East Perth Eagles centre Tom Jervis believes the lessons he learned from his shock call-up to the Australian Boomers camp can help him earn the final place on the Perth Wildcats roster.

Jervis was selected in the Boomers squad for their training camp in Perth last week, an experience he described as "unbelievable".

And the youngster hopes that time with the national team can give him the edge in his competition with several other State Basketball League players the Wildcats have said are in contention for the 10th spot on their full-time roster, including Wanneroo's Greg Hire and former Geraldton star Everard Bartlett.

"I got so much out of it (the Boomers training camp), I can't explain how much it's done for me. The amount I was able to pick up from working with those guys and the coaching staff was just amazing," Jervis said.

"I learned about hard-work and the level of intensity those guys bring to the table. Everything was just an extra step above what I was used to.

"My time with the Boomers has given me confidence, but I've still got to work as hard as everyone else to prove that I deserve that spot with the Wildcats.

"I do have things that I really need to work on, strength-wise and conditioning-wise, but as far as skill sets go I think I would be able to play in the NBL. It would be a dream come true."

Jervis has played an integral role in East Perth's surge up the SBL ladder, averaging 20.4 points and 16 rebounds per game from 20 appearances, and he said his performance is largely down to the time he spent training with the Wildcats last season.

"I can't describe how much I have improved just from being with the Wildcats," he said.

"It's a shame I didn't get to be with them at the start of last year, because who knows where I could be now if I was there from the get-go.

"There's little things I've got to work on to try to make myself better, but I'd like to think that I could hold my own in the NBL already."

And Wildcats assistant coach Shawn Dennis said the NBL side would closely consider him for the final roster spot.

"A guy like Tom brings something we don't have. If he can go away and make that commitment, he's a guy who can really push for that last spot," Dennis told SBL Radio on SportFM 91.3.

"Tommy did a tremendous job early in the week (in the Boomers camp) but as the week went on he just didn't have the physical conditioning to maintain it.

"What I would hope is that Tommy got a real taste of it, because he did do well, and goes away and has that real motivation to push himself.

"He's still got to lift his fitness if he's going to get his last spot ... but it's a wide open competition."

Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Darren Speedie (Vision Inspired Photography)

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