There’s plenty of talent touted to take to the hardwood floors of Te Rauparaha Arena this King’s Birthday weekend at the Foot Locker U20 Nationals.
The Foot Locker U20 tournament has seen some of the brightest young stars in New Zealand basketball show out in a big way. Last year’s tournament saw 2degrees Tall Fern Pahlyss Hokianga lead her Tauranga City squad to the championship, whilst taking home MVP honours. Her teammate and fellow 2degrees Tall Fern, Emma Rogers, taking home the Foot Locker Defensive Player of the Tournament (DPOT).
Tall Black guard, Tama Isaac, led his Canterbury lads to the U20 Men’s title on his way to earning tournament MVP honours, whilst his Christ’s College teammate Ihaka Cate took out the men’s DPOT.
There’s plenty more young talent in action, and on the rise this weekend. Some with Sal’s NBL and Rapid League experience, and potentially even one or two coming home from their first stints in the NCAA.
Here’s who to watch out for in Porirua this weekend:
G, Charis & Shamar Broughton (Tauranga City)
The Tauranga twins who took OVER last year’s U18 Foot Locker National Championships will be looking to emulate the successes that saw them lead their Tauranga City Basketball team to a championship.
In last year’s U18 tournament, Charis & Shamar Broughton were key cogs in the team’s success, with Charis taking home the Foot Locker Defensive Player of the Tournament and Shamar taking home the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (and also dropping 45 points in the semi-final against Rotorua).
The pair were also key contributors in the silver-medal winning New Zealand U16 Women’s team that competed at last year’s U16 Women’s Asia Cup in Malaysia, and will also join Moors in heading away to the U17 Women’s World Cup in Brno.
If you’ve been around basketball in Aotearoa for a little while there’s no doubt you’ve heard the names and know that these two mean business, and this weekend will be no different!
Charis & Shamar Broughton (Tauranga)
G, Keija Miringaorangi (Waikato)
Despite schooling in Tauranga this year, Keija Miringaorangi will return for Waikato in 2026.
The Northern Kāhu development player was a standout for Waikato & Hamilton Girls High last year at the U18 and New Zealand Secondary Schools Nationals, where her teams secured silver and bronze medals respectively.
Another member of the silver-medal winning U17 Women’s squad from the FIBA Oceania Cup, including an efficient 12-point performance in the final.
Miringaorangi is another name to be on the look out for at this year’s iteration of the Foot Locker U20 Nationals.
C, Katie Moors (Harbour)
In a breakout tournament for the Harbour centre, Moors won the New Zealand Secondary Schools ‘AA’ Foot Locker Defensive Player of the Tournament for her efforts on the historic championship winning Westlake squad.
Moors performance in the grand final saw her pull down 18 rebounds, to combine with eight points, five assists and five blocks.
Being named in the New Zealand U17 Women’s squad to go to the World Cup in July means she has chosen to compete up an age group this year to the U20 National tournament.
G, Kahsia Bailey-Nowell (Wellington)
Kahsia Bailey-Nowell makes the move from Taranaki to Wellington this year, but there’s no doubt her shooting ability and command of the floor will be welcomed with open arms in the capital city.
A solid contributor in December’s U17 Women’s team that won silver at the FIBA Oceania Cup in Samoa, knocking down the three ball at a 40% clip.
That’s no surprise to folks who would’ve watched her put up big numbers at last year’s U18 Foot Locker Nationals, where she top scored throughout the entire tournament with 30.3 points per game.
The New Plymouth Girls High standout is set for another big year, and the Foot Locker U20 Nationals could be the opening act for this bright young star.
Kahsia Bailey-Nowell (Wellington)
G/F, Ava Jones (Canterbury)
Her track record speaks for itself. Junior Tall Fern, 2x FIBA silver medallsit, off to the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup, Mainland Pouākai experience, Whelan Trophy champion and now Santa Clara University Bronco commit.
