Geraldton basketball young gun Max De San Miguel, 16, makes WA country U18 team for national championships

Geraldton basketball star Max De San Miguel will be jetting off to Queensland at the end of next week as a member of the WA Country under-18 State team to compete at the national championships. Max, freshly turned 16, has been picked in the under-18 WA country team, with his skills impressing selectors during his multiple trips down to Perth for trials. He said the love of the game kept him going back down for more, to achieve his goal of making the team. “Training for the nationals is a huge commitment with months of travel and hours of training,” he said. “But I love the challenge and it has given me the opportunity to train with both great coaches and players from all over WA.” Max has been playing the sport he loves from the age of seven, inspired by his dad’s love of the game. His dad, Kody, recalled times when Max would spend hours outside perfecting his game. “From the early days, I could tell he had a strong work ethic,” Kody said. “I remember at about age 12 Max really put his foot down and took it seriously. “He would spend hours upon hours outside shooting and working on his game.” That work ethic hasn’t changed, with Max putting in countless hours before and after school into basketball while tackling Year 11 ATAR studies. He has managed to keep a balance, working closely with the Geraldton Buccaneers and the multiple basketball programs in town. He said the opportunities that had been given to him in town had allowed him to grow as an athlete. “I have been really lucky to have had amazing coaches both locally and at the State level,” he said. “They have all helped me develop my game, grow as a player and I will be forever grateful for them putting so much time and effort into training me.” Max said the news was a welcome announcement after years of hard work and unwavering dedication. “Making the under-18 country men’s team has been a goal of mine and something I have been working towards for the last few years,” he said. “Representing WA is a privilege and I feel honoured to have been able to do this for the past three years.” The teenager said he continued to work with the Geraldton Buccaneers with players he looked up to as a kid. “At the moment I am training with the Buccaneers and getting to play and train alongside players I have looked up to and grew up watching is amazing,” he said. “In the future I hope to continue with basketball, wherever that may take me.” Max will be flying out next Friday, with the national championships taking place from April 6 to April 13 in Brisbane.