Ben Guthrie, who was an academy scholarship holder this year, will be joined by close mate and fellow Coota Cougars under 16s representative player Zac Oliver in 2010.

The pair were notified of their inclusion in the sought-after academy after a series of selection trials which culminated late last month.

The program will see the duo travel at least once a month for two-day training camps, while they’ll also be required to attend carnivals as part of the academy squad.

Having gained first hand experience of the aims and

objectives of the academy this year, Ben is looking to enhance his understanding of what it takes to become a better player.

“There is a lost of emphasis on skills and fitness, but the underlining message is all about team spirit,” Ben said.

“We had some great coaches this year including Ray Brady and Debbie Evans who have an excellent knowledge of the game and they will be involved again next year.”

It has been a meteoric rise for Ben who, prior to moving to Coota at the beginning of last year with his parents Peter and Jean and younger brother Blake, hadn’t played competition basketball.

“I played for the school team back in Nowra, but not in a structured comp,” he said.

“When I first went to the academy there were kids there who had been playing since they were six or seven, so it’s been a huge learning curve for me.”

Zac was always going to be a potential basketballer - his genes saw to that.

The son of Cootamundra Blues legend Don Oliver, whose wife Tracey also played basketball in her younger years, Zac’s height is a huge advantage as he mixes it with the best of them in the paint.

Having played rep basketball for Coota, Zac has an

understanding of what it’s going to take to step up to the next level.

“I expect the training to be more intense, a lot faster and more skillful than what I am used to,” Zac said.