Dunn Deal to Darrow

Ballarat Miner Riley Dunn has committed to continuing his basketball journey in New York where he will be joining Darrow School early in the New Year. This marks a significant milestone in the 18-year-old basketball career, at 210cm Riley is an exciting proposition with his skill set and length.

Dunn, who spent last season as a member of our Ballarat Miners NBL1 South team, as well as being a key contributor to the Youth League team in games where they did not clash, is a true product of our basketball development program, coming from domestic club, into the Junior representative program from U12s through to 18s and then Youth League into NBL1, with many state accolades during this ascension.

Dunn is excited about this new opportunity saying “"I've grown up around basketball with my Mum, Dad, and Sisters all playing. I started when I was 6 with Saints and have played for the Miners through juniors under some amazing coaches who’ve pushed and challenged me. Representing Victoria and the Ballarat Miners in NBL1 has been an amazing opportunity, and I owe the Ballarat Basketball Community a lot for it. It's a great pathway for juniors in Ballarat and surrounds.”

Riley finished by saying “Being offered a scholarship to Darrow will provide an amazing opportunity to develop my game further and will help me get noticed in my goal to get some college offers and play in the NCAA system."

Darrow’s basketball head coach, Antonio Anderson, who has NBA experience through his playing days with OKC, said “Darrow is a program that plays in the NEPSAC AA in New York which is one of the top leagues in the country here in the USA. Adding Riley is huge for our program he’s a very versatile forward who has a very high IQ and unique skill set in which he will be able to put on display in our fast-paced up-tempo offense!!! Being able to compete in a few of the nation's top prep showcases in January and February will help him tremendously and I’m beyond excited to have him join us here at the Darrow School”.

Basketball Ballarat’s Director of Coaching, James McKinnon said “Riley is a great story of a junior athlete being able to begin their career in the domestic program, into the Miners Representative Program and now following his dreams to the USA. This is a great advocacy of how an athlete can

Dunn will leave for New York in the first week of January and we wish him all the best for future and sustained success.