By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG has produced another college basketballer, with junior Ranger Dylan Baker putting pen to paper on a college deal to play in Canada.
The 18-year-old Dandenong Rangers representative from Narre Warren South will head over in August to play for the University of New Brunswick at their Fredericton campus.
Plying his craft as a six-foot-five shooting guard/small forward, Baker hopes to make his impact on and off the court at Fredericton as soon as possible.
With three Australians already in the team, Baker said it would be great to have a few other Aussies about to help him adjust to basketball life in Canada.
“It will be good to go over there with guys from my kind of background and ease into life over there,” Baker said.
“Coach (Brent Baker) got in contact with me and he seemed friendly and is really all about the way I like to play as well, so that’s a good thing.
“Really just liked there are Australians there already and there’s a big international background and its good basketball and a good level.
Baker hopes to get on court for the Rangers’ Victorian Youth Championship team before he heads over to Canada, but is recovering from shin splints and bone bruising in his knee.
His aims for Canada circle around improvement – getting the most out of his time internationally and coming back a better player.
“I’d just like to go over there and be an impact player straight away,” Baker said.
“I’d like to be rookie of the year for the team or conference possibly, but I’d just like to improve my game.
“On my offensive side – shotting, dribbling – just little things I want to improve.”
He also trains with the Andrew Bogut Academy five times a week, slogging it out from 6.30am five days a week to help improve his game.
To top off the accolades and success, Baker was also named as a basketball winner of a School Sports Award for his school basketball contributions at Rowville Secondary College.
