Tara Murray
Mill Park’s Max Tatter is hoping his experience at an international high school and post graduate sports performance training and education academy will take his basketball to the next level.
Tatter has recently committed to the SPIRE Academy in Geneva for his postgraduate studies and to be part of their post graduate tea
The academy is located within a world class event and wellness complex.
Fellow Australian Anthony Gomes was part of the post grad team this prior season and recently committed to Wooster College in Ohio.
Tatter said unlike many people who travel abroad to study and combine sport, this is only something new he considered.
“It wasn’t always my dream to go to America, but I decided it was the best thing to do for my potential career,” he said.
“A friend and mentor connected me with spires head coach and had me work out and develop until I was ready to go.
“I am hoping it will lead me to a full college scholarship to study and play basketball in the US. I will likely major in business-finance or marketing.”
Tatter started playing basketball when he was five and has played ever since. He started playing representative basketball with Whittlesea Pacers before moving to the Diamond Valley Eagles in under-14s.
“I stayed at DV all through my juniors up until last year,” he said. I joined the RMIT Redbacks Big V team and spent the year playing division 1 men’s.”
Tatter said not being able to play during the pandemic was painful but made coming back and being able to play even more enjoyable.
The athletic wing, who can play as a shooting guard or small forward, said the Big V season was really good for his development.
Tatter averaged just over eight points a game and nearly five rebounds a game in the Big V season.
“Playing with and against grown men taught me a lot,” he said. “We made the playoffs but unfortunately were eliminated in the first round.
“Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better group to play and grow with. Everyone was talented, professional and just good people. “
Tatter said he was looking forward to his opportunity at SPIRE. He’s hoping that it will set him up for the future.
“I ultimately hope to play professionally one day or that the education I get in college will help me secure a job.”
