Auryn Macmillan in action on Tuesday night. Picture: Wayne Hawkins
KILSYTH forward Auryn Macmillan is on the verge of scoring a long awaited National Basketball League contract after getting a second tryout with Wollongong Hawks.
The 25 year old, 204 centimetre player went to an open tryout with the Hawks last month and on Tuesday was invited back by the Hawks for a formal tryout.
The Hawks are looking for a big man to fill the one spot left on their roster and Macmillan is confident he is the man to fill the role.
“When I trained there last time I played pretty well,” he said.
“They told me I’m a good chance so hopefully I get the spot.”
Macmillan, who plays with Kilsyth Cobras in the South East Australian Basketball League, has been working for several years to make the NBL but with few teams having spots available he was hardly confident about his chances, especially after the Gold Coast Blaze pulled out of the league last month.
Macmillan was long considered a strong chance of earning a contract if a second Melbourne NBL side was added to the league but that plan was shelved earlier in the year.
“There are not many jobs available in the NBL,” he said.
“Then eight Blaze players were put into the market and that are all proven at NBL level,” he said.
“So I’m very grateful for my opportunity.”
Macmillan has received an early look at NBL life this week when he trained with NBL club Melbourne Tigers after being invited to play for the side against Washington State University at Kilsyth Sports Centre last night (August 7).
With only four Tigers player available for the game, Macmillan started at power forward against the Cougars and put on an impressive display with 12 points, nine rebounds and six blocks along with several deflections and tap outs in 34 minutes.
The Tigers don’t have any spots left to offer Macmillan with their only remaining contract reserved for an import point guard.
Macmillan was also warmly supported by his home fans, many of whom know him well from his time with the Cobras.
Even while being interviewed by the Weekly post game, Macmillan was stopped and congratulated by Cobras supporters.
“It was fantastic to look up and see so many kids I have coached or worked with individually and lots of other people I know cheering me on tonight,” he said.