Norton's international pride

The Australia Select team that has been named to take on Japan in the Nissay Cup is packed with youth, but will be led by two veteran facilitators of the NBL.

Mitch Norton and Mitch McCarron will head into camp alongside the likes of Next Stars Rocco Zikarsky and Alex Toohey, college talents Reyne Smith and Alex Condon, and soon-to-be NBL rookies Elijah Pepper and Keli Leaupepe.

Norton’s progression to the squad is the latest in a line of achievements for the Bullet, who found himself in the NBL wilderness following the cancellation of his contract by the Perth Wildcats at the end of NBL23.

The two-time NBL champion is currently representing NBL1 North side Southern Districts and says the opportunity to line up for his country is always too good to pass up.

“Representing the country is unbelievable,” Norton told Bullets Media. “There’s no better feeling than standing arm in arm with your teammates while the national anthem is playing.

“To play against a nation in their home country as well is going to special, and we have a really good, young group which I’m excited to be a part of.

“I’m really proud to be announced in the squad and it’s a small achievement for the hard work I put in throughout the NBL season, so I have a lot of teammates to credit and coaching staff who have helped me out along the way.”

Norton’s Southern Districts Spartans currently sit tenth in NBL1 North game, with a 3-4 record, and are being led by the guard and his Brisbane teammate Tyrell Harrison.

Harrison was initially representing NZNBL side Manawatu and will be involved in his own national side’s Olympic campaign, as the Tall Blacks look to qualify for their first Games since 2004, through a tournament that will feature Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece and Karl-Anthony Towns’ Dominican Republic.

Norton himself has played in four of the Spartans’ seven games, including his side’s 42-point dismantling Shaun Bruce and the Logan Thunder.

He says he’s relishing the opportunity to play off-season basketball for the first time, in a long time.

“It’s my first off-season playing in NBL1 – I played QBL many, many years ago – but that’s been a big change for me. It’s good to keep the body moving,” he said.

“Playing with Tyrell and guys like that in NBL1 allows us to create a better bond and connection on the floor so that’s one part of it, but another part is just growing my game offensively, being a bit more of a scorer at times whereas in the NBL I’m a bit more of a facilitator and defender.

“I’m trying to expand my game and showcase what I can do, and hopefully it translates to the NBL.”