Ava will be one of two Jones’ on display during King’s Birthday weekend, with brother Hayden suiting up for the families hometown association of Nelson. It could potentially be Jones’ last representative tournament before she heads off to join older sister Maia at SCU.
Ava has enjoyed great success in the Canterbury basketball set up, being a member of the Canterbury U18 Women’s squad that came runners-up at last year’s Foot Locker Nationals, while also being named to the tournament’s All-Star Five.
This Canterbury squad is stacked, and her the combination of her abilities to get to the bucket and stretch the floor will mean there’s little doubt that the first name on most opponents scouting reports will be hers.
Ava Jones (Canterbury)
G, Hayden Jones (Nelson)
Yes, you read that right. Junior Tall Black and Wisconsin Badger is back home in the Land of the Long White Cloud and he’s LOCKED IN for this beloved Nelson squad.
Jones is obviously no stranger to representative basketball, his 33-point effort in the 2024 U18 National Grand Final led the way for Nelson 112-66 rout of Manawatū. That performance more or less locking in his Most Valuable Player honours at that tournament.
Jones made his Tall Black debut in 2024, and played all five of their warm up games during the pre-tournament build up to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.
Hayden recently spent his freshman NCAA season for the University of Wisconsin. Jones played 27 games for the 14-6 Badgers in the 25/26 season, and the experience that’ll bring to this Nelson squad will no doubt be invaluable.
Hayden Jones (Nelson)
F/C, Harry Keighley (Hawke’s Bay)
Keighley returns to the U20 Nationals after spending the 2025-26 NCAA season at Division II school Indiana University at Pennslyvania.
Keighley was impressive during his two seasons with his hometown Hawke’s Bay Hawks at the Sal’s NBL and Rapid League levels with his size and ability to stretch the floor.
His efforts at last year’s U20 Nationals saw him earn All-Star Five honours, as his Hawke’s Bay squad took home silver. He’ll be a key component in Porirua this weekend if they want to repeat the same success as last year’s tournament.
G, Cooper Lepou (Harbour)
Lepou continues to make waves in the New Zealand hoops space, quickly becoming one of Aotearoa’s most promising athletes.
Making his debut in the Sal’s NBL last year, and impressing as a 16 year-old incredible shot making ability averaging 10.8 points per game (shooting over 40% from three). His attendance at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Camp – Asia, also reflected in his selection to the camp’s All-Star squad.
At least year’s Foot Locker U18 Nationals, he ably led his Waikato side to a fourth place finish in Christchurch, falling just two-points short of bronze to the hands of Waitākere West.
His move to Rosmini College also sees him change affliation in association-land. It’ll be his first national tournament in the Harbour maroon, but nothing will change how exciting this young guard is.
Cooper Lepou (Harbour)
G, Harry Kelso (Franklin)
Franklin’s very own standout Harry Kelso will be another to watch out for in Porirua this coming weekend.
Kelso’s stock has been steadily rising over the last few years, now heading into his second season as a member of the Franklin Bulls in the Sal’s NBL. He was a member of the historic U17 Oceania Cup squad that won gold in Samoa late last year and was a member of the Junior Tall Blacks squad that recently attended the U18 Albert Schweitzer tournament in Germany.
These two experiences have only aided Kelso’s development. With that on board, it would be a shock to very few to see Kelso explode at the Foot Locker U20 Nationals this long weekend.
G/F, Ihaka Cate (Canterbury)
The former Christ’s College Head Prefect had an incredible 2025.
A member of the champion Canterbury side at last year’s Foot Locker U20 Nationals. He earnt the Foot Locker Defensive Player of the Tournament, as well as being named in the All-Star 5.
He appeared in 11 Sal’s NBL games for the Rams (15 Rapid League appearances), and has continued to be a key cog in the Rams rotation, boasting an elevated role at the beginning of the 2026 Sal’s NBL season.
Cate brings toughness and defensive fortitude on that end of the floor for Canterbury, and it’s no doubt his voice and leadership both on and off the floor will be a key cog in Canterbury’s success at this year’s U20 Nationals.
Ihaka Cate (Canterbury)
