GERALDTON Sun City Plumbing Buccanners put American recruit Ryan Zamroz through his paces in his first training session yesterday.

The Buccs are relishing the opportunity to join forces with their new kid on the block for the season start on Saturday, March 13.

A road trip to Bunbury to face South West Slammers gets the Buccs State Basketball League campaign underway followed by a game against Mandurah Magic the next day.

Zamroz, who arrived in Geraldton last week, said he has shaken off the jetlag had is ready to fire.

“I want to do all I can fir the team,” he said. “I presume I’ll be playing shooting guard but where ever I am on the court I’ll be doing everything necessary to help us win.”

As son to a basketball coach, its plain to see that Zamroz was practically born with a basketball in his hand.

After cutting the mustard in high School basketball, he decided to pursue his basketball dream at The Master College in Southern California.

He captained the team for three years and was a top 20 junior national.

Zamroz said playing against Amercia’s top college players has been the highlight of his career so far.

“Playing division one college basketball was big deal for me,” he said. “I felt privileged to play against so many top-class players.”

Memphis Grizzlies NBA star OJ Mayo is just one of the exciting youngsters Zamroz locked horns with during his time at Masters.

Zamroz stint in the SBL will be his first outing a professional. He said offers from clubs in his ancestral nation of Italy were also put on the table but the Buccs was his number one choice.

“Once I realised I had the ability to travel the world with basketball I wanted to do it,” he said. “The Buccs came in and were really positive and the made it possible which was why I chose to come here.”

The Buccs first home game is against Wanneroo Wolves on Saturday, March 20.

Article by Thomas Davis (Geraldton Guardian)