Members from the Tall Ferns squad have converged on South Auckland as they begin their preparations for their first-ever Asia Cup appearance. The FIBA Asia Cup is also a qualifying tournament for the Women’s FIBA World Cup and offers the Tall Ferns their best-ever chance of qualifying through the new FIBA Asia Zone.
Of the 15 players heading into camp, the majority are based abroad, either playing in NCAA tournaments on U.S. Scholarships, or playing in professional leagues in Australia, Italy or Poland. Yet one player is not only still based in New Zealand, but is also yet to finish secondary school – 15 year old Charlisse Leger-Walker.
Leger-Walker is the daughter of Tall Fern legend Leanne Walker, and the sister of Tall Fern Krystal, who is also playing US scholarship basketball of the University of Northern Colarado.
Young Charlisse is already riding high after being part of the Waikato U19 team that won the Under 19 National Championships last night, one of many national champs to her name.
Charlisse is already well-known to the basketball community. She won the junior female basketball player of 2016 at this year’s Basketball New Zealand Awards; has represented Waikato in numerous representative teams, including the Waikato Wizards in the Women’s Basketball Championships. Charlisse has also helped her St Peter’s Cambridge school senior team win back to back New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships. She has represented New Zealand across a number of age ground teams too. And now she is vying for the title of youngest-ever Tall Fern, a team that Charlisse says she has dreamt about being part of for as long as she can remember.
“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the programme at such a young age. My sister had her first trial when she was 16, so I think it’s really cool to be following in her footsteps! My mum also captained the Tall Ferns and went to two Olympics, so I have gained a little bit of knowledge and insight from both of them, which makes going into the camp a little less daunting.”
Charlisse says her goals for camp are to learn what she can from some of the team’s more experienced players who have played US college ball, and have gone on to professional leagues and multiple Tall Ferns campaigns.
“I know that these girls are really top level basketballers, and most play overseas, so I think just playing alongside them would help me further my own skills. However, I do know that this is a trial and I will be playing as hard as I can to give myself the best opportunity to be a part of the team and the programme.
“My main focus is to learn as much as I can from all the coaching staff and also from the players themselves. One player that I look up to is Kalani Purcell. I’m aware of how well she is doing overseas and the level of basketball she is playing. She may not remember, but I did train with her once when she played for Waikato women’s in WBC. Also Jillian Harmon, I remember watching and playing against her in the WBC when she played for Otago when I was 12,” says Charlisse.
Of course basketball is in the family bloodline and Charlisse is not short of help when in need of advice, including from sister Krystal.
“I look up to my sister too, she works hard and encourages me. We have had some good basketball battles in the past and I enjoy training with her when she is home. Mum even gets our little sister Tannika to have a run and work out with us.”
With so much basketball throughout the year, it’s easy to forget that this young talent is only 15 and she still has to find time for study as she approaches some testing years as big exams loom in the next few years.
“I try to balance school and basketball as best I can. As much as I want to train and be the best basketballer I can be, I know how important the academic side of things are, especially because I am looking to go over on a scholarship to the States when I finish high school. While I’m in camp I’ll be in contact with my teachers trying to keep up with as much schoolwork as I can. The teachers and staff at St. Peter’s are very supportive and helpful.”
One teacher who is especially supportive is Charlisse’s Mum, Leanne Walker, who is also the school’s head basketball coach. Naturally Mrs Walker is especially proud of her daughters and says her advice for Charlisse is reasonably straight ahead of the Tall Ferns camp.
“My advice to Charlisse is to go out there and learn as much as she can from the coaching staff and experienced players. To enjoy it, because that’s why we play the game, and to make the most of the opportunity. I would tell her to play without fear, accept that mistakes will probably be made, but adjust and move on.”
Mrs Walker says she is full of proud for having two daughters in the Tall Ferns mix.
“Both entering the Tall Ferns’ culture at such a young age makes me very proud, it’s great knowing that all of the work they put in, the support afforded to them by their family, coaches and friends, has realised for them many opportunities, both within the sport and outside of the sport too. Basketball is enabling them to study, travel make some lifelong connections and some awesome memories with like-minded people.
“It’s great that they have each other too, because they can share each other’s ups and downs…their younger sister also keeps them grounded! Hopefully their experiences help them to become strong, independent, humble, grateful young women.”
