Young gun dedicated to both basketball and footy

Sport is a year-round vocation for Busselton basketballer and football gun Jaylen Colegate.

The Year 9 student, who has been selected as the Busselton Freight Service Rising Sports Star for July, grew up playing Australian-rules football but soon found passion for basketball.

Jaylen is equally dedicated to both sports, committing his time to training, development programs, umpiring and coaching junior teams.

The St Mary MacKillop College student travelled to Melbourne in January to play in the Southern Cross Challenge with the Country Men’s under-15 development team.

Finishing his season as runner-up MVP in the Busselton Basketball Association in March, Jaylen also competed at the Country Championships in Perth and was selected for the Basketball WA All Star Team.

A trip to Sydney to represent WA in the Under-12 State AFL team and travelling to Melbourne as part of the Under-16 WA Country Basketball team add to Jaylen’s growing list of sporting achievements.

While travel remains a challenge for Jaylen, he is focused on nutrition, rest and recovery to maintain his health.

“Sometimes it’s hard to get up in the mornings and school can be a bit tough,” he said

“But you’ve just got to sacrifice a few things.”

When he’s not shooting hoops on the court, you’ll find Jaylen on the half-back line defending for the Saints Junior Football Club.

Jaylen said one of his greatest AFL achievements was receiving silver after representing WA in the under-12s State Team at the National AFL School Sports Championships.