After thinking long and hard, after weighing up all my options, I've decided to nominate for the NBA draft!

It was a really difficult decision, but I was pretty much in a win-win situation. I'm planning to go in, test the waters, get some feedback and if I don't get the feedback that I feel I need to be in the NBA, I can withdraw my name and come back to Saint Mary's for my third year.

I've been told a lot of stories about what people go through in this situation. It's going to be very hectic and I'll have to make a few sacrifices. I know my fellow Aussies Andrew Bogut and Nathan Jawai were flat out for a few months, but they did whatever they could to achieve their dream of playing in the NBA.

Andrew said to me, “There's an opportunity there for you mate, just take it with both hands.”

I'll put my body through whatever it takes to make sure I'm in the best possible position to get into the NBA. I've started working out, four sessions a day, six days a week. It's a lot of work, but it's going to be all worth it in the end.

I remember watching Michael Jordan on TV, when I was a little kid. I knew that the NBA was the highest form of basketball in the world. As a competitive person, you see the best league and you want to compete in it. I fully realised that when I was at the Australian Institute of Sport, but now that it's actually just around the corner, I have to say it's a little scary, but really exciting as well.

It's all a new experience for me, having to cope with everything outside of basketball, which can be distracting at times. As you can imagine, I've got a full plate at the moment, but I'm handling everything the best I can.

Wish me luck!
Patty