NBL star Mitch Creek was in town on Sunday to host a series of clinics for Portland’s next generation of basketball talent at Portland Basketball Stadium.

Creek has played more than 300 games in Australia’s elite basketball league and is currently a core piece of South East Melbourne Phoenix, and he has previously played overseas including a stint in the NBA.

The 31-year-old who hails from Horsham, said the goal behind his clinic, called Wolf Pack Hoops, is to help promote the game of basketball in regional communities.

“I was a kid once playing in those Vic Country teams and we always used to get beaten by Vic Metro, and in my opinion a big part of that was simply the difference in funding and access,” he said.

“Wolf Pack Hoops is entirely about giving back to regional areas that sometimes miss out on the silver spoon coaching that some of the city areas enjoy.

“It’s not a shortcut to success, but it’s something that’s there to give you a really good base of fundamentals that you need if you want to have success.

“It’s good to come back to places that feel like home a little bit as well, even the drive over here through places like Warrnambool and Port Fairy was quite nice to be honest.”

Creek said there’s a big emphasis within the clinic getting parents involved in the learning experience while also acknowledging that this isn’t a cure-all which will guarantee a kid takes the leap to the elite level.

“I make sure to be speaking to both the child and the parent, so that even if the kid can’t recall all the learning, he’s taken away from the day the parent is there to reinforce,” he said.

“This could easily be a clinic where I come out and take people’s money and in exchange their kids get a fun 90-minute clinic and get an autograph and a photo, but I want to make it more than that.

“If you want to get to the elite level it takes years and years of practice, and my only hope is that this can help that in some way.”

Creek is currently in the midst of an NBL season while also taking the time to host these clinics, but said while it makes his schedule tight, he feels an obligation to stick at it.

“I have the privilege of making money playing the game I love playing with my mates, so that feels like a bit of a take, and this is my chance to give back,” he said.

“Besides it’s really not that stressful, I enjoy the drive here and back playing some music and taking in the scenery.”