The Sky Sport Tall Ferns longlist of 24 have assembled in camp and will be preparing over the following week ahead of a showcase game featuring 13 capped players and 11 uncapped rookies.
The most capped in the relatively young group of players includes Stella Beck (47 Tall Ferns games) and Penina Davidson (48 games). Both will be a key part of leadership for this group. They will support Assistant Coaches Jody Cameron and Aik Ho, and former player now Manager Lisa Wallbutton. Head Coach Guy Molloy is unable to attend from Melbourne due to lockdown restrictions, so is guiding the team’s Assistants from his home in Melbourne.
Stella Beck says she is happy to be back in camp and relishing the week ahead.
“There are a lot of new faces here. So, we are using this week to get to know each other better.
“For a lot of us, it will be great to be back in a team environment and back onto court again, so we need to get our feet under us during the coming days before the Showcase.”
Beck says Coach Molloy has spoken to both her and Davidson, before the week began. She says a key message was setting expectations and sharing team values that are a big part of this team’s culture.
“We’ve got team values that we uphold within the Tall Ferns and, for those coming into this environment for this first time, it’s a chance to learn about those.
“Four key points will be enjoyment, positivity, improvement and competitiveness. We’ve talked about these aspects for a long time and they’ve been part of this team since before I made the squad. We try to carry those values through and bring them to every training. Players learn embrace those core values and uphold them,” says Beck.
Of the original list released on 10 July, there are two changes. Krystal Leger-Walker has withdrawn with a need to quickly return to the US while Kaitlin Noyer is out injured. They are replaced by Kendell Heremaia and Jazzmine Kailahi-Fulu.
This is very much a young squad. Tall Ferns based in Australia such as Kalani Purcell, Ashleigh Karaitiana, Natalie Taylor and Toni Edmondson will not be part of the camp due to travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. The Tall Ferns programme is using this time to foster talent with a goal to making the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Australia. The question is, within this group of 24, who will play their way into the higher ranks and be seen as one of the core 12 that can lead the way for New Zealand women’s basketball? The Showcase, tipping off at 5pm ahead of the Sal’s NBL Grand Final on Saturday, will give insight into the answer.
PROFILES:
Stella Beck
- Melbourne Boomers (Australia)
- Position: Guard
- Height: 1.79m
- Born: September 25, 1995
- Junior Association – Hutt Valley
- High School – Hutt Valley High School
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2013 (Appearances 47)
Beck was a member of the New Zealand team that won the William Jones Cup in 2018 (averaged 17.8ppg) and was also a member of the 2019 team that finished runners-up (averaged 12.0ppg). Played all three games at 2019 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland.
Played for Melbourne Boomers in 2019/20 Australian WNBL – the team were beaten semi-finalists. She has resigned for 2020/21.
Beck began her professional career playing for Townsville Fire in the WNBL in 2018/19.
She enjoyed a standout career at St Mary’s College, California. There, in 2018, she was named first team All-West Coast Conference for the second time in her career after leading the Gaels in scoring, steals and free-throw shooting in her final collegiate season.
She was also named to the WCC All-Academic First Team for the third time in her career. Beck finished her career 10th on the all-time scoring list at Saint Mary’s with 1,439 career points.
Prior to college Beck won back-to-back National Secondary School Championships at Hutt Valley High in 2010 and 2011. In 2013 named MVP after helping Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers claim the WBC National championship.
Jacinta Beckley
- Sunbury Jets (Australia)
- Position: Guard
- Born July 30, 1995
- Height 1.85m
- Local Association: Kapiti Coast/Hutt Valley
- High School: Paraparaumu College
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2015 (Appearances 10).
Beckley debuted for the Tall Ferns in 2015 and was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2018 William Jones Cup.
She spent four years at Seattle University playing 90 games for the Redhawks. In her senior year, she was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference Second Team after averaging 12.3 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Beckley began her professional career in 2018 playing for BEAC Ujbuda in Hungary before linking up with Sunbury Jets in Melbourne in 2019. Averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds in the Big V League. In 2013, she won a WBC championship alongside Stella Beck with the Hutt Valley-Porirua Flyers.
Brooke Blair
- Brisbane Capitals (Australia)
- Position: Guard
- Height: 1.73m
- Born: October 8,1994
- Junior Association – North Harbour
- High School – Rangitoto College
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2016 (Appearances 12)
Was a member of the team that won the William Jones Cup in 2018. Recalled to the team for the 2019 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland.
