By Nick Creely
When discussing the emerging basketball talent coming out of Victoria, chances are Narre Warren South and Dandenong Rangers rising star Amy Baum’s name will pop up.
The 17-year-old, who attends the highly regarded Rowville Sports Academy and has been around the Dandenong Rangers’ junior sides for almost a decade, is starting to make waves as she continues her emergence into the professional ranks.
In what has been a strong 2017 – which has also included representing the School Sports Victoria team in the recent National Champions in Canberra – Baum has knocked every challenge out of the park.
“I’ve just come back from Nationals and that was a big one but really enjoyable, and throughout the season I’ve been playing Big V with Dandenong Rangers and that season finished in the semis when we got beat,” she said.
“It was good representing Victoria for the first time – it was a new experience but the girls were all great – we finished fourth which is a bit disappointing but it was good for us.”
Her Big V season for Dandenong’s Youth Championship Women side was simply stunning, earning her both internal and external recognition from around the state.
She was nominated for three awards – the Rising Star, the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year – in a season where she finished fifth in assists (70) and shot at an incredible three point percentage of 40.58 per cent (second in the competition), meaning she is well rounded around the court and able to play with consistency and efficiency.
Some of her best games throughout the season included a fantastic 23-point, five rebound match against the Rush back in May as well as an 11-assist performance against the Tigers in early June.
And she is full of praise for the Rangers and their nurturing environment and hopes to one day be able to play some WNBL with Dandenong under coach Larissa Anderson.
“It’s a very good environment and the coaches, staff and players are all welcoming and it’s a very good culture,” she said.
Despite not being overly tall, Baum was encouraged to give basketball a go by her parents and has taken elements of another sport she played as a junior into her game now.
“I want to be known as a player that works hard, fights for loose balls and being a one percenter player,” she said.
“My parents got me into it (basketball) – they played cricket and softball but got me into the sport.
“I used to play football with the Berwick juniors – the agility from footy and basketball probably clashed – it also helped my competiveness in basketball now.”
With her sights set firmly onto the future, Baum plans on experiencing life as a US College student, as she creeps one step closer to her basketball dreams.
“Hopefully that’s the plan – I’ve been offered a scholarship by Hawaii Pacific University so I’m thinking about it,” she said.
Amy explained that the lure of college life is exciting and the next phase of her impressive development.
“I want a new experience and playing a different style of basketball – getting to experience a new lifestyle and basketball’s allowing me to see other places around the world.
“I went in Year 10 with Rowville on a basketball trip to see some colleges and a play a few teams – it was absolutely amazing and the first time overseas for me, so would love to do it again.”
She credits her family, her coaches and in particular her school, Rowville, for her rise in the basketball ranks.
“Dean Kinsman’s (Rowville Sports Academy) had a massive part in helping me with my basketball and the school’s been great.
“Everyone is always supporting you there,” she said.
