SOME of Basketball Geelong’s smallest and youngest players have become the biggest stars.

Thanks to Woolworth’s Fresh Food Kids campaign, six/seven local hoopsters are featuring on billboards on some of Victoria’s busiest roads.

The youngsters, who are all members of Basketball Geelong’s excellent Aussie Hoops program, are Nicholas Koroneos, Drew Green, Molly Green, Patrick Sweet, Fraser Thomson and Mia Doherty.

The BG kids were chosen to feature in the Woolworths campaign after BG was fortunate enough to receive one of the Woolworths Fresh Food Kids campaign grants (worth $4000) to buy basketballs for its successful Aussie Hoops development program.

Not only are the children featured on billboards that are located in places such as the Princes Hwy at Norlane (near the Ford factory) and Laverton, and on the Bolte Bridge in Melbourne, but Nicholas Koroneos has become a familiar face to many shoppers.

Nicholas’s beaming smile greets shoppers at check-outs in several Woolworths and Safeway supermarkets around Geelong, Melbourne and Australia.

``This is a brilliant initiative by Woolworths and we’re amazed at the exposure it has provided basketball and Basketball Geelong,’’ BG president Frank Morrissy said.

``The money from the grant is important and we’re thrilled to be recognised by Woolworths.

``The grant will help our Aussie Hoops program continue to grow and the feedback we have been getting about the billboards and the point-of-sale advertising has been extraordinary.

``The image from the kids and Woolworths is so positive and to be associated with a company and brand like Woolworths is fantastic.’’

In all, Woolworths has made $2 million available to grass roots sports and community groups to develop initiatives for primary school-aged children.

The purpose of the Fresh Food Kids program is to send a positive and practical message about fresh food to children and their parents.

``We know many communities are already developing ideas and activities that promote a healthy lifestyle for children and we want to assist such groups achieve success,’’ Marty Hamnett, Woolworths general manager supermarket operations said.

``Fresh Food Kids is the natural extension of our work with children and with the fresh food industry.’’

Other sports organisations in the Geelong region to receive grants were Lara Auskick, North Geelong Junior Football Club, Bell Post Hill Football Club (junior section), Little River Junior Football Club and Saints Baseball Club.