Mike Rose’s love for Australia has seen the star basketballer return to Australia for a fifth time, with the American is keen to show his new club what he can do.
Rose, who won the Big V state championship most valuable award last season with Knox, made an off-season switch to Hume City Broncos.
Arriving back in the country last week, Rose was quick to get down to work with the Broncos.
He said it was his friendship with Broncos coach Kelvin Bowers that attracted him to the club.
Bowers, who took over coaching the Broncos midway through last season, coached Rose at Bulleen Boomers in 2013.
“KB coached me in 2013 and it went really well,” he said. “We have a good relationship and I’m confident playing for him.
“He had a chat to me after last season … everything worked out and I decided it was a good fit.
“Him having the head job out here it, it made me want to come out and run out for him. It was a hard decision to make, but I don’t regret it.”
In the small time he’s spent with the Broncos, Rose has sensed a desire for a return to finals and to make an impact.
The Broncos just missed finals last year, with injuries derailing their season.
“We have only practised once together and they have something,” Rose said. “They want it as much as I do
“Everyone has been really welcoming, so it has helped a lot … they want to win the championship.
“The ambition is there from what I’m hearing. The girls have had a lot of success and the guys want to share in that, too.”
Coming off a season in which he averaged 22.4 points, six rebounds and three assists a game, Rose said his game still had room for improvement.
“You can always get better and play more consistent,” he said. “We’ve got a great group of blokes and some great shooters and the team as a whole will be dangerous.”
One of those scoring options is Lee Jeka, who was one of two players to average more points a game than Rose last season.
“It’s great to have a guy like that in the team,” Rose said.
“They have to decide whether to stop the drive or give up a three-point shot. He’ll be a great guy to pass off. too.”
Fellow import Trevor Clayton also returned to Australia last week.
Clayton is joining the Broncos from Corio.
He averaged 14.9 points a game last season, but it’s at the defensive end that he stands out.
He led the state championship division this season in average rebounds a game and had 81 more rebounds than the next best.
