Athlete Interview: Brody Hull
Brody Hull is a basketball athlete who has been with SRA for the last 5 years. He currently plays Youth League basketball for the Kilsyth Cobras and more recently won a National title with the Victorian Under 20’s Vic Navy Team.
Brody is currently chasing his dreams of playing college basketball in America.
Learn more about Brody below:
Sporting Journey:
What first drew you towards the sport of basketball?
Mum signed me and my sister up for Hoopball in Healesville, when I was about 6. It was a weekly foundational skills session to give kids an introduction to the sport. From there I signed up with Mt Lilydale Lakers to play my first competitive season and fell in love with the sport from there.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I have always been a sporty kid and being the fourth child in my family, I was always trying to keep up with my siblings. I was into any kind of sport that had a ball and was competitive. I especially enjoyed playing Aussie Rules footy and played for Yarra Glen until U15s, when basketball became number one. I trained with the Hawthorn Development Squad and played in a few interleague tournaments.
How do you think this helped you as a basketball athlete?
The skills from football translate easily to basketball. I loved the physicality of footy and have brought it to my basketball game. It allowed me to build on my aerobic fitness and high motor, both attributes that I embrace on the court. I think it has helped me to develop my IQ, make good reads, and anticipate from a defensive perspective, too.
National Championship & Representing Victoria
It’s not every day you win a National Title, what was this experience like for you?
Winning Gold at the U20 Nationals is something I will never forget. Being able to achieve and experience this with such a great group of boys made our achievement even better. We thrived as underdogs and flew under the radar for most of the tournament but as a team we believed in ourselves and the coaching staff, and trusted that we could get it done.
What are the key things you have taken away from your experience on the national stage?
I have had a number of different experiences on the National stage. I have developed resilience and a greater hunger from just missing out on state team selections. I have learned to always be ready for the next opportunity. When those opportunities have arrived, I’ve been grateful and appreciative.
How do you think SRA has helped prepare you for this moment?
SRA has been there since my first Nationals campaign at the club level in U14s. They have not only helped me to learn more about the workings of my body, but they have been there guiding me through rehabilitation from injuries, too. Through mentors and the workshops of professional athletes, I have learned the role that the mind plays for athletes at the highest levels. The elite environment has kept me accountable to my goals and has created positive habits both physically and mentally.
College Basketball
How have you been preparing for your transition to college basketball?
By playing Youth League at Kilsyth I am up against bigger, stronger and more experienced bodies which enables me to compete and hold myself to high standards. I am also doing multiple individual on court sessions where I am working on skills that I haven’t had experience doing, to progress my game even further. I am also doing multiple sessions at SRA each week to strengthen my body in preparation for college.
What do you think makes you different from other athletes looking for a scholarship?
I believe that my character and hard work on the court is much higher than other athletes. Through my work at SRA I have developed an elite work ethic and have become a very good defender.
Are there any particular schools or programs that interest you most, why?
I have received a number of college scholarship offers already. I have a particular interest in schools that have verbalised their clear plan for me. I will be considering the location, my relationship with the coaching staff and the players and the strength of the conference the school competes in.
Mindset & SRA
What has been the toughest challenge you have faced in your basketball career so far and how have you overcome this?
There have been a few, but the toughest challenge would be coming back from ankle injuries. These injuries put a pause to my development which I struggled with mentally but through my commitment to my rehab and prehab, my body is the strongest it’s ever been.
Do you have any pre game routines or rituals?
If I have a night game my meal that I have had every time is my mum’s homemade tuna casserole. If I have an afternoon game I tend to have pasta or rice late morning. I get to my games about an hour and a half beforehand to do my rolling and stretching and an hour before tip off I get on court to shoot around.
How has SRA helped you across your basketball journey?
Sitting down in meetings with the coaches at SRA has helped me set goals and create the correct habits that align with them. Having older athletes in the program at SRA who have been through what I aim to achieve is also very helpful as they act as mentors to me which I am very grateful for. The amazing facilities at SRA have also helped me to grow physically as a person to thrive on the court as an athlete.
Epilogue
Brody Hull is one of the first athletes to fully graduate from the SRA program. We have had the privilege of watching Brody grow into a passionate, resilient and relentless young man.
During his time at SRA, Brody has developed outstanding leadership qualities and adopted many of the training habits and principles shared by some of our most professional athletes.
Brody is always the first to put his hand up to help out around the SRA community whether it be assisting with workshops, performance combines or general duties, making him the worthy recipient of our 2024 Mr SRA Award.
What makes Brody exceptional is not just his talent but his character. His hunger to improve, coupled with an elite work ethic and a tenacious defensive mindset, makes him a valuable asset to any program.
As he navigates scholarship offers and weighs his next move, one thing is certain – Brody Hull will be turning heads in the college basketball scene.
Shaun Atkins – Director of SRA Sports Therapy