The past weekend saw 49 athletes gathering at Auckland’s Saint Kentigern College for the U17 national camp, with players showcasing their skills in the hopes of being selected to represent New Zealand at the U17 FIBA Oceania Champs in October.
This multi-day event follows on from a series of regional trials held by Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) throughout Aotearoa earlier this year, across both the U17 and U19 World Cup cycles – with this U17 camp preceded by a U16 multi-day national camp at the same venue.
On hand were U19 World Cup cycles coaches Matt Lacey (Mens) and Josh Thompson (Womens), who ran their camps with the support of their coaching teams and were kept busy throughout evaluating the talent on display.
Coach Lacey says that although the first day was ‘a whirlwind’, the players quickly settled into camp for the first time.
“It was good to get some international players in and other guys from around the country; this is the first time the best talent in this age group have been able to go up against each other in this environment. A few nerves, lots of energy and excitement in the gym – which is good to see as we kick off the cycle for the Junior Tall Blacks. I’m excited for what’s to come,” says Lacey.
“As coaches, we want to implement some of our style of play and set expectations on these athletes for when we head to the Oceania Champs in October. So we’ve had four days to implement a lot of offensive and defensive concepts, to expose the athletes to what we’re trying to achieve over this three year cycle – there’s definitely some foundational building blocks for sure.
“For the players, we’re hoping they’ve gotten a level of understanding of the work rate that’s required, of the communication, focus and intensity they need to have success on the world stage.”
Waikato Basketball’s Tannika Leger-Walker, who was one of 25 girls attending the camp but was unable to be on-court due to injury, says that the camp was both exciting and eye-opening.
“It was great to meet new people and to see different faces, especially from previous camps so it’s really good. Obviously before camp I knew I wouldn’t be participating in the drills [due to injury] but I wanted to come in, grow my knowledge and IQ of the game, learn from the coaches and really get to see and understand how my teammates play,” says Leger-Walker.
“Obviously this team is preparing to go away to Oceanias, Asia Cup, then the Worlds [U19 Women’s World Cup] and I’d really love to be a part of that. This camp is about getting everyone together and ready so that when we do head overseas we can compete at the highest level possible, and be competitive against other countries. Just getting an opportunity to be part of that is huge.”
The U19 World Cup Cycle starts in October this year, with the first event for both the Men’s and Women’s teams being the U17 FIBA Oceania Champs (dates and locations TBC). In a similar format to the U17 World Cup Cycle, if either team finishes in the top two of their respective tournament, they qualify for the U18 FIBA Asia Cup in 2024 – which is a pathway to the pinnacle event of this cycle, the U19 FIBA World Cup in 2025.
View the full albums from our U17 and U17 cycles on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/bbnz/albums
U17 Girl’s Team for April 2023 National Camp
- Kaelani Albert-Neha, Waikato Basketball
- Lyric Berridge, NZ
- Arna Bright, Taranaki Basketball
- Alexa Duff, Otago Basketball
- Draun Forbes, Harbour Basketball
- Elise Gilbert, Waikato Basketball
- Olivia Lassey, Waikato Basketball
- Katie Harrington, NZ
- Caitlin Hull, Waikato Basketball
- Waiheke Kohunui, Rotorua Basketball Association
- Mahina-A-Rangi Kukutai-Wairau, Northland Basketball
- Kavanah Lene, Canterbury Basketball Association
- Rebecca Moors, Harbour Basketball
- Molly Morrow, Canterbury Basketball Association
- Aliyah Newton, North Canterbury Basketball Association
- Kiritiana Patea, Tauranga City Basketball Association
- Amy Pateman, Harbour Basketball
- Tia Pavihi, Wellington Basketball Association
- Suraiya Rewi, Basketball Hawkes Bay
- Sophie Rogers, Tauranga City Basketball Association
- Annika Scott, NZ
- Kiama Tahere, Northland Basketball
- Temepara Walker, Waikato Basketball
- Sophie Wilkinson, Basketball Taranaki
- Tannika Leger-Walker*, Waikato Basketball
* Attending camp but is currently injured
U17 Boy’s Team for April 2023 National Camp
- Hadi Alshami, Harbour Basketball
- Adam Barton, Nelson Basketball Association
- Devon Blake-Kaiwai, Basketball Manawatu
- Will Blight, Nelson Basketball Association
- Jonty Bond, Nelson Basketball Association
- Christopher Christof, Basketball Otago
- Ezrah Eagle, Basketball Hawkes Bay
- Julius Halaifonua, Harbour Basketball
- Ashlin Hala’ufia, Mid Canterbury Basketball Association
- Carter Hopoi, Tauranga City Basketball Association
- Ryan Hunt, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball
- Bartosz Jackowski, Harbour Basketball
- Samuel Kenny, Canterbury Basketball Association
- Xanda Marsters, Rotorua Basketball Association
- Ryder Moore, Basketball Hawkes Bay
- Michael Ropotini, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball
- Bailey Smith, Basketball Auckland
- Cody Stevens, Southland Basketball Association
- Te Tatau Strother, Waikato Basketball
- Roera Tipene, Wellington Basketball Association
- Manaia-Ariki Wharepapa, Canterbury Basketball Association
- Oliver Wilson, Waikato Basketball
- Joshua Wyllie, Harbour Basketball
- Christopher Wyllie, Harbour Basketball
