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Gael Down Under
Aussie freshman is an unlikely star for a small Catholic college
If hoops fans are inclined at all to think of the West Coast Conference, they're thinking of Gonzaga — another small Catholic school, this time in eastern Washington. Gonzaga famously gave the basketball world John Stockton. But down at Saint Mary's, in the small Bay Area town of Moraga, a new Left Coast hoops legend is taking form.
Patty Mills is Australian. Not a lot of Aussies are starring in American hoops. More significant than that, he's indigenous. Outside of Australian Rules Football and track, not a lot of the country's indigenous persons are starring in sports, even at the local level.
Long before Patrick Mills, 19, came to America, his parents established a team of young indigenous athletes called the Shadows. Their son had joined by age four. He took to the game naturally, even though he would not grow past six feet in height. At 12, he became ballboy for the Canberra Cannons of Australia's major professional league. Cannons star David Patrick took Mills under his wing, and from there the youngster's trajectory skyrocketed. Before leaving for the States, Patty Mills became the youngest person ever to play for his nation's national team, the Boomers.
Lauren Jackson of the WNBA's Seattle Storm and Andrew Bogut of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks remain America's biggest basketball names from the land down under. But last month Mills made his mark when he scored 37 points against a far more experienced Oregon squad. This upset — WCC teams rarely defeat Pac-10 teams — raised a few eyebrows and forced watchers to consider the six-footer's game.
Patty Mills is Australian. Not a lot of Aussies are starring in American hoops. More significant than that, he's indigenous. Outside of Australian Rules Football and track, not a lot of the country's indigenous persons are starring in sports, even at the local level.
Long before Patrick Mills, 19, came to America, his parents established a team of young indigenous athletes called the Shadows. Their son had joined by age four. He took to the game naturally, even though he would not grow past six feet in height. At 12, he became ballboy for the Canberra Cannons of Australia's major professional league. Cannons star David Patrick took Mills under his wing, and from there the youngster's trajectory skyrocketed. Before leaving for the States, Patty Mills became the youngest person ever to play for his nation's national team, the Boomers.
Lauren Jackson of the WNBA's Seattle Storm and Andrew Bogut of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks remain America's biggest basketball names from the land down under. But last month Mills made his mark when he scored 37 points against a far more experienced Oregon squad. This upset — WCC teams rarely defeat Pac-10 teams — raised a few eyebrows and forced watchers to consider the six-footer's game.
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