Former Portageville basketball standout Roy Booker plays in Brazil

Recently, the South East Australian Basketball League wrapped up its 2016 season with the Championship Finals staged at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South followed by the Annual Awards lunch recently.

Booker was the only Ballarat player to take home an award being selected in the All SEABL Team for the third consecutive year. Booker averaged 25.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds a game across his 19 games in 2016.

Booker played for the Portageville Bulldogs while in high school. "Roy was a very determined player, but he was a late bloomer," according to his basketball coach Jim Bidewell. "He really did not come out of his shell, if you will, until his junior and senior year, more specifically his senior year. He started to take control of the ball and lead his senior year."

"He had to work hard to get to where he is," he added.

"It's been an amazing journey with my basketball. I have played in more than 12 countries and been in 20 different countries visiting to play in games and things of that nature," said Book in a recent trip back to his hometown. "I am truly blessed by God. I worked really hard on my craft over the years since I been about 9 or so, and now I am getting all the fruits that come with it."

While he was here, he practiced in the high school gym prior to school started up and after school hours when not in session. ......

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