Blair attended Rangitoto College, played representative basketball for North Harbour age-group teams and Harbour Breeze, and then spent five years in the States. She spent two years at Northeastern Junior College, Colorado before moving on to Idaho State University where she was a standout shooting guard for the Bengals.
After graduating from Idaho State, she played two seasons for Rockhampton Cyclones (2018 and 2019) in the Queensland Basketball League. At Rockhampton in 2019, she shot 42% (64/154) from beyond the arc and 81% (39/48) from the free-throw line.
Blair was due to play for Brisbane Capitals in the inaugural NBL1 in 2020.
Ella Bradley
- Waikato Wizards
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.82m
- Born: August 18, 2001
- Junior Association – Waikato
- High School – St Peter’s School, Cambridge
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Having completed her studies at St Peter’s School, Bradley is to head to Utah State Eastern (Junior College) later in 2020.
Bradley has a heady list of accomplishments to her name. She has multiple age group national championship successes with Waikato and five successive Secondary Schools National Championship Final appearances – one silver medal and four golds! Named to the Tournament Team in 2019.
In 2019 she represented New Zealand at the FIBA 3×3 U18 Asia Cup in Malaysia, playing alongside Emme Shearer and Helen Matthews.
In April 2019 Bradley was part of the St Peter’s School, team that finished a highly creditable fifth at the ISF World Schools Championship on the island of Crete – the team only lost one game.
In 2018, she played on the New Zealand team at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Belarus and also for the Junior Tall Ferns at the U18 Asia Cup in India.
Averaged 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for Waikato Wizards in the 2019 WBC.
Tayla Dalton
- Harbour Breeze
- Position: Guard
- Height: 1.74m
- Born: October 1, 2001
- Junior Association – North Harbour
- High School – Carmel College
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Attended Carmel College where she was head girl in 2019.
Played on the New Zealand team that won silver at the FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia in 2019. The other team members were Sharne Pupuke, Ashlee Strawbridge and Charlisse Leger-Walker.
In 2018 she played on the New Zealand team at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Belarus and also for the Junior Tall Ferns at the U18 Asia Cup in India.
Dalton is due to head to St Mary’s College, California on a four-year scholarship very soon. Stella Beck attended St Mary’s, and Kiwis Quinn Clinton and Dan Fotu currently play on the men’s team.
Averaged 9.7 points per game for Harbour Breeze in the 2019 WBC.
Penina Davidson
- Harbour Breeze/Melbourne Boomers (Australia).
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.90m
- Born: September 2, 1995
- Junior Association – Waitakere
- High School – Rangitoto College
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2013 (Appearances 48)
Davidson was a member of the Tall Ferns team that won the William Jones Cup in 2018 where she averaged 11.4ppg and 10.6rpg. Also played on the silver-medal winning team at the 2019 event averaging 15.2ppg.
She played all three games at 2019 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland, where she was the leading rebounder at the tournament averaging 11.3 boards per game. In addition, she averaged 16 points per game to finish fourth in overall scoring. Named to the All-Star 5 in 2019 WBC after averaging 15 points and 13 rebounds per game, and helping Harbour Breeze to the Grand Final.
Began her professional career playing for Adelaide Lightning in the Australian WNBL in 2018/19. Played for Melbourne Boomers in 2019/20 WNBL – team were beaten semi-finalists and has resigned for the 20/21 season.
Davidson completed her four-year scholarship at the University of California, Berkley in 2018. She played a total of 130 games for the Golden Bears averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Started all 64 games for the Bears in her final two years.
Matangiroa Flavell
- Waikato Wizards
- Position: Guard
- Born: September 28, 1997
- Height: 1.80m
- Junior Association – Rotorua
- High School: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Koutu
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2019 (Appearances 5)
Flavell was a member of the Tall Ferns team that finished runners-up at the 2019 William Jones Cup.
Following high school, Flavell spent a year at Otago University before attending Midland Community College in Texas for two years. After graduating from Midland, she moved on to Houston Baptist University for the 2018/19 NCAA season.
Played for Harbour in the 2019 WBC season, helping the Breeze reach the Grand Final. Prior to that had played for Rotorua Vols. Will play for Waikato Wizards in 2020.
Ella Fotu
- Harbour Breeze
- Position: Guard
- Born: June 1, 1996
- Height: 1.75m
- Junior Association – North Harbour
- High School: Rangitoto College
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2019 (Appearances 10)
Fotu was a member of the Tall Ferns team that finished runners-up at the 2019 William Jones Cup. Played just one game at the 2019 FIBA Asia Cup in India due to illness. Played at the 2019 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland.
