On Monday evenings kids in the region participate in PCYC’s Basketball After Dark program, to learn new skills and spend time with friends.
Brett Slaughter coaches the session and he brings a heap of expertise and techniques to teach the kids.
Brett played in the Australia team as a junior and then went to Saint Leo University where he was inducted into the Hall Of Fame.
After University Brett came back to Australia and started a career in the NBL 1 league, the tier below NBL.
At the time, basketball did not have the finances it currently has so he retired from basketball at 25, but he has not lost his touch and says he now loves sharing his knowledge with the Whitsunday youth.
Brett believes it’s important that he passes his knowledge on to the next generation.
“I've had a lot of people give up a lot of time for me over the years and it's never really sat right with me to not try and give that back,” said Brett.
“Purely for the fact that so many people did for me, I feel like it's a responsibility to do the same thing and pass on what I know.”
PCYC Branch Manager Sergeant Billy Li, runs the program with Brett and says he is thoroughly enjoying it.
“I like the program because it brings young people together to engage in a sport that they like, especially basketball,” he said.
“I like the engagement, it’s an opportunity for them to just do something together.”
Basketball After Dark
Brett Slaughter and PCYC Branch Manager Sergeant Billy Li
Photo credit: Daniel Heggie