New Zealand Tall Ferns guard Jordan Hunter has made an impressive return to the Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) this season.
The former Counties Manukau age-group standout is leading the league in assists and has been a key cog in the Auckland Dream’s success.
The athletic point guard reunited with the Dream coaching tandem of Aik Ho and Tania Hunter, who is also Jordan’s Mum.
“Aik is a great coach and I like his style. I think the Dream have a great management group supporting him which will flow into our group,” said Hunter.
“Also, I was coached by my mum growing up, so I’m excited to have her on the coaching staff – it’s been a while since I’ve played for her,” she added.
Hunter has split her playing commitments between the Dream and West Adelaide Bearcats that play in the South Australia Premier League.
One of the highlights of Hunter’s domestic playing career was making the WBC Final with Auckland Counties Manukau in 2015. She was named to the WBC All-Star Five that year after leading the competition in points (20.3ppg) and assists (4.5apg).
The assembling of an exciting squad was what drew Hunter to take this opportunity and that 28-year-old has made it clear she wants to make a run at the title.
“It’s great to come home and play in front of your family and friends, but also I wanted to come home to support the WBC.
Dream Head Coach and Tall Ferns assistant Aik Ho had little doubt about the qualities Hunter would bring to the Dream set-up.
“We are very fortunate to have Jordan with the Dream programme this year. It’s been great to have her back during the season both on and off the court with her great leadership.
“Jordan is a great role model to our younger players. We have always talked to Jordan about coming back to Auckland. We are so happy to see her back in New Zealand and we also want to help her prepare for the upcoming Tall Ferns campaign,” added Ho.
Hunter debuted for the Tall Ferns in Japan in 2010 whilst still on a basketball scholarship in the States (firstly at Crowder College then at Southeast Missouri State University).
She has been pretty much a permanent fixture in the national team ever since and was a member of the bronze medal winning team at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