Debuted for Harbour Breeze in 2013 as a 16-year-old. A member of the Breeze team that finished runners-up in the 2019 WBC season, she averaged 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals during the season.
Played for various New Zealand age-group teams, including the team that attended the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in 2013.
Sister of Tall Blacks Isaac and Dan Fotu, Ella spent three years at college in the States winning an NCAA Division II PacWest Conference Championship playing for Hawaii Pacific University Sharks in 2017.
Tanaka Gapare
- Wellington
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.90m
- Born: September 16, 1996
- Junior Association – Wellington
- High School – Samuel Marsden High School
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
After high school went to Odessa College (Junior College) from 2016-2018.
Played for New Zealand at the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Changsha, China.
Mary Goulding
- IK Eos in Sweden/Bendigo Spirit, Australia.
- Position: Forward
- Born: August 24, 1996
- Height: 1.83m
- Junior Association – Canterbury
- High School: Rangiora High
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2013 (Appearances 7)
Was a member of the Tall Ferns team that finished runners-up at the 2019 William Jones Cup. Played for NZ Select against China B in 2016.
Following high school, Goulding spent a year at Gillette College in Wyoming before being recruited by Fordham University.
In her senior year at Fordham in 2018-19 she earned First Team All-Conference honours, Most Outstanding Player accolade at the Atlantic 10 Championship and was also named to the A-10 All-Academic team. Goulding led the Rams to the programme’s second-ever Atlantic 10 Championship.
Played for Rockhampton Cyclones in the QBL in 2019 before signing for IK Eos in Sweden for the 2019-20 European season. She finished second in scoring (12.7ppg) and rebounding (9.3rpg) for Eos.
She has recently signed for Bendigo Spirit for the upcoming 2020/21 Australian WNBL season.
Kendell Heremaia
- Fordham University (USA)
- Position: Guard
- Born April 14, 1999
- Height: 1.75m
- Junior Association – Waikato
- High School: St Peter’s School, Cambridge
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Heremaia graduated from St Peter’s in 2016 and has gone on to play 99 games in her three years at Fordham University.
In her sophomore year at Fordham in 2018-19 she played alongside Mary Goulding and Zara Jillings as the Rams won their second-ever Atlantic 10 Championship. She enjoyed an outstanding 2019-20 season as captain of the Rams, starting in all 32 games and averaging 11.8ppg. She led the team in rebounds (7.8rpg), steals (46) and assists (87).
Helped Waikato and St Peter’s to numerous National Championship triumphs.
Played for NZ at the FIBA U18 Oceania Championships in Fiji.
Zara Jillings
- Fordham University (USA)
- Position: Guard
- Born: May 30, 1998
- Height: 1.75m
- Junior Association – North Harbour
- High School: Westlake Girls High
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2017 (Appearances 18)
Was a member of the 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medal winning team.
Played three games for the Tall Ferns at the FIBA Asia Cup in 2017.
Jillings graduated from Westlake Girls’ High School in 2016 and has never missed a game in her three years at Fordham University, playing 100 consecutive games.
In her sophomore year at Fordham in 2018-19 she played alongside Kendell Heremaia and Mary Goulding as the Rams won their second-ever Atlantic 10 Championship.
Jazzmine Kailahi-Fulu
- Harbour Breeze
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.85m
- Born: March 21, 2002
- Junior Association – North Harbour
- High School – St Mary’s College, Ponsonby
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Played on the New Zealand team at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup in Belarus where she was the team’s leading rebounder pulling down nine rebounds per game. She also averaged 6.1ppg.
Played for Harbour Breeze in 2018, averaging 5.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
In 2019 Kailahi-Fulu was named to the Tournament Team at the U19 National Championships where she helped Harbour win the title. Also, named to Tournament Team at Secondary Schools Nationals where St Mary’s finished third.
Ashleigh Kelman-Poto
- Harbour Breeze
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.86m
- Born: December 30, 1991
- Junior Association – Auckland
- High School – Mt Albert Grammar School
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Attended North Idaho Junior College (2011-12) followed by two years at East Central University (NCAA Division II).
Kelman-Poto played for Gladstone City Power in the Queensland Basketball League in 2018 and 2019.
She doubled up in 2019 when also playing for Harbour Breeze, averaging 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds over six games in the WBC. In the Grand Final against Auckland Dream, she recorded 18 points and 9 rebounds.
