Geckos head to usa | Logan Sport | Local Sports in Logan

EIGHT young basketballers will jet off to the United States as a team this Sunday, but most of them will be chasing an individual goal.

The Gecko Basketball team, made up of seven players from the Logan Thunder under-18 representative team, was set up to give aspiring local basketballers a shot at being recognised by American college scouts and coaches.

The showcase of the trip will be a three-day basketball camp in Florida.

And in probably the busiest three days of their lives, the side will play at least seven games followed by a single elimination tournament at the country's most successful basketball team camp.

Gecko Basketball organiser, Chris Gureckis, said the idea to start Gecko Basketball was sparked by Logan Basketball Association's rich stock of junior talent.

“When I first came over to Australia in 2003, and when I finally settled in to Logan in 2005, I noticed a lot of talent at the junior level,” he explained.

“At the junior level there are plenty of guys that would love the chance to play college basketball in the United States. However, there aren't many college coaches that are willing to fly halfway across the globe to scout a player.

“So, I thought why not bring the players to them?

“It's one thing for a coach to see a player on film or speak with him on the phone, but it goes along way for coaches when they actually get to meet the player, see them in person and spend some time with them.”

During the trip, the team will also take a tour of several of the local college's facilities, and the will be put through some drills from the school's basketball coaches.