Fennell's Signature Four Years in the Making

Rightfully so too, the 17-year-old presents as one of the most athletic guards plying his trade in the country and looks destined for the NBA in his near future.

But the eventual victors, the South East Melbourne Phoenix, sowed the seed of Victorian junior’s arrival long before teams had even heard Fennell’s name.

Since 2021, when Fennell was just 14 years old, he has been periodically invited to train with the Phoenix at the State Basketball Centre, just 20 minutes from his home in Melbourne’s South East.

This would prove to be a masterstroke by then head coach, and current General Manager of Basketball Operations, Simon Mitchell.

“The thing that stood out were the obvious physical attributes with Luke, but what was most impressive was his competitiveness,” Mitchell said.

“He wasn’t intimidated by older, more seasoned bodies, he definitely didn’t dominate at 14 years old – but he more than held his own.”

For Fennell, that phone call from Mitchell changed his basketball trajectory.

“I basically just got invited to training sessions and open runs, I remember everyone looking at me like, who is this teenager?” Fennell told Phoenix Media.

“It was so good seeing that environment from such a young age, and for the rest of my teenage years I just wanted to be there, so I’m glad I’m there now.”

Currently playing with the Centre of Excellence in Canberra after winning a basketball scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport, Fennell is showing his wares against grown men, which will no doubt hold him in good stead when he hits the floor with the Phoenix in July.

And he’s got a great reference for success in Victorian underage teammate Austin Rapp, who last year was a development player and rose through the ranks so rapidly that he would eventually earn a start under Mike Kelly.

“[Austin] just told me to be ready for the grind because anything can happen.

“Last year through a fair few injuries Austin had to step up so you never know when your name will be called.”

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