Short Signs with NBL’s Melbourne United

Exciting young Ballarat GMHBA Miners player Sam Short has today been announced as the latest player signed by Melbourne United for the upcoming National Basketball League season.

Short, 19, also becomes the second Miners player in two weeks to be signed to the Melbourne United 12 man roster.

The talented Short choose the Australian basketball pathway over the US College system to pursue his dream of becoming a professional basketball player of the future.

Short began his basketball career with the Wildcats and Exies Acmy at the local club level and has played in the Ballarat Junior Elite Program from the U/12 age group. He has represented Country Victoria, Victoria and Australia multiple times in an illustrious junior career.

2016 was a break out year for Short when he was selected to represent Victoria at the 2016 Under 20 Australian Junior Championships as a bottom age player where the team won the Gold Medal and then a month later headed to Germany for one of the most significant International basketball tournaments for junior male athletes.

The renowned international U18 Albert Schweitzer Tournament is the only world junior championship for this age group and is played every 2 years between 12 nations. The tournament has a great history and has grown into the strongest junior competition for this age group.

This international tour provided Short with a quality learning experience which assisted in his development as an elite international basketball player. Past Australian players such as Andrew Bogut, David Andersen, Patrick Mills and Matthew Dellavedova have greatly benefitted from this tournament.

In 2017 Short won a Bronze Medal at the Australian U/20 National Championship then represented the Australian Emu’s at the U/19 World Championship Oceania qualification event.

He was also offered a training position with Melbourne United last NBL season.

“Having played for Ballarat from a young age I have learned a sense of pride in what it means to represent my town and the dedication, discipline, sacrifices, and work ethic required to make it to the next level” Short said today.

He added that “transitioning into the senior elite teams as well as representing my state and my country has taught me the professionalism needed on and off the court to be successful”.

“I’m very appreciative of all the coaching and support I have continually received from Basketball Ballarat and our local community and I can’t wait for the year ahead”.

Short made his return to the Miners program last weekend after injuring his ankle in the pre-season. He is a quality acquisition to the Miners roster.

Ballarat GMHBA Miners coach Eric Hayes feels that this career changing opportunity is very well deserved. “We are very proud of Sam and his growth and development from junior club basketball through to senior basketball. Sam has put in so much work over many years and made many sacrifices to achieve at a very high level so this is testament to his effort and mental toughness.

We look forward to watching and helping Sam develop this year in the SEABL program as he starts his transition to the NBL”. Coach Hayes said.

Basketball Ballarat CEO Peter Eddy said that “Short was a great role model for all of the Associations junior players. He is a respectful, talented athlete who works hard to continue to improve his game” “The opportunities Sam has had in recent years and this latest role with Melbourne United are truly a fitting reward for effort”, Eddy said.