This year’s Sportsperson of the year has been selected in several
elite basketball teams throughout his career, playing at
representative level for Under 16s, Under 18’s, Country Development
Squad and under 18 ACT DunnersDevelopment Program all prior to his
18th Birthday.
This local man was the only NSW Basketball player to trail and be
selected for the Under 18, 2017 Gunners Development Program
Scholarship with the Western and Southern Academy of Sport.
Diagnosed with an intellectual disability in 2019, he was selected in
the Ivor Burge ACT State Team and the Australian Boomerangs Training
Squad. He was the only Ivor Burge player to make a triple double in
the Championships held in January last year, receiving a write up by
Basketball Australia. This is also where he was noticed by Australian
Team Staff.
This gentleman spends his spare time training disadvantaged young
basketball players to reach their dreams of playing top level
basketball while he awaits possible inclusion in the World Games and
Championships. (The Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games for people
with intellectual disabilities)
It gives me enormous pleasure to congratulate our 2021 Sportsperson of
the Year, James Doyle.