Dusty has

By Paul Pickering
HAVE skills, will travel. That could easily be Dusty Jura’s motto.
The 25-year-old American has just flown in to join Dandenong’s SEABL men’s team for its 2009 campaign, after spending the past two years playing with Spanish club Cajasur Cordoba.
And while Jura admits that Victoria is a world away from the small town in Nebraska where he grew up, he has hardly missed a beat since arriving at Stud Road.
“It’s been great so far,” the 200cm forward said last week.
“The team has been really welcoming and everybody is easy to get along with, so the transition hasn’t been a problem.”
That should come as no surprise, because basketball is something of a global currency for the Jura family.
Dusty’s dad, Chuck, played professionally in Italy for 14 years after a brief stint with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls in 1972.
It was Chuck who encouraged Dusty to consider playing basketball in Australia, having enjoyed his trip to Melbourne while representing America in the over-50 World Championships.
Jura appeared on the Rangers’ radar while playing for NCAA Division Two college Nebraska-Kearney, where he earned conference player-of-the-year honours as a senior.
He was later approached by Dandenong board member and recruiting guru Lou Godfrey, who sealed the deal.
“I talked to Lou and everything he said about the organisation sounded great,” Jura said.
“And to play in Australia is something I’ve always wanted to do, so when the opportunity came up I jumped at it.”
And Dandenong coach Warren Dawson is glad Jura did, because his presence alongside compatriot – and new housemate – Vince Inglima and star centre Brent Hobba will give the Rangers one of the most formidable frontlines in the league.
Dawson has been impressed with Jura’s unselfish attitude and shooting range.
“We knew we were getting a pretty talented player, but he’s shown a little more versatility than I initially thought he had,” he said.
“I think he’s going to be difficult for opposing teams to deal with, because he can play inside and outside.”
Jura is already relishing Dandenong’s defensively driven game style, which he says is a welcome departure from the three-point shootouts that were the norm in Spain.
And while Jura is a proven scorer, he is willing to sacrifice his numbers to jell with the likes of Hobba and Inglima this year.
“Hobba and Vince are great players and I think they have the same philosophy as me – that it doesn’t matter who gets it (the basket), as long as we get it – and we win games,” he said.
The Rangers will open their 2009 campaign against Sandringham at Stud Road on Saturday, 21 March.