Just take a look at Joe Ingles.

In the three months since the South Dragons’ debut season came to an end, Ingles has worked at a fast and furious rate to take his game to the next level.

The 19-year-old this week returned from a six-day visit to the Australian Institute of Sport where he trained with the national under-19 and senior national squads.

The impromptu Boomers camp was Ingles’ first hit-out with the senior squad and, given his recent form, certainly not his last.

“I got a call just before I left for Canberra on Tuesday to say there were six or seven guys going in (to the AIS) for a bit of fitness work and just to get together and see where we were all at,” Ingles said.

“We did two gym sessions on Saturday and Sunday, a fitness component focusing on our running style and then two shooting sessions each day.”

Ingles was joined at the two-day camp by Jason Smith (Sydney Kings), Glen Saville (Sydney Kings), Darnell Mee (Cairns Taipans), Luke Schenscher (free agent) and Mark Worthington (Sydney Kings).

“It was good to meet all the guys I hadn’t met before and to meet them personally, not just shake their hand after a game. They were all really good and I got on well with them all so it will be an interesting camp in June.”

But not only was the camp a chance to meet and greet fellow NBL stars; for Ingles, it presented his first real encounter with national coach Brian Goorjian.

“I hadn’t really spoken to Brian before until last Tuesday or Wednesday at the Emus’ game,” Ingles said.

“Brian was there watching so I sat down and had a chat to him. He asked me what I was up to with the Dragons in the off-season and I told him what we were doing and he agreed with it all, so it was good.”

Ingles will return to Canberra in June to take part in a 21-man development camp before the Boomers’ tour to China.

“The camp is for the 21-man squad but Brian wants me and Wortho (Mark Worthington) to go as well,” Ingles said.

“We’re actually in the 17-man squad but we’re not doing anything when the camp is on so we’ll go up to learn all the offences before the main camp at the Gold Coast, where I’m going to have to know everything to get selected.”

And while he is upbeat about his own national prospects, Ingles was this week just as excited to see future South Dragons teammate Shannon Seebohm named to the Emus’ line-up.

“I spoke to Shannon at the camp when I was there, it’s obviously great for him, it’s the highest achievement for his age group and to play for his country will be awesome,” Ingles said.

Read the latest instalment in Joe Ingles' on-line diary HERE.