Commonwealth Games 2022: Greg Hire, Jesse Wagstaff selected to represent Australia in 3x3 basketball

Former Perth Wildcats star Greg Hire will join current club captain Jesse Wagstaff in pursuit of Commonwealth Games gold after they were named to represent Australia in the Basketball 3x3.

Hire, 34, won four NBL championships with the Wildcats from 2010 to 2019 before calling an end to his professional career, heading to the Rockingham Flames in the NBL.

The small forward recently teamed up with Wagstaff, 36, to win gold at the Asia Cup in Singapore.

Hire and Wagstaff will be joined by Thomas Wright and WA-born Daniel Johnson in the team to compete in Birmingham.

“I found 3x3 the perfect combination for me. I could still play and wanted to explore something new, so it was the natural next step in my career,” Hire said.

“Representing your country on the world stage is something every child dreams about. I hope I can inspire others to pursue those dreams – be it on or off the court.”

Wagstaff captained the team just last week and won gold in the conventional 5x5 format on the Gold Coast in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“To be selected for the Australian Commonwealth Games team and represent my country once again is a dream come true,” he said.

“I love Basketball 3x3’s physicality, speed and intensity. Once we get on the court, it’s all systems go, which makes it a fantastic spectator sport.”

Perth Lynx star Lauren Scherf, 26, has been selected to compete in the women’s tournament alongside Alex Wilson, Marena Whittle and Lauren Mansfield.

West Australians Amber Merritt, 29, and Georgia Inglis, 28, have been named to represent the Australian Gliders, who will look to win Para-basketball gold.

Inglis is the sister of Australian tennis star Maddison, continuing the fantastic year for the sporting family.

Merritt has been part of the Gliders team since 2009, winning silver at the London 2012 Paralympics and was a member of the team that finished ninth last year in Tokyo.

Jake Kavanagh is the fifth squad member from WA after being named in the men’s 3x3 Para team.