Blake Jones and Tamuri Wigness on their basketball journey ahead of FIBA U19 World Cup

Two of Australia’s brightest young basketball prospects talk about the highs and lows of their journey as they prepare to represent Australia on the big stage.

They are still teenagers and are already showcasing their talents on some of the biggest stages in world basketball.

But as Queenslanders Blake Jones and Tamuri Wigness prepare to try and lead the Australian Emus to a gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Latvia next month, the youngsters have opened up about the moments and people who have shaped them into who they are today.

Both talents, who were members of the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL and have starred for their state at junior national championships, were recently named in a star-studded Emus team which will be led by former NBL player Darren Perry.

Blake Jones at the National championships, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Jones most recently took the Queensland under-20s side to a national title in Mackay last month, winning MVP of the tournament for the second consecutive year, while Wigness will represent the Emus for a second time after doing so in 2019.

Despite their success, both 19-year-olds have experienced their fair share of bumps and bruises along the way but Wigness and Jones said those experienced have made them as athletes.

For Wigness, one of those tough moments came this past NBL season, where as a rookie who couldn’t find consistent playing time, struggled to find his way in Australia’s top league.

Tamuri Wigness during the NBL season with the Brisbane Bullets. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“I think my first year as a pro has really shaped me as a player,” the Cairns Basketball product, who was born in the Torres Strait but now lives in Brisbane, said.

“Obviously things didn’t go the way I thought it would but it showed me another side of working hard.

“Even though you’re not playing, just still need to be able to study the game and keep working on myself, so this year has definitely made me as a player for sure.”

For Jones, a South West Metro Pirates junior who, like Wigness, also attended the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, it was his first junior national championships representing Queensland where he was hit with just how hard he needed to work to make it.

Brisbane Bullets development player Blake Jones. Picture credit: Brisbane Bullets.

“That’s the first exposure I got to high level of basketball,” he said.

“From there I realised how hard I had to work if I wanted to make my dreams a reality.”

Jones also praised the guidance of two of Australia’s top coaches, Adam Caporn at the Centre of Excellence and Marty Clarke at the NBA Global Academy, for shaping him as a player.

“They are two of the coaches who’ve had a huge impact on my career,” he said.

“If it wasn’t for their guidance during my time at the AIS I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Tamuri Wigness previously playing for Australia.

Wigness said even though there were coaches and other figures who played a massive role in his career, it was his mum he credited for everything.

“It’s definitely my mum, my Queen,” he said.

“A mother’s warmth always helps through the highs and the low of the game even off the courts.

“She’s always made sacrifices for me … even at the very start when we couldn’t financially pay basketball fees and the way she worked hard around looking for people to sponsor me and help so I could go on representative trips, so definitely my mum.”

Brisbane Bullets development player Blake Jones. Picture credit: Brisbane Bullets.

Both Wigness and Jones also said they wanted to build on the culture Australian basketball stars such as Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and the current Boomers had created by bringing that to the Emus.

Wigness (Brisbane Capitals) and Jones (Logan Thunder) are both featuring in the inaugural NBL1 North competition and Queensland state performance manager, Luke Cann, said the youngsters were extremely talented and had a massive future in the game.

“They have always shown to be a step above their peers competitively from a young age,” he said.

“There obvious athletic makeup is something that you notice staring away. Blake being a 6 foot 10 skilled big who can stretch the floor and pass.

“He is very much in the mould of a Brock Motum and is someone I think will have a real chance to make an impact not only in the NBL but internationally also.

Tamuri Wigness representing Queensland as a junior.

“Tamuri is a bit different, he has been compared to Patty Mills at times but I believe that Tamuri is a bit of a unique player, his mix of speed, power, explosiveness and shiftiness has rarely been seen by someone that age.

“I think the natural comparison is Patty due to the size and speed but I do think he is unique. “He has a creativity and unpredictability about him which makes him a danger anytime he is in the court.

“Both great, humble kids who I believe they have the skill sets, drive and uniqueness to be Boomers and have been two of the more memorable athletes to come out of the BQ pathway.”

The FIBA Under-19 World Cup is on from July 7-11.