The Mudgee hoop star will play for the Australian basketball team for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles in July.

It is the first time Barnes will don the green and gold for his country, and it is an honour not lost on the 21-year-old.

“It’s pretty good to be selected. I have had people congratulate me,” Barnes said.

After competing for NSW at the Special Olympics National Games in Melbourne, Barnes and his team-mates won gold by defeating Victoria 47-41 in the final.

Barnes thought he played well but didn’t expect to be picked in the Australian team.

“I first got an email telling me about it then I got a letter confirming it all,” he said.

Australia will go up against teams from all over the world with teams from USA, Germany, France and Turkey possibly making an appearance.

“It is going to be a good experience. I’m excited for it,” Barnes said.

Apart from playing for Australia, Barnes said there was another benefit in going over to the USA.

“Hopefully I could meet [LA Lakers and NBA great] Kobe Bryant. I hope to watch a NBA game too,” the Miami Heat supporter said.

Barnes will be joined in the team alongside two other Central West basketballers in Dean Pallier (Orange) and Thomas Preston (West Wyalong).

Eliza Mills from Orange is in the Australian women’s team.

“Honestly I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win a gold medal,” Mills laughed.

“We have a few new girls, but I think we should still be up there. Russia will be our biggest competition, as usual.”

Pallier said he was unsure how the men’s team will go.

“Obviously a gold medal would be good, and I know all the guys in the side,” Pallier said.

“We tend to meet up at the Ivor Burge competition each year, so we know each other’s games, but it’s a bit of an unknown. America will be good I think.”

Barnes will attend a training camp in February on the Gold Coast before contesting the Ivor Burge Championships in Melbourne for NSW Country.

Barnes is the second Mudgee basketballer to be selected for Australia in the last two years.

In 2013, Jordan Woolmer played for Australia at the Deaflympics in Bulgaria.

To get Woolmer there, businesses in the region sponsored him.

Barnes said the trip to Los Angeles will cost him about $8250.

He is looking for sponsorship and if anyone or any business were interested, they can contact Mudgee Basketball Association.