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AHMEDABAD (India) - Will Hamilton has competed in almost every FIBA youth level for about two years now and that makes him one of Australia's more experienced guys in the ongoing FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026. Along with it comes the responsibility of becoming a leader, most especially to the younger Emus. And although such a role could get demanding at times, the 17-year-old guard/forward actually takes it in stride. "I've been to a few now, just like what FIBA basketball's all about," reflected the 2024 FIBA U15 Oceania Cup MVP. "Just gotta lead the boys. But I think the boys have adapted well. Yeah, just leading on and off the court." There's this certain amount of maturity with how he stated as much, which he's garnered over the years since first putting on the green and gold jersey back in the same tournament he won the highest individual award of. Now Hamilton is currently playing in his fifth FIBA youth competition, displaying the same confidence in handling what's been tasked to him like one of the players he looks up to in NBA star Josh Giddey. At 23, and given his rise as one of the Association's top point guards, the current Chicago Bull has also emerged as a crucial part of the Boomers, highlighted by FIBA Basketball World Cup and Summer Olympics stints. And just like him, Giddey also made a mark in the youth program, having helped the Crocs strike gold in the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup in 2019, leading a team that also featured a future men's team stalwart in Reyne Smith. "What Josh Giddey is doing at the moment, in the NBA and in the Boomers, I think he's become a real leader at such a young age. I look up to him," said Hamilton, who's attending the renowned Centre of Excellence. But perhaps, he's done much better in age-group events. The native of Victoria, so far, has won championships in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup and in the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup, both of which he accomplished just last year. His biggest achievement thus far, though, is the bronze medal they won in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup just last July, giving the country its first medal in the event since taking home the silver in 2014 in Dubai. Needless to say, he'd want to grow his collection by helping Team Australia complete a 'back-to-back' in the ongoing U18 Asia Cup, and will shoot for that with the help of the same players he won with in Turkiye. Aside from Hamilton, members of that bronze-winning team were included in the present squad, namely Yahya Basaran, John McCann, Antonio Browne, John Aryang, and Riak Akhuar, making half of the lineup. "A month ago, a few of the boys, we won a bronze medal," he recalled gladly. "It's a surreal feeling to win a medal for your country in the World Cup stage. I think we brought the experience from that tournament to this tournament, and we're looking to take another step," he added. Chemistry is indeed the main driving force behind the Emus' title defense bid, which is the very same thing that has also been making it easier for Hamilton to take up the leadership mantle for this batch. "Obviously a lot of those boys in this team, just bringing the other boys in and just, like, teaching them,"he said. "But I think we're all pretty close as a group, like, we get along on and off the court." "I think we're a very tight group," Hamilton added. FIBA