER (3.5) Kingston, Tas Age 21 Australian Debut Joining the Wollongong Rollerhawks in 2011 for his rookie season, Brad Fisher is two for two when it comes to National Wheelchair Basketball League championships. Competition is tough for spots in the Wollongong line-up but Fisher has proved he can hold his own in a very physical league. Brad was also a starter for the NSW U21 team that won gold at the 2012 Kevin Coombs Cup and if selected, will pull on his first green and gold jersey in Turkey. CLARENCE GROGAN (4.0) Greenwich, NSW Age 19 First represented Australian U23 Fazza Cup 2012 (Dubai) Clarence “CJ” Grogan is a naturally gifted athlete. The Sydney Wheelkings have built their offence around CJ and it saw them playing off for bronze in the National Wheelchair Basketball League in 2011 and 2012 with CJ named as the Wheelkings MVP for season 2012. Originally from the Northern Territory CJ’s biggest strength is his perimeter shooting. KAYL JEFFERY (2.5) Stratton, WA Age 22 First represented Australian U23 Fazza Cup 2012 (Dubai) Selected to attend Australian Rollers Training Camp in Verase in 2013 Kayl has the ability to break games apart with his sheer speed. A member of the Be Active Perth Wheelcats for a number of years, including their championship teams in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Kayl will be vitally important at the defensive end of the floor. Kayl has also been recognised as an emerging talent in wheelchair basketball with his invitation to Verase with the Rollers later this year. JAKE KAVANAGH (3.0) Ballajura, WA Age 18 First represented Australian U23 Fazza Cup 2012 (Dubai) Jake can only be described as a basketball junkie. He lives and breathes the sport and has been rewarded in the past two National Wheelchair Basketball League seasons with a regular spot in the Be Active Perth Wheelchats line-up. Training under the tutelage of Rollers star Shaun Norris, Jake has a silky smooth outside shot and his 6’4’’ wingspan also makes him a threat in the paint. RYAN MORICH (4.5) Manning, WA Age 19 Australian Debut If there was one characteristic to describe Ryan Morich it would be work ethic. What the young forward lacks in height, he makes up for in intensity. Ryan has a terrific attitude towards the game and does his best work in the paint and on the boards. Ryan names Rollers captain and stalwart Brad Ness and his idol and wears his old jersey number for the Be Active Perth Wheelcats. TOM O’NEILL-THORNE (3.0) Darwin, NT Age 15 First represented Australian U23 Fazza Cup 2012 (Dubai) Selected to attend Australian Rollers Training Camp in Verase in 2013 Plain and simple, Tom O’Neill-Thorne is the future of wheelchair basketball in Australia. Hailing from the Northern Territory and now with a regular spot in the RSL Queensland Spinning Bullets team in the National Wheelchair Basketball League, there isn’t much that Tom doesn’t do well. He has speed, agility, buckets for hands and is a quality finisher. LUKE POPLE (2.5) Dapto, NSW Age 21 First represented the Rollers at World Challenge Aug 2009 (Canberra) Luke had a breakout year in 2009 and was justly rewarded with a call up into the Rollers senior team for the 2009 World Challenge in Canberra. After stints in Italy with Porte Torres, there is no doubt that Luke has taken his game to the next level. Luke’s been starting five for the Wollongong Rollerhawks in both of their championship teams (2001 & 2012) He has a head for the game and is a threat from long range. COLIN SMITH (1.5) Age 21 First represented Australia U23 World Champs July 2009 (Paris) First represented the Rollers at the World Challenge 2009 (Sydney/Canberra) A part on the Wollongong Rollerhawks back to back National Wheelchair Basketball League Championships in 2011 and 2012 where he played a key role in the starting five and was selected in the league’s all start five in 2011. Colin has always been a promising junior and debuted for the senior team at the Rollers World Challenge in 2009. *Classification Explanation: The number following each player’s name is their Classification Number. To play in state, national and international competitions, players are classified based on their functional ability from 1.0 to 4.5 points. The higher the number, the higher the functional ability. Each team is allowed to have 14 points on the court at any time. .