Tara Murray
Chase Page is keen to have an instant impact at college in America.
The rising basketball star will head to Bluefield State College in West Virginia in July after signing on at the division 2 school.
Having dreamed of heading to college since his early teenage years, Page said he was keen to get over there.
“I’m a little bit nervous,” he said.
“Pretty much since year seven, college has been the end goal. I wanted to end up on the right path for my basketball.
“I had a few different colleges interested from division 1 and division 2.”
Page said it wasn’t an easy decision to select which college to attend, but made the decision to head to a division 2 school for one reason.
“I wanted to play my first year rather than sitting on the bench,” he said.
“It’s the right path for me. There were a lot of pros and cons everywhere. I was comfortable with the course being offered [at Bluefield] and the basketball program itself. They’ve made it feel like home.”
Page said he was the first Australian to join the Bluefield basketball program, with very few internationals having played there.
Basketball has also been something that Page has always played. It was about year seven that it became his sole focus.
“I used to do a lot of footy and swimming,” he said.
“I started playing [basketball] at Coburg and then went to Diamond Valley for juniors. I then played for Keilor Thunder youth league men last year.”
He was set to play for the Thunder in their inaugural National Basketball League 1 South season, but one of his greatest supporters had other ideas.
Shannon Bodley, the coaching director at the Whittlesea Pacers, asked Page would he play for the Pacers youth league side in the Big V competition.
“Shannon asked me if I would play for him,” he said. “He has helped me so much on the journey.
“I used to see him around basketball and I’m close to his family. We did some individual work and he became my trainer from there.
“He is like my second dad and we are very tight.”
Others involved in his basketball include his teachers at St Monica’s in Epping, where he graduated from last year.
He said he appreciated all the support that he had received along the way.
I also deeply appreciate everything the school, Mr Brian ]Hanley, Mr [John] Dorge, Mr [Matt] Sheens and Mr [Joel] Hocking have done for me on this journey as without them I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.
“Whilst being back coaching at the college these past few months I’ve loved having the opportunity to continue to connect with past staff members along with helping and giving back to the
[school’s] Basketball Academy.”
Academy director John Dorge said Page was reaping the rewards he deserves for all the hard work he has put into developing his basketball skills and we wish him well with this new endeavour.”
Page, who grew up in Reservoir, before moving to Mernda last year, leaves for America in July.
Between now and then he’s focused on helping the Pacers have a good season.
He is currently averaging nearly 23 points a game, the second most in the youth league 2 division.
Page is hoping this is just the start of a long basketball career.
“The end goal is to make the NBA,” he said.
“On the journey I’m happy to play professionally in the NBL and in Europe. Whatever comes on the way.”
