Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) is pleased to announce a new U17 Men’s National Team cycle for 2024, with the coaching staff already in action ahead of a selection camp later in the year.
The U17 Men’s cycle operates over a three-year FIBA progression system, beginning with the FIBA U15 Oceania Championships this year – the date and location yet to be confirmed by FIBA.
The top two countries from this competition progress to the FIBA U16 Asian Men’s Championships in 2025, with the four highest-ranked teams earning a place at the cycle’s pinnacle event: the FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup in 2026.
The coaching staff for this U15 Men’s cycle has Ben Sheat in place as head coach, supported by Greg Brockbank and Tia Temata-Frost as assistants. Shay-Marie Peneha is in place as Team Manager and Mikayla Rosieur will be the Team Physiotherapist.
This group will run a U15 Men’s National Team selection camp at Dilworth senior campus in Auckland during the July school holidays; the multi-day events operating as a combined ‘mega-camp’ alongside the U15 Women’s National Team selection camp – bringing 48 of Aotearoa’s brightest young basketball talent to one location.
The 24 participants invited to this selection camp include: Antonio Malak, Brigham Hakaraia, Cooper Aish, Corbyn Awahou, Daley Pohio, Fletcher Cooper, Tre Freddy Evans, Jackson Te Awha Couper, Jai Curtis, Kahlo Tuuta, Kolo ki Lakepa Liku, Lawson Pryor, Leevae McDonald, Lenny Potter, Lincoln Wilson, Malakhai Joyner, Marco Sula, Mitchell Thorpe, Noah Duncan, Roma Tuimaunei, Tarquinius Schwalger, Tawhiri Cate, Taye Thomson and Zach Cashmore.
In addition, six selection camp reserves have been named as: Akardy Wanoa, Cade Lock, Cullen Parai, Kaylis Peneha, Matthew Isherwood, Darius Latu and Leonidas Swainson.
An established coach in Aotearoa, Sheat led Canterbury to the U17 National Championship title in 2021 and coached Christ’s College to the ‘AA’ championship at the Secondary Schools National Championships the following year – earning the Keith Mair Coach of the Year award for his efforts.
He says that it is a privilege to lead this team and its athletes, as they embark on their first foray into national team basketball.
“It’s a real privilege to be announced as head coach for this cycle; I’ve been an [age group national team] assistant coach in the past under Mike Fitchett and Daryl Cartwright, and have learned a lot through that process that I can apply to this campaign,” says Sheat.
“It’s a really exciting group of players and a great coaching staff too, it’s great to have this calibre of staff on board for this campaign. So far we’ve had over 120 players trialling at three different regional camps around New Zealand, and it was an extremely challenging job to chop that number down to the current group of 24 that we have. It’s a talented age group.”
Coach Sheat says that year one of this cycle is all about laying the groundwork for how this squad will look, feel and operate over the three years.
“Currently we’re building towards the July camp, following that we have Oceania Champs at some stage later in the year. So we’ve got those two key touch points – but in advance of that we’re working externally on ways to build up the player’s habits on and off the court, so when they come into camp in July they can hit the ground running.
“Our coaching staff will also be at U16 Nationals in July, as it’s a great chance to evaluate the players before we name the final squad of 12 for Oceania. First year for us is about building into the Oceania Champs, building those great habits and building our culture as these players start their national team journey – hopefully for some of them it’s a stepping stone to the Tall Blacks in the future.
“The key thing is starting to give them the tools to develop and build those important habits and traits that they need to be successful; whether that’s nutrition, fitness, the understanding of the team concepts. So the focus is on normalising these great habits – the Tall Blacks are excellent at this as they’ve got such a great culture, so we’ll use some of their concepts as well to build a great culture of their own.”
U15 Men’s National Team – Selection Camp Attendees, July 2024
Antonio Malak, North Harbour Basketball
Brigham Hakaraia, Waitakere West Basketball
Cooper Aish, Basketball Manawatu
Corbyn Awahou, Basketball Taranaki
Daley Pohio, North Harbour Basketball
Fletcher Cooper, Kapiti Basketball
Tre Freddy Evans, Nelson Basketball
Jackson Te Awha Couper, Waitakere West Basketball
Jai Curtis, Canterbury Basketball
Kahlo Tuuta, Basketball Taranaki
Kolo ki Lakepa Liku, Auckland Basketball
Lawson Pryor, Auckland Basketball
Leevae McDonald, Wellington Basketball
Lenny Potter, Basketball Taranaki
Lincoln Wilson, North Harbour Basketball
Malakhai Joyner, North Harbour Basketball
Marco Sula, Canterbury Basketball
Mitchell Thorpe, North Harbour Basketball
Noah Duncan, North Harbour Basketball
Roma Tuimaunei, Canterbury Basketball
Tarquinius Schwalger, Waitakere West Basketball
Tawhiri Cate, Canterbury Basketball
Taye Thomson, Auckland Basketball
Zach Cashmore, Basketball Otago
U15 Men’s National Team – Selection Camp Reserves
Akardy Wanoa, Auckland Basketball
Cade Lock, Basketball Manawatu
Cullen Parai, Waikato Basketball
Kaylis Peneha, Kapiti Basketball
Matthew Isherwood, North Canterbury Basketball
Darius Latu, Wellington Basketball
Leonidas Swainson, Canterbury Basketball
Head Coach – Ben Sheat
Assistant Coach – Greg Brockbank
Assistant Coach – Tia Temata-Frost
Team Manager – Shay-Marie Peneha
Team Physiotherapist – Mikayla Rosieur
