Miss-Delectable

newcastle.yourguide

Bishop, who plays power forward, is the youngest member of the Deaf Basketball Australia men’s team at just 17 years old.

In June this year, the side leaves for the World Deaf Basketball Championships in Guangzhou, China, where they will face off against 20 other nations.

The top 12 teams will also qualify for the Deaflympics.

Despite being profoundly deaf in one ear and severely deaf in the other, playing with other deaf players took a lot of adjustment for Bishop.

“I’ve always played in regular teams and worn my hearing aids, but you can’t use them in the deaf basketball games.

“You have to lip read all the calls and make sure everyone can see your lips when you call your plays.”

Bishop says he would love to play professionally in the NBL or NBA, and be a part of the Boomers national team.

“I’d really like to play for Australia one day – I guess this is my chance.”

Before the world championships, Bishop will have travelled right around Australia for the monthly team training camps, which prove quite expensive for the trainee concreter.

To help Bishop’s meet training and travel costs, East Coast Youth Basketball has established the Michael Bishop Appeal, and has also arranged a fundraising raffle with major prizes from Newcastle Motorcycle Wholesalers and Inside Window Furnishings.

To get involved in the Michael Bishop Appeal contact East Coast Youth Basketball on 0410 040 485 or 4971 3685.

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