Full list: 26 rising basketball stars of the Fraser Coast
They’re the basketball stars of the future, already making their mark in clubs across the Fraser Coast and beyond. See the full list of the region’s young rising basketball stars to watch:
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Basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports on the Fraser Coast, with clubs across the region full of young talent.
In 2022, the Hervey Bay Basketball Association announced it had reached nearly 600 members and was rapidly outgrowing its facility at Pialba’s PCYC.
In September, the Fraser Coast Regional Council gave the green light for the association to build a $3m basketball stadium at the sports precinct at Nikenbah, which could be the future home for the sport in the region.
The Fraser Coast Chronicle reached out to basketball clubs on the Fraser Coast in search of the region’s rising stars.
For some of these basketball young guns, their dream is to pursue a professional career in the NBL or NBA, while for others, they just love playing the sport with friends.
Here’s a list of 26 rising basketball stars on the Fraser Coast to watch, in no particular order:
1. Flynn Richmond
For Flynn Richmond, 12, his dream is to play basketball professionally in the future.
Flynn plays representative basketball in under 12’s and under 14’s teams in Maryborough.
He started playing with the Maryborough Basketball Association at the start of 2022.
For this rising star, what he loves most about basketball is playing alongside his teammates, dribbling the ball and setting up plays to help his team score.
Flynn’s biggest achievement to date was representing Maryborough at a state competition in Brisbane with his under 12 team in 2022.
2. Matthew Marks
Matthew Marks plays for the under 18 Hervey Bay Giants Division 1.
This 16-year-old has been playing the sport for the past six years, and loves the pace and team involvement.
A highlight of his basketball journey was being selected for the under 18 Hervey Bay Hurricanes representative team.
“Friends played at a high level and got me into the sport and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
3. Atunaisa Seru
Atunaisa Seru’s goal is to play professional basketball in the NBL and NBA.
The 12-year-old currently plays in the under 14 team at Maryborough Magic.
His biggest achievement was representing Wide Bay for the under 12 boys basketball team in the School Sport State Championships.
Atunaisa’s basketball journey began two years ago when he moved from Townsville to Hervey Bay and started playing basketball with his friends.
4. May Seru
May Seru, 9, plays basketball for the under 12’s Donkeys and under 14’s Thunder on the Fraser Coast.
A highlight of May’s basketball journey was being awarded the under 12s Most Valued Player for season one in 2022.
May was also crowned the Overall Most Improved Primary School Player in the under 14s competition in season two of 2022.
“What I love most about basketball is that it can be a very intense sport,” May said.
May likes the fast pace of the game and has been playing for one-and-a-half years.
5. Corey Bromhead
Corey Bromhead, 14, said his basketball journey was inspired by his father and coach, Matthew.
The young basketball talent currently plays for the under 16 Hervey Bay Giants division 2 team.
Corey loves how fun and competitive basketball is. His biggest achievement to date has been winning the 2022 season grand final in honour of his team’s late coach Brody Smith.
Corey was also named the MVP in that game.
In the future, he hopes to win more grand finals when he moves into the division 1 team next season.
6. Jake Elliott
This rising basketball star has been playing the sport for the past seven years.
Jake Elliott, 14, loves the inclusivity and social aspects of the sport.
He fell in love with it at a young age, growing up around his father and brother who also played.
Like his teammate Corey, the biggest achievement for Jake so far in his basketball journey has been winning the 2022 season grand final in honour of his late coach Brody Smith.
7. Hunter Murdoch
This rising basketball star has been selected in the under 14s Queensland Future Development Program.
Hunter Murdoch, 14, plays basketball for Riverside Christian College and Maryborough Magic.
Aside from making the state’s future development program for his age group, Hunter’s other big achievement was being selected in the under 12s Queensland school basketball team.
Hunter enjoys playing basketball with his mates.
8. Bradley Kratzmann
Bradley Kratzmann plays basketball for the under 12 Maryborough Magic rep team.
The nine-year-old played his first game in 2020.
