Some Demonlanders out there will  remember the brief appearance of a group of Melbourne Next Generation Academy players at preseason at Gosch’s Paddock in December 2019. The standout was a strongly built tall ruckman, Deakin Pereira who mixed it with the likes of Max Gawn and Braydon Preuss in the ruck and held himself in good stead against the Demons’ tall timber. 

We were hoping that the young Pereira would try out for a place in the 2020 national draft but Deakin had a long-held dream of making it in the world of professional basketball at its highest level in the USA. Over the past 20 months or so he’s gone a long way to achieving that dream despite the fact that our world is a far different place than it was back then.

I reached out to Deakin’s biggest fans, his parents Kylie and Ryan, and they filled me in on his movements in the interim. They report that he’s made it through the world-wide Covid19 storm and is finishing his last year of high school. He has just achieved his first aim by securing a scholarship to a major division 1 college - California State University, Fullerton which is a leading campus of CSU and which serves as an intellectual and cultural center for Southern California. 

Sholarships are few and far between and Deakin was good enough to get one. He stands around 6 foot 9 inches tall (206cm) and is looking very strong. He says he can’t wait to go to college where he will beef up even more.

If things don’t work out, you never know, he might be back at Gosch’s Paddock battling out with our premiership pair of ruckmen one day but in the meantime, we’re looking forward to seeing him proceed to a different draft in the NBA, possibly to join the growing band of Aussies there. Then it could be on to the Olympics in Paris in three year’s time. We all know now how well Demons go in Olympic years.😀

Anyway, Deakin can rest assured that there’s an army of Demons fans following his fortunes in sunny California. Good luck!

Thanks WJ. Fullerton’s a nice part of the world, sunny climate and very close to Disneyland. And if Deakin’s into beaches and surfing, the drive to Huntington Beach isn’t too far.

Good luck to Deakin. College sport in the USA is a big deal. They attract big crowds and the larger colleges get nationwide exposure on tv. Hope to see him soon on ESPN. 

 

#14

Awww... nice. I remember his parents posting on here when he was training with us. He may not get drafted to the dees but I'm counting him as one and hope he does well.

Best of luck Deak!

how did deakin qualify as an NGA was he indigenous or does he have roots elsewhere?

5 hours ago, Turner said:

how did deakin qualify as an NGA was he indigenous or does he have roots elsewhere?

He wasn't an NGA. Maybe you're thinking of Deakyn Smith who was an NGA? I only say that because for some stupid reason thought that Deakin Pereira had changed his name to become Deakyn Smith (they seemed to be at the club at similar times) and only just realised this reading this thread!

 

1 hour ago, The Lobster Effect said:

He wasn't an NGA

He most definitely was, as this article on the MFC site in 2017 shows.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/77981/melbourne-welcomes-nga-talent

6 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

 

He most definitely was, as this article on the MFC site in 2017 shows.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/77981/melbourne-welcomes-nga-talent

OK, fair enough, thanks.

3 hours ago, The Lobster Effect said:

He wasn't an NGA. Maybe you're thinking of Deakyn Smith who was an NGA? I only say that because for some stupid reason thought that Deakin Pereira had changed his name to become Deakyn Smith (they seemed to be at the club at similar times) and only just realised this reading this thread!

 

2 hours ago, Demonstone said:

 

He most definitely was, as this article on the MFC site in 2017 shows.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/77981/melbourne-welcomes-nga-talent

yeh wasn't that the whole point of the thread that he was training with us because he was eligable

206cm and dropping bombs from downtown

He looks a talent.  Rebounds. Shoots.  Drives.   Good luck to the young man.  

On 10/16/2021 at 9:49 AM, Turner said:

how did deakin qualify as an NGA was he indigenous or does he have roots elsewhere?

Pereira is a very common Sri Lankan surname of Portuguese origins. Whispy might know the answer for sure but if he's from the South East of Melbourne that would be my guess.

Could be a handy Category  B rookie. 

looks a talent

hopefully less of a ning-nong than ben simmons or kyrie irving