The Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners are thrilled to announce Ross Weightman and Blake Allison have joined the squad as development players for the 2020 NBL1 South Season. Both Weightman and Allison will play important roles for the Ballarat Miners Youth in the Big V Youth League Champ Division and will be given the opportunity in the NBL1 South throughout the 2020 season.
Weightman will return for another season after debuting for the Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners in 2016 and was looking forward to playing at the Ballarat Sports Events Centre in 2020.
“Very excited and it’s going to be a great year. I’m really looking forward to the new stadium and especially the locker rooms.” Weightman said.
Weightman has been juggling university studies while playing with Ballarat but reflected on his experiences positively.
“It’s been a great experience studying at Federation University while also playing at this level. I’d encourage others who are looking to study and play at either Youth League or NBL1 level that it is manageable and the experiences that come with it are all worth while.” Weightman ended with.
CEO of Basketball Ballarat was thrilled to see Ross continue to play for both teams but also highlighted his ongoing community work while studying locally.
“A scholarship holder at Federation University Australia in 2019, Ross is a lead mentor for Basketball Ballarat, especially in area of mentoring students at Phoenix College and in supporting junior referees as they begin their training and on court development. As a local junior player who has worked his way through the sports pathways he is a great role model and is equally at ease working with emerging athletes, students and disengaged youth at risk.” Eddy said.
Blake Allison has also earned a position in the Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners Squad for the upcoming season as a development player. Allison played an important role for the Ballarat Miners Youth League Championship winning side in 2019 and is another example of an athlete willing to put in the work and be rewarded with the opportunity to play as a development player in the NBL1 South including regular games in the Big V Youth League.
“I am very very excited to be returning to Ballarat. Hopefully to go one better and play in an NBL1 South grand final this year. I’m looking forward to seeing all the faces that have become so familiar to me over the past year filling the new stadium as well as being able to learn from all the high calibre players and coaches that are in the competition.” Allison said.
Head Coach of the Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners Brendan Joyce was excited to have both Weightman and Allison continue to develop in the NBL1 South system while also committing to the Youth League too.
“Both Ross and Blake will continue to play youth league and be a part of our NBL1 Squad. Both players have continued to display a strong work ethic during training and are quality people. They play important roles as a part of our NBL1 squad and especially adding experience as two of the main players for our youth league team for 2020.” Joyce ended with.
Weightman and Allison are the first announced development players added to the Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners Squad joining signed players Short, Kuany, Acuoth, Fisher, Lingard, Dunmore, Joyce and Gibcus.
Basketball Ballarat will be hosting a Family Day thanks to Stockland Wendouree for the local Ballarat and Western Region at the Ballarat Sports Events Centre on Sunday March 22nd from 11-1pm with details to come.