17 doesn’t go into 12, and with Jack McVeigh’s relative lack of international experience, it was always going to take something special to crack the Boomers’ final Olympic squad.
On Tuesday night, he produced something special.
The Tasmania JackJumpers star finished with 24 points against China at John Cain Arena, going at six-of-eight from the three-point line.
It was a statement game from the Sengstock Trophy winner.
“I feel like that’s what I do; I back myself in,” McVeigh said of his eye-catching display.
“It’s up to the coaches still at this point, but I’m just trying to affect winning and help the Boomers win a medal.”
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McVeigh is lapping up the experience of playing and training with players who will go down as some of the nation’s all-time greats – the likes of Patty Mills and Joe Ingles among them.
The Boomers’ warm-up games against China and an intense training camp providing the chance for the 28-year-old to prove he can cut it with the best.
“Right now, I’m not high though. It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” McVeigh said post-game.
“I’m going to show up to training tomorrow and get after it, then we’ve got another game on Thursday.
“If I make the team I’ll be locked in and ready to go to Paris.
“I just love playing basketball and I’m grateful I get to do it here.”
McVeigh helped the Boomers to a 20-point win in game one, with the teams to face off again on Thursday night at 7.30pm AEST.
Then, coach Brian Goorjian faces the unenviable task of trimming the roster for a tilt at another medal.