Warrnambool basketballer Jay Rantall ready for FIBA Under 17 World Cup in Argentina

The Warrnambool teenager is busy preparing for the FIBA Under 17 Cup in South America.

“Training at the courts we have (they are not the) greatest facilities, nowhere as good as Australia,” the Warrnambool Seahawk told The Standard. 

“And it makes you think how they don’t have the best facilities but have created a lot of great basketball players.”

Rantall, who will suit up for the Crocs against Dominican Republic in their first pool game on Sunday, said he was relishing the chance to learn about a new culture.

“The biggest cultural difference is they speak Spanish and the weird thing is they have a lot of stray dogs that just walk the streets and all the locals just find it normal,” he said.

Australia had three practice matches against Porto Rico, Canada and Egypt.

Rantall, a student at Warrnambool College, is confident the Crocs will be medal contenders.

“We think as a group we can match it with anyone so in the pool games our goal is to finish on top,” he said.

“The toughest team in our pool would have to be Turkey, being a European team they’re always good and Europe is a very strong area.

“We’ve trained every day (and we’re) just getting better as a team everyday.

“I expect to play a shooter’s role and do what I can for the team, hopefully help by hitting threes, locking down on defence and not letting my player score.”