Posted on 10 October, 2008
Key Cobra with a liking for Chinese
BY ERIN BULL
7/10/2008 12:22:00 PM
KILSYTH Cobras’ basketballer Gerard Leonard has travelled around the country and been part of a number of teams during his basketball career.
This week, the 27 year old is competing in China as part of the Australian Club Championships representative team.
Leonard, of The Basin, has been playing basketball for about 21 years and with Kilsyth Cobras for the past 18.
Speaking to the Journal last week, Leonard said the competition in China “should be a good experience”.
He was eager to learn more from the team’s coach and ex-teammate, Andrew Gaze, and play alongside Kilsyth teammate Joe Werner.
“The competition should be really good … and a chance to meet some new players that I usually play against.
“We will have to put on a Kilsyth show for the Chinese crowds with the customary Leonard to Werner alley-oop, what some people have likened to that of Gaze to Copeland in the ’90s.
“I played with Andrew in his last season of the Tigers and he’s a lot of fun. What you see is what you get with him. You always want to try and perform well, because a lot of the guys would have looked up to him.”
The ACC team will play four games against teams in the China Basketball Association. “It’s a huge basketball nation. They absolutely love it so you get massive crowds. You’re treated like rock stars.”
When he’s not taking to the court, Leonard enjoys coaching the juniors at Kilsyth and spending time with his teammates. “Advice that I give to a lot of young, up-and-coming basketballers is to stick with it, work hard and keep trying to make your dreams come true.”
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