The life membership is based on his overall commitment to the club as a player, coach and referee.

Luke is well respected in the basketball community for his magnificent ability to play the game, but also for putting plenty back into the game he loves.

Whether it is coaching junior and senior teams or umpiring he continues to foster the sport on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

"The teams I coach, I encourage high scoring and free-flowing basketball and to receive life membership was very much a surprise.

"I am well aware of what the other life members have done for the club and for basketball and to be acknowledged alongside them is a huge honour.

"They have done so much," Luke said.

Luke commenced his senior playing career in the summer season of 1992/93 and it has spanned many premierships, best and fairest awards, most valued player awards and highest point scoring trophies.

His senior basketball career to date has seen him score a total of 11,231 points in senior, minor round games.

Luke commenced as a referee for the Great Southern Amateur Basketball Association when he was an under 16 player and progressed to a Level 2 umpire over the years and still is an active referee for the association.

Luke has coached successfully at A grade level for men and women, under 16 boys and girls and A grade reserve men and women, so his involvement in basketball has had a massive impact at all levels.

The club had only ever inducted three life members before Luke, so he has now become part of a very exclusive club.

One of the life members of the Goolwa Magic Basketball Club, Bryan Lindsay said that Luke is a very worthy recipient of the honour.

"As a player and coach, Luke has done an inordinate amount.

"His record as a basketballer on the South Coast is second to none.

"Every season over the past 10 years Luke has coached three or four teams and does it with a minimum of fuss," Bryan said.