The 1300 juniors playing in last weekend's Launceston Basketball Classic don't have to look far for inspiration.
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Not even as far as the sport's US hotspot, where 10 of the latest Boomers squad ply their trade.
In Launceston-born Melbourne United guard Chris Goulding, the state's young talent have the perfect blueprint for making it to the sport's upper echelon - not just as an athlete, but as an individual too.
"What all young people aspire to is a hero," Basketball Australia chairman Ned Coten said during his latest visit to Launceston.
"Someone they can look up to and try and be like and learn from, and Chris Goulding is a great example of that.
"He's a player who's come up through the grassroots in Australian basketball, he's an outstanding person and he leads on the court and off the court."
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Now 30, Goulding looks a fair chance to make the Boomers' final 12 for August's FIBA world championships in China.
The former West Launceston Primary student has already represented Australia at the 2014 championships, where the Boomers exited in the round of 16, and won gold at last year's Commonwealth Games.
Yet according to Coten it's the strength of Goulding's character, rather than his achievements, that sets him apart from other athletes.
"I think the key thing is that we have good people within the sport who know that it's not just about performing on court, but actually trying to grow the sport," Coten said.
"We're particularly fortunate in Australian basketball that we have lots of those kinds of people and I think that's one of the reasons that particularly in the US college system and professional system Australians are loved.
"They can tape their own ankles, they can look after themselves off the court and they're great teammates - they want to pass the ball, they don't always want to shoot it.
"And while Chris Goulding's a great shooter, he's also a team player and I think he's someone that takes the time to embrace the sport around him and realises that he's a really critical part of growing the game and inspiring youth for the future.
"Those are the kind of people that we need more of."
Know a junior sport star? Make a nomination for our 2019 Junior Sports Awards here.