Batemans Bay basketball players Jeremy Harding and Lavhy Franchi strutted their stuff on the American stage last month as part of the annual Team Oz tour to the West Coast.
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Harding, 19, and Franchi, 16, played on two of the three teams that Team Oz sent to the states between July 7 and July 24.
Jeremy was captain of the gold team, while Franchi played for the white team.
Both teams played two tournaments: one in Anaheim and one in Las Vegas.
Harding's gold team won the West Coast Elite International World Championships in Anaheim, beating teams from Brazil and Japan on its way to the trophy.
The tournaments were played in front of college coaches and scouts looking for talented athletes to play in the NCAA program.
This was Harding's third trip to the United States, one he believed was superior to the previous two.
"The basketball we played was a lot better, and we won a lot more games this year (12 out of 14)," he said. "The other two teams were amazing, but this gold team really came together and played fantastic basketball. I'm really proud of them.
"I did put some pressure on myself to make sure I was setting an example for the other guys, both on and off the court, and trying to lift everyone.
"The level of basketball we played was fantastic, and there were some really tough teams over there."
Harding said team bonding was one of his favourite parts of the trip, and was full of praise for Lavhy.
"Everyone came together, and we were all hanging out as a collective rather than separate teams," he said. "Everyone had a great time.
"Lavhy was fantastic over there. The level he played at was so much better than what I've seen from him back here.
"He did everything he possibly could as a point guard. He was a facilitator and scorer, and he played great defence.
"He was easily one of the top players for his team."
Harding made the trip with his parents Nick and Carolyn, which helped him feel more comfortable in a foreign land.
"I didn't hang out with my parents that much, but it was nice being able to talk to them every day and spend some time with them," he said.
Harding said he hopes to make his fourth TeamOz trip next season, but it would depend on where he is next year.
"My plan at this stage is to move down to Melbourne with (his brother) Darcy, and try to play for a youth-league team down there," he said.
"If that falls through, I'll consider going back to Shoalhaven, or possibly Illawarra."