Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) are pleased to announce its extended list of players for the U18 Men’s & Women’s National Teams, who will be participating in a National Selection Camp in Auckland from 21-23 April.
These athletes have been selected from the U18 Regional Selection Trials held by BBNZ in February, as well as from previous National Camps and National Championships. The selection camp will be their last exposure activity before the U19 National Championships, after which 12 Men and 12 Women will be selected for the U18 National Teams.
Following this, both teams will be heading overseas to participate in their respective U18 FIBA Asia Cup tournaments.
U18 Women’s National Squad
The female players attending the U18 National Selection Camp are:
Abby Harris, Alana Paewai, Allyah Leusogi-Ape, Ebony-Shavaugn Vole, Florence Dallow, Isabel Pugh, Jyordanna Davey, Kate Herman, Kellie Tawhiao, Kyla Lynch-Brown, Laura Jackson, Lauren Tewhata, Lilly Parke, Mackenzie Chatfield, Maddie Morrow, Maddison Tinnock, Maia Chandler, Mayako Taingahue, Qaizden Stephano, Sarah-Joy Aruwa, Sydney Neale, Teghan Ngatai, Teuila Fa’alogo, Tia Calais Remuera, Vitolia Tuilave and Ina Reupena.
Head coach will be Nat Visger, supported by Shay Haira and Liam Connelly as assistant coaches.
The squad will be competing in the U18 Women’s FIBA Asia Cup, which this year is being held in India from 5-11 September. Coach Visger says that the April Selection Camp gives her a change to begin shaping this team together and building a cohesive, dynamic unit.
“At the camp we’ll be putting the players into situations where they can gel and bond as a team, as because of Covid it’s been a challenge to get everyone together,” says Visger.
“We’ll be looking for players that are dynamic, who can offer multiple dimensions. We’re not going to be a very ‘big’ team height-wise, so we’re looking for players who can get out and run and attack the hoop – and we’ve got some great shooters in this group too which compliments that style of play.”
Visger says that the team will have its sights firmly set on taking a competitive squad to the U18 Women’s FIBA Asia Cup.
“We’re trying to put our best foot forward, and that starts with bringing our best squad; we’ll be trying to qualify for the World Cup, so if we play our best basketball we give ourselves a serious shot at achieving that.”
U18 Men’s National Squad
The following athletes will be attending the U18 Men’s National Selection Camp:
Hunter Adam, Zion Anderson, Danyon Ashcroft, Thomas Beattie, Dane Bertinshaw, Salem Broughton, Charlie Dalton, River Drefers, Jacob Fotu, Thomas Harrison, Tyrael Cage Heke, Toby Lewis, Joshua Muggleston, Ezekiel Priest, Cameron Quinnell, Riley Sa, Campbell Scott, Phoenix Sorensen, Kalem Tanoa, Zach Thomas, Riley Rihari Tuuta, Luka Vea, Gareth Washer and Tautoko Wynyard.
This squad will be helmed by Miles Pearce as head coach, with Justin Bailey and Jayden Smith named as his assistant coaches.
The U18 Men’s team will make its way to the U18 Men’s FIBA Asia, which this year takes place from 21–28 August in Iran.
BBNZ National Pathways Manager, Mel Downer says that the National Selection Camp will be a great opportunity to gauge and evaluate the abundance of kiwi talent available to both national teams.
“We’ve got some exciting young athletes coming to this camp and it’s a chance for them to show what they can bring to the national team – this is their chance to shine,” says Downer.
“There’s also a small number of athletes that were selected for the U18 national squads who cannot attend the camp for various reasons – be it existing NBL commitments or that they’re based in the United States – that are still in contention for selection prior to the U18 FIBA Asia Cup.
“As with our other age group activities, we’re working hard to mitigate the risk of Covid spread during these international competitions – which means going to great lengths to ensure our players can attend and compete in a safe environment.”
U18 Women’s National Squad
Abby Harris, Basketball Otago
Alana Paewai, Waikato Basketball Association
Allyah Leusogi-Ape, Basketball Auckland
Ebony-Shavaugn Vole, Hutt Valley Basketball Association
Florence Dallow, Harbour Basketball
Ina Reupena, New Zealand
Isabel Pugh, Harbour Basketball
Jyordanna Davey, Hutt Valley Basketball Association
Kate Herman, Canterbury Basketball Association
Kellie Tawhiao, Harbour Basketball
Kyla Lynch-Brown, Canterbury Basketball Association
Laura Jackson, Southland Basketball Association
Lauren Tewhata, Wellington Basketball Association
Lilly Parke, Basketball Auckland
Mackenzie Chatfield, Harbour Basketball
Maddie Morrow, Canterbury Basketball Association
Maddison Tinnock, Southland Basketball Association
Maia Chandler, Waikato Basketball Association
Mayako Taingahue, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball Inc.
Qaizden Stephano, Harbour Basketball
Sarah-Joy Aruwa, Counties-Manukau Basketball Association
Sydney Neale, Waikato Basketball Association
Teghan Ngatai, Basketball Taranaki
Teuila Fa’alogo, Harbour Basketball
Tia Calais Remuera, Hutt Valley Basketball Association
Vitolia Tuilave, Tauranga City Basketball Association
U18 Men’s National Team
Cameron Quinnell, Basketball Taranaki
Campbell Scott, Basketball Manawatu
Charlie Dalton, Harbour Basketball
Hunter Adam, Canterbury Basketball Association
Dane Bertinshaw, Basketball Manawatu
Danyon Ashcroft, North Otago Basketball Association
Ezekiel Priest, Harbour Basketball
Gareth Washer, Basketball Taranaki
Jacob Fotu, Harbour Basketball
Joshua Muggleston, Basketball Auckland
Kalem Tanoa, Basketball Manawatu
Luka Vea, Basketball Auckland
Phoenix Sorensen, Waitekere West Auckland Inc
Riley Rihari Tuuta, Basketball Taranaki
Riley Sa, Basketball Mid Canterbury
River Drefers, Basketball Auckland
Salem Broughton, Tauranga City Basketball Association
Tautoko Wynyard, Harbour Basketball
Thomas Beattie, Harbour Basketball
Thomas Harrison, Canterbury Basketball Association
Toby Lewis, North Otago Basketball Association
Tyrael Cage Heke, Franklin Basketball
Zach Thomas, New Zealand
Zion Anderson, Harbour Basketball
