Sixth Man Athlete : Jordan Rulach

Jordan Rulach is a young baller from the south east of Melbourne whose talents have been widely recognised around the globe. Jordan's dime highlight video had a global reach after being shared by Los Angeles Lakers Assistant coach Phil Handy. Since then Jordan has been exclusively invited to attend the 20th Anniversary Phenom National Camp in California.

The 6th Man team have been following Jordan closely since he competed in the National Junior Classic in June of 2022.

It is with great excitement that we announce we will be supporting Jordan in his basketball journey as our first Junior 6th Man Athlete. We sat down with Jordan to talk about all things basketball and our mutual love for the game.

Introduce yourself; Where did you grow up, how old are you, who are you playing ball for at the moment. 

My name is Jordan Rulach, I am 11 years old from Melbourne Australia. I currently play domestic basketball for Kingston Basketball Academy and representative basketball for the Dandenong Rangers.

Where did your love for the game come from? What are your earliest memories from playing basketball? 

My love for basketball came from watching my Dad play. I was 3 years old when I first picked up a basketball and haven't looked back since. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad and I training together for hours in our backyard and watching NBA games. Basketball has always played a large part in my life.

If you could compare your game to one player past or present who would you choose? 

That's a tough question as I have always compared my game to all my idols. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Penny Hardaway, Allen Iverson, Derrick Rose. I do my best to combine the best of each player's game and make it my own on the court.

We hear you’re off to the US this year. How exciting! Tell us about your exciting plans and where you will be heading.

 I was invited to attend and compete in the 2023 National Phenom Camp in LA. I’m really excited to be coached by some of the worlds best basketball trainers such as, Ganon Baker, Dave Hopla, Jordan Lawley and Phil Handy, just to name a few. To compete with and against some of the best players from all over the world is a dream come true.

This is a life-changing experience and I am reaching out to ask for help with some of the funding, which will go towards my ticket and accommodation.

The link is available below and any donation, big or small, will be greatly appreciated.

Do you have a pregame ritual that you do before every game?

 Before every game I say a quick prayer and listen to my favourite HipHop & Rnb playlist on my headphones, this helps me to focus and get into the right headspace to compete. I also like to watch game footage highlights of my favorite NBA players to keep me inspired.

Any significance of #1 on your jersey?

 I have always liked the number 1. Two of my favorite players have worn that number being Derrick Rose and Penny Hardaway.

What part of your game do you pride yourself on?

My ball handling, passing, assists, defensive work and basketball IQ.

What are your goals or bucketlist for 2023 within Basketball? To win championships for the clubs I play for and to continue developing my skills where I can improve my game and take it to that next level.

If you could have dinner with any basketball player past or present, who would you choose? 

Michael Jordan! In my eyes he is the G.O.A.T.
I would ask him to show me all his moves and secrets to his game. He inspires me and I want to be as great as him one day and have all the success he has had on and off the court.