HERAKLION (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Playing for your country's colours internationally is special for anybody. But representing Australia at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship holds extra meaning for William McDowell-White. 

The 17-year-old point guard is the son of one of the best Australia Rules Football (AFL) players of all time. And McDowell-White is aboriginal.

I am not just representing Australia, but I'm representing that [aboriginal] culture as well. It's a big part of my life. - McDowell-White

"It's not just Australia but it's indigenous heritage as well," said McDowell-White, whose father Darryl White won the AFL Premiership three times with Brisbane Lions and is a member of the AFLNT Hall of Fame. 

While White played AFL professionally, he was the one who urged his son to play basketball, which McDowell-White has been playing since he was five years old.

"I played Aussie Rules at about nine or 10 and played both sports until two years ago when I decided to play basketball," he said.

When asked why he chose basketball, McDowell-White said: "My dad loved basketball growing up. He always had the passion for basketball, and so he kind of directed me to a career in basketball." 

McDowell-White showed early on a talent for the round ball and his father urged him to watch videos of some of the best in the NBA.

“Pretty much like everyone else, LeBron [James] is probably who I look up to at the moment. Dwyane Wade too. My dad really started telling me to watch those two."

McDowell-White eventually landed on the radar of talent scouts and he was invited to the Adidas Nations event last August in Los Angeles and he shined, averaging 13.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 72 percent from the field for the Asia-Pacific team.

"I was pretty nervous going to that. It was the first time I had ever been overseas for basketball. That was very nerve racking," he admitted.

"But to perform as well as I did that's pretty exciting. It gives me a lot of confidence when I go out and play."

McDowell-White is two years younger than most of the players at the U19 Worlds and he is eligible age-wise to play at the 2017 edition of the championship as well. Despite being younger, McDowell-White has performed well for Australia, averaging 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals.

"His age is irrelevant at this moment because he's one of our key players. He's a point guard beyond his years and a really great talent," Australia coach Adam Caporn said.

We forget about his age for the moment because we need him to play a key role. And he’s really done a good job. - Caporn

"He's pretty advanced. He's multi-skilled. Like everyone, he has to keep getting better. But there's nothing glaring that he must improve. He's getting better by experience, learning more systems and schemes, especially on the defensive end. But he's doing a good job in all things we ask from him."

McDowell-White himself recognises one clear weakness - his shooting as he has made just 5-of-18 shots for 28 percent. 

"I'm not really the best shooter, so that would be the first thing I would like to improve to develop as a player," he admitted.

"Definitely finishing around the rim too. I'm kind of a skinny guy and they push me out of the way. So I need to hit the weight room."

Hit the weight room in order to represent Australia again in the future. 

FIBA