Nicole Seekamp on winning CG18 gold and being a QBL Pirate
The path to success was a family affair for point guard Nicole Seekamp, starting at age seven, in her hometown of Renmark, South Australia.
“Both of my parents played basketball. Mum played Masters into her fifties and my older brother still plays in Renmark,” Seekamp shared in speaking with The Pick and Roll.
Seekamp's success boomed by showcasing her talent with the Australian Institute of Sport (2009-10), the College of South Dakota (2012-2016), two seasons for the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL, and most recently with the Opals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“I am a new Opal, but it has been the best experience so far in my career," added Seekamp. "I am very big with memories and huge games like that. This group of girls made it enjoyable and so much fun to play with, as we got along really well on and off the court.”

This season she joins the South West Metro Pirates in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL), an opportunity she is excited about.
“We want to play championships," enthused Seekamp. "We have a high quality of players and my goal is to win in everything I do. Our squad may not be overly big in terms of play, but due to that, it does make us quicker and we can play more up tempo on both the offensive and defensive ends.”
The 2018 QBL season brings a new experience as she has only ever played with one player from the Pirates squad - Sarah Elsworthy - as a part of the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL.
In the first round of the season, the Pirates played a double-header and came away with an unblemished record. The first game against the defending champion Brisbane Spartans was a learning curve for Seekamp when it came to the refereeing and structure of the state league.
“In the first game I only played 17 minutes but ran into foul trouble," she explained. "In the first five minutes I caught two fouls. It is something I am not used to but will adapt quickly.”
In the second game against the Cairns Dolphins, the rising star played 30 minutes for 23 points and shot an impressive 9-12 from the field in an efficient and highly effective individual performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP2mscPc7Zw
Looking ahead, this week the Pirates travel up the range to take on the Toowoomba Mountaineers looking to extend their winning streak to three, and Seekamp was positive about her side's chances.
“We do go into this game very guard-heavy, but our focus will be to run the floor in offensive transition and finish in the defensive box to close out the game and take another win,” outlined Seekamp.
The Opals guard is working hard towards her ultimate goal; to play for her country at an Olympic Games. She views the keys to her success are looking after her body, and learning to be able to recover well. Driven by the challenge of working out and getting better, Seekamp explained that she is constantly seeking to take her game to the next level.
“I work out every day and I play one-on-one with my fiancee [Cody Havermann, an assistant coach for the Pirates]," said Seekamp. "I like to play against guys as they are physically stronger and more competitive and faster. So it helps to play against them in that way.
"Work ethic definitely separates the mediocre from the great.”
The path to the Olympics is still some distance away, yet Seekamp's season with a brand-new side in the Pirates, will be a process that allows her to grow and mature as a player.
As a Commonwealth Games gold medalist, she is undoubtedly a star to watch this QBL season. Catch her and the Pirates this Saturday May 5th against the Toowoomba Mountaineers at Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre, with the game tipping off at 6pm local time.
Watch #QBL18 Live Online
You can watch 2018 QBL action live and free online: check the schedule for dates and times.