Photo courtesy of Richard Connelly / Gamefacenz
Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) can confirm an extended list of players for the U15 Boy’s & Girl’s National Teams, who will be participating in a National Selection Camp in Auckland from 24-26 April.
These athletes have been selected from the U15 Regional Selection Trials held in October 2021 and January this year, as well as from prior National Camps and National Championships. This selection camp will be these player’s last exposure activity before the U15 National Championships, after which 12 boys and 12 girls will be selected for the U15 National Teams.
Following this, both teams will head overseas to participate in the U15 FIBA Oceania Championships, to be held in Guam from 21–26 November 2022.
U15 Boy’s National Squad
The male athletes attending the U15 National Selection Camp are:
Antonio Verhoeven, Benjamin Ashman, CJ Flavell, Dov Silberstein, Gus Dallow, Hayden Jones, Hozay Tito-Haitana, Hunter Te Ratana, Ihaka Cate, Jameer Reed, Kaia Cameron, Kingston Manihera-Dankwa, George Clydesdale, Kobe Costley, Lachlan Crate, Liam Van Der Heyden, Merrick Rillstone, Michael Wade, Nehemaiah Su’a, Oscar Goodman, Regan Wilson, Rhylee Henderson, Tamati Chandler, Toa Rangatira Parata, Troy Wentworth and Troy Plumtree.
This squad will be helmed by Leyton Haddleton as head coach, with Brent Matehaere and Jason Crummer named as assistant coaches.
Coach Haddleton says that one of the most exciting parts of the camp is getting to know the players in more detail – building a relationship with them and helping them on their basketball journey.
“We’ve had the four regional camps and have had to select the athletes coming to the National Camp after one day of watching them play and only brief interactions; so I’m looking forward to finding out where they’ve come from, where they’re trying to get to, and what do they want to do with their basketball career,” says Haddleton.
“This is the starting point for these athletes being involved in New Zealand programmes, so it’s also talking to them about what it means to represent the black – the values that are underpinned by what the Tall Blacks do with their ‘Tu Kaha’ – and getting kids to understand the importance of that.”
Haddleton says that at the New Zealand level, he and other national team coaches are the recipients of the great coaching that is going on around the country.
“The athletes we’ve got in front of us is a total reflection of how well we’re doing as a country, and I’m grateful for all the hard work that all the volunteer coaches do out there in the community; it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
U15 Girl’s National Squad
The female players attending the U15 National Selection Camp are:
Anaiya Nelson, Ashleigh Minonette Tuumaialu, Bailey Flavell, Breanna Jones, Brooke Perrim, Eden Tapsell, Emily Tanira, Emma Rogers, Graecyn Parahi, Jada Ormsby, Jaeda Lynch-Brown, Jessie Whinwray, Kahurangi Skudder, Kodee Williams-Sefo, Lana Roach, Lily Fotu, Maggie Manson, Melissa Wood, Mya Tipene-Tagoai, Ophelia Powell, Pahlyss Hokianga, Rafferty Powell, Stirling Clarke-Lloyd, Storey Sadler, Teia Koopu, Terongomaianiwaniwa Williams, Theresa Biladi, Waikimihia Douglas-Karauna and Zenthia Stowers.
Head coach is Mel Bennett, supported by Sarah Molisa and Frances Tilly as assistant coaches.
Coach Bennett says that the camp will focus on building culture and creating a whānau atmosphere, while providing opportunities for athletes to engage, perform and stand out.
“Whilst we’re looking for group of girls who can perform on court, we’re also looking for girls who show leadership, can communicate, and hold themselves accountable,” says Bennett.
“It’ll be amazing to see the girls come together for this opportunity, to not only see how they perform on court, but also how they cope with the camp type environment.”
Bennett says the goal is to keep building on the “tremendous work” that has been done locally, so the team is in the best shape – and form – for Guam in November.
“The talent we have in this age group is phenomenal and the work they have been putting in through our monitoring system has been outstanding so far.
“Ultimately we want to be at the World Cup in 2024, so everything we’re doing now is in preparation towards that.”
BBNZ National Pathways Manager, Mel Downer says the U15 National Selection Camp comes at a busy time for national teams this year.
“With eight international FIBA events this year, including all six of our junior national teams in action, it feels like international basketball is starting to return to relatively normalality – which is great,” says Downer.
“So the Auckland Camp is the start of these U15 players preparing for that; giving them seven months of training and development before they represent their country on the international stage.”
Downer says that BBNZ continues to take a serious approach to the safety of all athletes in this Covid environment, in particular for younger players.
“It’s vital that we keep these athletes safe, whether it’s at the Camp or heading overseas to Guam at end of year; their families rely on us to ensure each player’s healthy and safe so of course we take that seriously.”
U15 Boy’s National Squad
Antonio Verhoeven, West Coast Basketball Association
Benjamin Ashman, Canterbury Basketball Association
CJ Flavell, Te Aroha Basketball Association
Dov Silberstein, Wellington Basketball Association
Gus Dallow, Harbour Basketball
Hayden Jones, Nelson Basketball Association
Hozay Tito-Haitana, Lake Taupo Basketball Association
Hunter Te Ratana, Northland Basketball
Ihaka Cate, Canterbury Basketball Association
Jameer Reed, Harbour Basketball
Kaia Cameron, Canterbury Basketball Association
Kingston Manihera-Dankwa, Basketball Hawkes Bay
George Clydesdale, New Zealand
Kobe Costley, Canterbury Basketball Association
Lachlan Crate, Basketball Manawatu
Liam Van Der Heyden, Waikato Country Basketball Association
Merrick Rillstone, Waikato Basketball Association
Michael Wade, Te Aroha Basketball Association
Nehemaiah Su’a, Basketball Manawatu
Oscar Goodman, Basketball Taranaki
Regan Wilson, Tauranga City Basketball Association
Rhylee Henderson, Canterbury Basketball Association
Tamati Chandler, Tauranga City Basketball Association
Toa Rangatira Parata, North Canterbury Basketball Association
Troy Wentworth, Harbour Basketball
Troy Plumtree, Wellington Basketball Association
U15 Girl’s National Squad
Anaiya Nelson, Waikato Basketball Association
Ashleigh Minonette Tuumaialu, Counties Manukau Basketball Association
Bailey Flavell, Harbour Basketball
Breanna Jones, Basketball Manawatu
Brooke Perrim, North Canterbury Basketball Association
Eden Tapsell, Tauranga City Basketball Association
Emily Tanira, Counties Manukau Basketball Association
Emma Rogers, Tauranga City Basketball Association
Graecyn Parahi, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Jada Ormsby, Tauranga City Basketball Association
Jaeda Lynch-Brown, Canterbury Basketball Association
Jessie Whinwray, New Zealand
Kahurangi Skudder, Basketball Manawatu
Kodee Williams-Sefo, Harbour Basketball
Lana Roach, Waikato Country Basketball Association
Lily Fotu, Harbour Basketball
Maggie Manson, Southland Basketball Association
Melissa Wood, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball Inc.
Mya Tipene-Tagoai, Hutt Valley Basketball Association
Ophelia Powell, North Canterbury Basketball Association
Pahlyss Hokianga, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Rafferty Powell, North Canterbury Basketball Association
Stirling Clarke-Lloyd, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Storey Sadler, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Teia Koopu, Waikato Basketball Association
Terongomaianiwaniwa Williams, North Canterbury Basketball Association
Theresa Biladi, Waikato Basketball Association
Waikimihia Douglas-Karauna, Rotorua Basketball Association
Zenthia Stowers, Harbour Basketball
