Last week Cameron was told he had been accepted into the Under 16 country basketball to compete next week in Ulverstone, Tasmania.

He had qualified for a place in the reserves four weeks ago, after being nominated to try out for the team in Adelaide - but was more than happy to hear last week he was first in line to fill a position left by a player who had to pull out.

At 14, Cameron is the youngest in the Under 16 State Country Team – the only

first year player in the division.

It is not the first time Ortlepp has earned a place in a state country team, having

qualified for the State Country Under 14 side two years ago – where he played in

Aubury and Wodonga.

Training in the backyard at every given opportunity, Ortlepp ventures to

Adelaide every weekend to play in the metropolitan league.

Locally playing for the Augusta Eagles and the Port Augusta combined team, the Devils, Ortlepp also spends the off-season commuting to Adelaide every

weekend to play for Norwood in Adelaide.

Articulating commitment in every sense, he leaves Port Augusta every Friday

night at four to make games in Adelaide at 8.15pm.

He said he competes with the huge support of his family along the way, who

always make it to his events to watch on – whatever end of Australia they are at.

For the past two weekends however, he has been in intense training with the state

team preparing for Ulverstone next week, on July 9, during two intense camps at

Murray Bridge and Warridale.

Ortlepp said his love for the game keeps him committed.

“Its heaps of fun,” he said,

“Being part of the state country team means I get to meet lots of new

people…and have a really good time.”

With his weekends consumed by basketball, when asked about where he fits in school in such a tight schedule, Ortlepp laughed.

“That’s what weekdays are for,” he said.