“The thing I love most about basketball is playing as a team,” he said.
“I also love stealing the ball from the opposition and getting a fast break up the court.”
A highlight for Bradley was playing at the under 12’s Queensland Basketball Championships in September 2022.
9. Charlee Kratzmann
Since playing her first basketball game in 2019, Charlee Kratzmann has already made her mark on the sport.
She now plays for the under 14 Hervey Bay Hurricanes and under 12 Maranoa Heat girls rep teams.
The 11-year-old also played in the Maryborough District School Sport primary school girls basketball team.
For Charlee, what she loves most about basketball is making new friends and competing in tournaments.
Her greatest achievement was playing at the under 12s state championships in September 2022.
At the moment, Charlee’s goal is training to be selected for the Wide Bay girls basketball team in 2023.
10. Emerald Wilmshurst
Emerald Wilmshurst, 22, plays for Fraser Coasters Wheelchair Basketball Club.
“I love the inclusion and how everyone gets in and plays,” she said.
The biggest achievement for Emerald was being selected for the Australian Gliders women’s wheelchair basketball team and going to camps at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Emerald has also played in the Australian Under 25s and Queensland Comets women’s teams.
11. Sharkiar Lowrie
Sharkiar Lowrie, 16, also plays for the Fraser Coasters Wheelchair Basketball Club.
For this basketball star, she said developing her personal strength was better than any other opportunity she could have been given.
She said it was one of her biggest achievements to date.
“I love how everyone is given the opportunity to play and if a mistake was made during the game no judgement is made,” she said.
Sharkiar said it was an “encouraging environment”.
12. Gorja Ebert
Gorja Ebert, 18, recently represented the Fraser Coasters Wheelchair Basketball Club at Murgon.
She has been playing wheelchair basketball for two months.
Gorja said her biggest achievement was discovering a sport she was able to play.
“I love playing wheelchair basketball because it makes me feel included and I love being part of a team,” she said.
13. Archer Pearson
For Archer Pearson, watching the NBA with his father is what made him want to get into playing basketball.
The 10-year-old currently plays for the Hervey Bay Rangers and he hopes to pursue a career with either the NBL or NBA.
Archer, who has been playing basketball for two years, loves being part of a team and hanging out with mates on the court.
His biggest achievement to date was being selected in an under 12 representative team.
Another highlight was his under 14’s division 2 grand final win.
14. Fletcher Ashley Humphries
Fletcher Ashley Humphries’ love for basketball started at young age.
From a baby until he was four years old, Fletcher would cheer on his uncle Daniel Kickert, a professional basketballer player for Melbourne United, the Brisbane Bullets and Sydney Kings.
Now at eight-years-of age, Fletcher plays basketball for the under 12 Hervey Bay Rangers 4 team.
For this rising basketball star, his goal is securing a basketball scholarship at a college in the United States, making the draft pick for the NBA and one day representing Australia in basketball.
Fletcher started playing Aussie Hoops in South Geelong as a four-year-old and then played for Geelong’s Sharks Basketball Club at the age of five.
His biggest achievement to date has been winning the Most Valuable Player with the Rangers 4 in 2022.
15. Harper Reader-Morse
Harper Reader-Morse, 11, plays for the Hervey Bay Rangers.
Not only is Harper a basketball talent, but he is also an artist with a passion for drawing.
Over the past year, Harper has engaged with his team at the Rangers, a Hervey Bay Hurricanes representative team and the Josh Giddy Camp.
Harper’s key achievements include being awarded MVP twice.
His goals are to play in the NBA and keep being selected in representative teams as he gets older.
Michael Jordan inspired Harper to get into basketball.
16. Bailey Martin
Bailey Martin, or “McBuckets” as he’s known by his teammates, plays for the under 16 Hervey Bay Rangers division 1.
The 13-year-old has been playing the sport since he was six years old.
Bailey said seeing friends and having fun were two things he loved most about basketball.
His goal for the future is to represent his team where he lives.