Older sister of Franklin Bulls forward Dom Kelman-Poto
Charlisse Leger-Walker
- Waikato Wizards
- Position: Guard
- Born September 15, 2001
- Height: 1.74m
- Junior Association – Waikato
- High School: St Peter’s School, Cambridge
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2018 (Appearances 22)
Debuted at 2018 Commonwealth Games, where she became the youngest player ever to play for the New Zealand Tall Ferns at 16 years, 202 days. Averaged 11.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and was joint top scorer with 18 points in the bronze medal game against Canada.
Was a member of the Tall Ferns team that finished runners-up at the 2019 William Jones Cup, averaging 10.6ppg. Played all five games at 2019 FIBA Asia Cup in India. Played all three games at 2019 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland.
The most decorated NZ junior player ever, Leger-Walker has played a considerable amount of age-group international basketball. In 2019 she was named to the Tournament Team at the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup in Mongolia, where New Zealand claimed silver.
She won multiple New Zealand junior titles with both St Peter’s School, Cambridge and Waikato Basketball. Remarkably, she appeared in the Grand Final at Schick Secondary Schools Nationals in all five years in high school, winning the championship on four occasions. Also, she won four Tournament MVP titles – an astonishing record.
In 2019 averaged 29 points per game to help the Waikato Wizards to a third-place finish in WBC Division 1.
Mother Leanne attended the 1990 and 1994 Olympics with the Tall Ferns and sister Krystal has also represented the Tall Ferns.
Charlisse was Head Girl at St Peter’ School, Cambridge in her final year. She will play her collegiate basketball at Washington State University.
Kayla Manuirirangi
- Position: Guard
- Height: 1.70m
- Born: September 19, 1997
- Junior Association – Taranaki
- High School – New Plymouth Girls High School
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Graduated from Tulane University, New Orleans (NCAA Division I) in 2020 after playing 119 games for the Greenwave. Ended her career tied for ninth at Tulane in 3-pointers made all-time with 157.
In 2014 led New Plymouth Girls High to the double winning the National 3×3 title and the National Secondary Schools Championship – named MVP at that championship.
Played for the Junior Tall Ferns at the 2014 FIBA U19 Oceania Championships in Fiji having played for a number of New Zealand age-group teams previously.
Arielle Williams-Mackey
- Auckland Dream
- Position: Guard
- Height: 1.77m
- Born: September 19, 2002
- Junior Association –
- High School – Tai Wananga ki Ruakura, Hamilton
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Played for New Zealand silver medal winning team at the 2018 FIBA U18 3×3 Asia Cup.
In 2019 she also played on the New Zealand team at the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships in New Caledonia. Williams-Mackey led the New Zealand scoring at the championships averaging 12.4ppg.
Named to the New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns team for a Four Nations Tournament in China in 2020, but the tour was subsequently cancelled.
Played for Waikato Country Canons in the 2018 WBC and then spent time in Melbourne playing for Knox Raiders in 2019.
Currently training with Auckland Dream ahead of the 2020 season.
Helen Matthews
- Canterbury Wildcats
- Position: Guard
- Height: 1.75m
- Born: November 15, 2001
- Junior Association – Canterbury
- High School – Kaiapoi High School
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
In 2019 represented New Zealand at the FIBA 3×3 U18 Asia Cup in Malaysia playing alongside Emme Shearer and Ella Bradley.
Played on the New Zealand team at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup in Belarus.
In 2019 averaged 6.5 points and 1.8 assists per game for the Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats.
Matthews has committed to Wofford College, South Carolina (NCAA Division I) from later this year.
Sharne Robati
- Auckland Dream
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.80m
- Born: January 25, 2001
- Junior Association – Counties Manukau
- High School – Mt Albert Grammar School
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Played on the New Zealand team that won silver at the FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia in 2019. The other team members were Tayla Dalton, Ashlee Strawbridge and Charlisse Leger-Walker.
In 2018 played on the New Zealand team at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Belarus where she averaged 9.6 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Attended Utah State Eastern (Junior College) in 2019-20.
Played on the Auckland Dream WBC Championship winning team in 2019.
Akiene-Tera Reed
- Harbour Breeze/Virginia Commonwealth University
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 1.83m
- Born: September 24, 1998
- Junior Association – North Harbour
- High School – Westlake Girls High School/Life Centre Academy, New Jersey
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2018 (Appearances 6)
Reed has enjoyed a prolific career in her first three years at Virginia Commonwealth University (NCAA Division I), leading the team in scoring in all three years.
In 2019-20 Reed, an All-Atlantic 10 First Team selection, averaged 15.5ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.9apg – she shot 81% from the free-throw line.
