By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG Ranger Brayden Flanigan will trade in his green and gold for purple and white – fulfilling a dream to head over to North America and play college basketball.
Flanigan, 19, from Berwick, has been hard at work this season – practicing every morning with the Andrew Bogut Academy to get his skills up and the results have been significant enough to earn him a spot on the roster with Bishop’s University in Quebec, Canada.
“Basically I’ve been working hard ever since I started playing basketball – it’s been my dream to go over there,” Flanigan said.
“This year I’ve been working – got invited to attend the Andrew Bogut Academy – with a lot of other kids looking to go over to college
“Training every day from 6am-9am, working hard and got an email from the coach (Rod Gilpin) and he said he was interested and it went from there.
“It’s intense – hard stuff, but it’s good. Definitely – I think everyone all 12 of us have improved since the start of the year.”
His choice to become a Gaiter was a split decision – he could play and train with a premier college and also receive an Australian-workplace recognised college degree in his chosen field of kinesiology.
“A few schools here and there I was talking to, but Bishop’s seemed like the right school,” Flanigan said.
“The fact that their courses are recognised over here – I still get to play basketball and get an education.
“Playing quality basketball over there is great, but education is the sweetener.”
He’s not sure of his place in the pecking order on the roster – with the young point guard heading over half-way through the college season – but he hopes to earn his minutes and potentially gain the starter’s spot either this season or next year when he returns for his sophomore season.
“Not too sure – cause I’m going over half way through the season – It’s hard to get a spot and he (coach Gilpin) said see how you go and hopefully next season I can work for that spot.”
“Hopefully a starting five position and maybe win a championship in the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport).”
Highlights in his career so far include a Dandenong Rangers SEABL D-League (now Victorian Youth Championship) premiership in 2012.
Flanigan wanted to thank his coaches and Luke Sunderland for an opportunity to train at the Andrew Bogut Academy.
