Dallas eyes FIBA Basketball World Cup roster spot

Dallas Loughridge has been named as one of 19 athletes in the Australian under 19 squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup selection camp.

Dallas was named alongside the likes of Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals in the WNBL) Paige Price and Kelsey Rees (Indiana and Utah universities respectively) and will compete for the final roster spots at the FIBA World Cup which is set to be held in Hungary from August 7 to 15.

Dallas, 17, returned from a camp in February that helped her claim a spot in the final selection squad and said her training and game play has helped her prepare.

“I’ve been doing my training, as well as playing NBL1 for Dandenong and VJBL. They’re really high-level games and it’s good to play against really good players in preparation,” she said.

Dallas, who is in Year 11 at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, has to drive several hours a day in order to make her basketball and school commitments.

“I go to Wonthaggi in the morning for training, then to school in Warragul then basketball in Dandenong,” she said.

On making the final squad selection camp as a double bottom age player, Dallas is hoping to soak in every aspect of the four days to learn and grow for further opportunities down the road.

“I’m going up there thinking I have nothing to lose, and I’ll try my hardest and do the best I can. I love the camps, I just feed off the competitiveness and how professional it is,” she said.

Making the final roster of 12 would be something that Dallas has dreamt of since starting her basketball career.

“It would be just amazing, to have that Australian jersey with my name on the back and to represent the country would be awesome, it’s been a dream of mine,” she said.

The final team that will head to Hungary to play in the FIBA World Cup will be selected at a camp held at the AIS in Canberra from June 25-28.