Jonah’s whale of a goal.

The slight teenager basketballer, who attends Carroll College, Broulee, was selected for last year’s National Scouting Report’s pathways program.

Talent scouts look for athletes and send video footage of their performance to colleges in America.

“You have to send new footage every year to show how you’re progressing, and then the coaches that want you will reply to NSR, and NSR will work to find the best college for you,” Jonah explained.

“Last year we got a letter asking me to come to a trial in Canberra,” he said.

“So we drove to Canberra, me my grandmother and my uncle, there were a hundred plus people there … and a few weeks later we got an email saying I made it.

“I was a bit nervous, I didn’t think I was going to make it in at first. but then I got the email. I was pretty happy, I was excited,” he said.

“I thought it was a joke at first,” Nan Robyn Albert said.

“But they’ve been really supportive of him, emailing him all the time wanting to see how he’s going.

“The best thing about this is that he’ll have the support right through, so when he finishes year 12 here, if all goes well, they’ll still support him over there,” she said.

It’s not a done deal yet, though. Jonah still has mile stones to reach.

“It’s going to be an interesting next couple of years,” Ms Albert said.

“They’ll be looking at his profile overall, school records, performance, capabilities, style ...

“With the young ones, they need to have a goal in front of them that they can head towards.

“He knows he’s got to get out and do part-time work, even wheeling trolleys or whatever, it’s all an experience. If Jonah wants it, he’s got to do it with no mucking around, and we’ll be behind him no matter what.”

Jonah is just excited about the ride: “I’m not really scared about moving; I’m pretty excited.” 

“They send videos  to show us what it’s like in college. It’s really different. If I’m good enough, hopefully, I’ll make it to the NBA, or I can come back here … I’m just going to see where it takes me.

Asked if he has aspirations to be a second Patty Mills, he was characteristically humble, but optimistic “hopefully”.

Nan’s final words?

“Not many people know our kids are excelling; It’s like a wake-up call, and it shows people these kids can do it,” she said.

“It’s just having the opportunity, and the support, and working at it. We’re proud of him.”