The GMHBA Ballarat Miners are excited to announce that young gun Sam Short has signed on for the next two SEABL seasons. Sam’s pathway from Ballarat’s Junior Program saw him play a big role for the Miners this year, and Melbourne United adding him to their roster for 3 years.
Short, a Ballarat local, grew up playing basketball early on Saturday mornings before moving his way through the Basketball Ballarat Junior Elite and Basketball Victoria Country High Performance pathways.
Short in just his second SEABL season played some pivotal roles with the Miners increasing his playing minutes from 16 to 21 per game.
Short spent much of last summer with Melbourne United as a training partner and his improvement definitely showed last season when he averaged 6.7 points, 3 assists and 3.7 rebounds a game which has doubled since his first season in 2016.
GMHBA Ballarat Miners Head Coach Nathan Cooper-Brown said “This was a key signing for us. Sam has shown through his high character, hard work, and passion, what he is capable of. It was essential we got him back, and I’m excited to see how he’ll be able to improve on a solid year in 2017. Being able to have local players represent us both at SEABL and NBL level is exactly why we have a junior elite pathway. It has been wonderful to see Sam’s dedication to this process rewarded. We can’t wait to see him back in a Miners jersey in 2018.”
On re-signing with the Miners Short said “we had such great group last year, Nathan’s appointment as coach and Pete (Peter Hooley) returning there is a real buzz about the team going forward” Short continued “Ballarat is where I want to play, Nathan proved in pressure moments last year he had what it takes to be a head coach and I am looking forward to further developing our game and club culture.”
Midway through the year Short signed on with Melbourne United as a development player, with this signing came opportunities with Short travelling to China with the team and playing in the NBL Blitz tournament.
Short is relishing his opportunities at Melbourne, training and playing with some of the best basketballers in the country. Saying “Getting the opportunity with Melbourne has been great for me, I am constantly learning and getting better and I hope I can transfer this back to Ballarat in the SEABL season.” Short added “Ballarat last year allowed me to travel with United to China midseason which gives me great confidence that the club not only provides me with opportunities but supports me in getting better and taking my game further”.
Basketball Ballarat Senior Elite Teams Miners Chair Simon Walshe said “Securing Sam for the next two years is fantastic for the program, not only is Sam a quality person and player he is a Ballarat local who wants to stay and knows that as a program we can help achieve his individual and team goals.”
Short will spend the summer down in Melbourne before returning to Ballarat at the completion of the Melbourne United season.
For more information on the GMHBA Miners or Ballarat Skoda Rush please contact Elite Teams Administrator Melissa Thomas via 5330 7604 or Melissa.Thomas@ballaratbasketball.com