She has totalled 87 games for the Rams and scored 1,199 points at 13.8ppg. The Rams have lost in the Atlantic 10 Championship game in each of the last two seasons.
Reed played on the 2014 Harbour Breeze team that won the WBC title when aged just 15.
Zoe Richards
- Otago Gold Rush
- Position: Forward
- Born October 4, 1997
- Height 1.93m
- Junior Association: Otago
- High School: St Hilda’s Collegiate, Dunedin
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2019 (Appearances 6)
Was a member of the Tall Ferns team that finished runners-up at the 2019 William Jones Cup.
Following high school Richards spent a season (2016-17) at Gillette College playing alongside twin sister Brittany. She then played three seasons at Eckerd College, helping the Tritons win the Sunshine State Conference title in 2020 – her senior year.
Played all 91 games for the Tritons in her three years on the team amassing 982 points and 430 rebounds.
She averaged 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds for Otago Goldrush in the 2019 WBC.
Emme Shearer
- Harbour Breeze
- Position: Guard
- Height: 1.78m
- Born: January 22, 2002
- Junior Association – North Harbour
- High School – Westlake Girls High School
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
In 2019 represented New Zealand at the FIBA 3×3 U18 Asia Cup in Malaysia playing alongside Ella Bradley and Helen Matthews. In 2018 played for the Junior Tall Ferns at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Bangalore, India.
Shearer averaged 8.8 points and 4.1 rebound per game for Harbour Breeze in 2019.
Her other accomplishments in 2019 were:
- MVP at U19 National Championships after guiding Harbour to the title.
- Named to Tournament Team at Secondary Schools Nationals where Westlake finished fourth.
- Named MVP at Secondary Schools Volleyball National Championships where Westlake defended their title.
Shearer is scheduled to embark on a four-year scholarship at University of Portland (NCAA Division I) later this year.
Ashlee Strawbridge
- Canterbury Wildcats
- Position: Forward
- Height: 1.78m
- Born: January 25, 2002
- Junior Association – Canterbury
- High School – Rangi Ruru High School
- Tall Ferns – uncapped
Played on the New Zealand team that won silver at the FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia in 2019. The other team members were Sharne Pupuke, Tayla Dalton and Charlisse Leger-Walker.
In 2019 she also played on the New Zealand team at the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships in New Caledonia. Averaged 9 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Named to the New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns team for a Four Nations Tournament in China in 2020 but the tour was subsequently cancelled.
Scheduled to embark on a scholarship at College of Southern Idaho (Junior College) later this year.
Amy West
- North Canterbury Spirit/St Mary’s College, California (USA)
- Position: Forward
- Born November 19, 1999
- Height 1.93m
- Junior Association: Manawatu
- High School: Palmerston North Girls High School
- Tall Ferns Debut: 2019 (Appearances 7)
Debuted for the Tall Ferns against the Philippines at the 2019 William Jones Cup and then went on to play three games at the FIBA Asia Cup in India.
After high school West spent her freshman college season (2018/19) at Liberty University. West transferred to St Mary’s College, Morag, California to play for the Gaels but as per NCAA regulation had to redshirt the 2019/20 season.
West played for the North Canterbury Spirit in the 2019 WBC season averaging 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Assistant Coach, Aik Ho
Auckland based Ho has been involved in the Tall Ferns programme since 2004. Was part of the coaching staff at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Ho has had a long association with several players through his involvement with age-group teams, initially at North Harbour and then Waitakere West Basketball Association.
In addition to his commitment to women’s basketball coaching, he works as a Basketball Development Manager for Auckland Basketball Services Ltd. Coached Auckland Dream to the 2019 WBC Championship.
Assistant Coach, Jody Cameron
Jody comes from one of New Zealand basketball’s most famous families, the daughter of long-time coach Mata Cameron and sister of FIBA Hall of Famer Pero Cameron.
A former Tall Fern, Jody played for New Zealand at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Holds the unique distinction of having played at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and coached at the 2018 Games.
Cameron works as Women’s Development Officer for Harbour Basketball. Coached Harbour Breeze to the 2019 WBC Grand Final.
More info:
- The Sky Sport Tall Ferns Showcase will be played on Saturday 1 August at The Trusts Arena at 5pm, ahead of the Sal’s NBL Grand Final at 7pm. Tickets via TicketFairy.com. Adults, $20. Students $10. Children under 12, $5.
- Official website for the Sal’s NBL: NZNBL.basketball
- Follow the Tall Ferns social media channels: @TallFerns Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Hashtag: #TallFerns