17. Isaac Spash
This rising basketball star started playing Aussie Hoops in Lismore in 2019.
Isaac Spash, 12, now plays in the under 14’s team at the Hervey Bay Rangers, and endeavours to play or coach the NBL or NBA in the future.
“I really love the community feel of those involved with basketball and the great support from Rangers club,” he said.
His greatest achievement to date was coaching the under 10s and under 8s teams for the Hervey Bay Basketball Association.
18. Aaron Evangelista
Aaron Evangelista, 23, has been playing basketball for 11 years.
The Hervey Bay Rangers player said his biggest achievement to-date has been making the representative team for the Hervey Bay Hurricanes.
“I love that basketball gives me a chance to escape from everything and helps me relax,” he said.
19. Nathan Sewell
Nathan Sewell started his basketball journey when he was three years old.
He now plays for Hervey Bay Rangers at the age of 24.
“I love the way basketball allows people to express who they are and what they can do,” he said.
One of his key achievements was playing in the Queensland State League for the South West Metro Pirates.
Nathan’s goal is to play in the NBL and win a title.
20. Rydence Walker
For this basketball star, she hopes to secure a future grand final win and trophy.
Rydence Walker, 12, has been playing for the Hervey Bay Rangers 1 team for the past three seasons.
She has always had an interest in the sport and knew a friend who also played, so she decided to join.
Rydence enjoys playing defence.
21. Indi Stamo
Indi Stamo, 10, plays for the under 12s Hervey Bay Rangers 1 team.
She started playing basketball with her friends because she loved the challenge, particular playing defence.
Indi’s achievements include winning a MVP and Best Defender award.
Improving her dribbling and lay-up skills, as well as making the representative team for Hervey Bay are a few goals for this young basketball talent.
Indi started playing the sport when she was in Grade 1.
22. Matilda Kissner
For Matilda Kissner, 10, her goal is to be the MVP of her team.
She currently plays for the under 12 Hervey Bay Rangers 3 girls team and started playing the sport in under 10s.
Despite feeling a bit scared to play the sport when she first started, with the support of her coaches and team, Matilda’s confidence has grown and made her a key defender in her team.
She enjoys playing with her teammates and has made friends from different schools and grades since getting into basketball.
Matilda also has a “hungry eye” for the ball.
23. Phoebe Saraber
Phoebe Saraber, 13, made the transition to playing basketball from netball.
She started playing basketball in Gympie and now plays for the under 14s Hervey Bay Rangers 5 division 1 team.
For this young basketball talent, her biggest achievement has been improving and developing new skills, as well as making friends.
Phoebe is a confident player and hopes to help her team make it to the finals.
She has played basketball for two years and loves being challenged and learning something new each game.
24. Tayla Martin
This 23-year-old has 15 years’ basketball experience behind her.
Tayla Martin currently plays for Hervey Bay Rangers women’s division 1 team and started her basketball journey in 2007.
Her greatest achievements were being named the captain of the Hervey Bay Hurricanes women’s team and playing alongside her teammates.
Tayla said what she loved most about basketball was the community.
“You become like one big family, and everyone is so close,” she said.
“I’ve met some of my best friends who I look at as my family, years ago through the club.”
25. Monique Mercer
Monique Mercer, 16, plays for the Hervey Bay Rangers 3 team.
She said watching Ben Simmons play for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA was what inspired her to get into basketball.
Monique has now been playing for six years.
Her biggest achievement was her team placing sixth at the under 15 Junior Country Championships in Victoria.
“It was a huge achievement for the little town that we lived in,” she said.
26. Carlin Lennon
Carlin Lennon, 16, plays for the Hervey Bay Rangers and Hurricanes.
He started playing basketball in 2016.
“What I love most about basketball is being able to outmatch opponents and work with teammates to win games,” he said.
One of Carlin’s biggest achievements was being selected as the captain for the under 18s Hervey Bay representative team.
Carlin’s goal for the future is to play basketball on a professional level.
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