Worthington joins prestigious group

Bunbury's Boomer Mark Worthington will be honoured alongside some of basketball’s biggest names next year when he is inducted into a prestigious American college hall of fame.

Worthington, a former South West Slammer who has represented Australia at the past two Olympics, has been named in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

The 29-year-old’s selection recognises his impressive record while playing at Metro State College in Colorado between 2001 and 2005 and his considerable achievements at national and international level since then.

The former Australind Senior High School student was a standout at Metro State, helping the proud sporting college win a NCAA Division 2 championship in 2002 and earning National Player of the Year honours in the 2004-2005 season.

While playing for the Sydney Kings in the NBL, Worthington won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2006.

Worthington’s father, Greg, said his son was a good role model for country athletes.

“When we were coaching with the South West Academy of Sport kids we used him as a person to look up to,” Worthington said.

“Everything is achievable, it’s just about hard work.”

Worthington is the third athlete from Metro State’s basketball program to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The others are DeMarcos Anzures and Mike Dunlap, who coaches the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA.

“He (Dunlap) had a lot to do with Mark and setting him up for success on the basketball side of things,” Greg Worthington said.

“He was also a very good mentor off the court.”

As a senior, Worthington averaged almost 20 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals.

The same year, Worthington was named National Association of Basketball Coaches National Player of the Year and RMAC Player of the Year.

“He’s been a very lucky boy, but he’s worked hard to get these awards,” Greg Worthington said.

“It’s a very good achievement on his behalf.”

The 2013 RMAC Hall of Fame ceremony will be held in July.