The 18-year-old will line up for his 10th Big V basketball game with the Warrnambool Seahawks this year when the Tim Gainey-coached side takes on Warrandyte Venom on Saturday.

This would see Rea equal his 2018 record just past the halfway point of the season.

And now the developing forward is setting his mind on improving his decision-making and increasing his average time spent on court.

"It's definitely a reward for effort," he said.

"As an individual goal I'd love to soon be playing 10 minutes per game at a consistent level."

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Rea, who is spending his gap year working as a trainee in the Warrnambool College maths department, says he feels lucky to be coached by Gainey.

"The main thing he gets through to me is to always be settled," he said.

"I'm getting used to the speed of the game and understanding what level you have to play against better sides.

"I hope to bring plenty of energy each week, make sure I get up and down the court, and find easy looks on the fast breaks."

But the Miami Heat fan, whose favourite player is Josh Richardson, said former coaches Chris Toone, Rebel Noter and John Wormald also played formative roles in his basketball education.

And out on the court, Rea says he takes every opportunity to learn from Seahawks import Xavier Johnson-Blount.

"It's pretty awesome getting to play with 'X'," Dea said.

"Pardon the pun but he really brings that 'X-factor' that can lift the team in close games, as well as all his energy and enthusiasm at training to boost morale."

Warrnambool, cruelled by injuries to key players, has gone through an incredibly inconsistent season.

This was showcased by the last two rounds in which the Seahawks defeated the Big V's then top side, Western Port Steelers, before they lost to the previously winless Latrobe City Energy.

But Rea said anything less than a finals berth would make the season a failure for Warrnambool, currently seventh with 7-7 record.

"There's no reason we can't go number one," he said.

"We've beaten three top sides, so I think the Seahawks can go all the way.

"I hear stories about 2016, when they won the championship, and I remember watching that game, so it would be an amazing feeling to be part of that ultimate team success."

The winless Mermaids, who sit at the foot of the 10-team championship grade ladder, face the toughest assignment in their pool.

They will host top-placed Werribee Devils on Saturday night.

The Devils have a 10-1 win-loss record.

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