It’s not every day on the basketball court you have an NBA player giving you pointers.
But for St Kentigern College student Shalom Broughton, this was his reality.
The 17-year-old basketball player was selected for a basketball training camp with New Zealand-born NBA basketball player Steven Adams.
The camp is part of Maori Television’s new series Holding Court, which follows NBA star Steven Adams as he coaches and mentors Kiwi kids.
Shalom was selected to take part in the two day camp as the top basketball player at St Kentigern College and he says he feels privileged to have been given the opportunity.
“Being mentored by Steven Adams is so valuable in helping me grow and succeed as an athlete,” he says.
Shalom took part in three two-hour sessions a day, playing with the best high school basketball players across the country.
The keen athlete says he learned many American training techniques that aren’t often taught in New Zealand.
But this isn’t the first time the promising young player has been on a court with Adams.
“We have this thing back home [in Tauranga] called Pathways that is through Steven Adams, so I’d had some training with him before through that which meant I was pretty calm meeting him at the camp,” Shalom says.
“The first time I met him I was so nervous. I didn’t know how to approach him. But he’s super down to earth and chill.”
While being in front of the camera took some getting used to for Shalom, he says it was worth it.
“I don’t really love being in front of cameras, but it was a new learning opportunity and I’m always keen to improve and learn new things,” he says.
- You can watch Holding Court on Maori television, 8.30pm Wednesdays and OnDemand.
