40 basketball stars to represent QLD in national U16 championships revealed
Children of basketball legends and young guns making their debut on the big stage – meet the 40 junior basketball stars hoping to add more medals to Queensland’s trophy cabinet.
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Children of basketball legends, young guns who have already established themselves on the big stage and prospects with the chance to showcase their skills on the national level for the first time.
Meet the 40 prospects hoping to continue Basketball Queensland’s recent trend of stacking national championship medals in its trophy cabinet later this year.
Teen talents representing both Queensland South and North will travel to Perth for the Basketball Australia Under-16 Championships in Perth in July.
Basketball Queensland’s high performance manager, Luke Cann, said the talent around the state in this age group made selection meetings some of the most difficult in recent times.
“We are taking four relatively young groups to Perth,” he said.
“We believe we have come out with some well balanced groups of individual talent, upside and future international athlete characteristics.
“Those selected will get the opportunity to showcase not only their skill but their overall character and competitiveness in hopes of securing a medal placing come the end of the week.
“We expect all teams to perform well and see this is one of the deeper groups we have had. “Anything is possible.”
Meet the young guns set to represent Queensland at the Basketball Australia Under-16 Championships in Perth from July 2-9 below.
QUEENSLAND NORTH U16 GIRLS
CHEYENNE BOBONGIE
A Mackay junior who was a member of last year’s team whose leadership and point guard acumen will be a key to the team’s success. Bobongie has a great feel for the game and will control the tempo for the team.
TARYN BOND
An aggressive player and a nightmare for teams in transition. The Cairns product’s toughness when rebounding and starting the break will be an asset for Queensland North as they strive to bring home a medal.
BREANNA EDGERTON
Another Cairns Dolphins junior who is a glue piece of the team and is able to take on any job and role with her versatility. Look for her to pop up in crucial moments with big plays.
CLARA KOLB
A knock down shooter and aggressive cutter who has been impressive at junior competitions for her Townsville teams. Kolb is a tireless worker who will battle every possession and bring toughness to the Queensland North side.
MACEY LAHRS
Like Kolb, Macey Lahrs is a talented junior product from Townsville. Lahrs is a strong left-handed post player, who is aggressive and tough when driving to the basket. She also has the ability to defend players with much more height than her with her physicality.
LILY MAPP
A tall athletic centre from Mackay, who will use her skills and athleticism to protect the rim and rebound the ball. Mapp will provide Queensland North with a much-needed inside presence defensively.
LEAH PEARSON
A point guard who has starred for the Cairns Dolphins in junior competitions and returns for her second nationals. Pearson has great shot creating ability for her teammates and the ability to pressure the ball full court.
ALLEY SIMPSON
A long and athletic wing from Mackay, who will look to use her speed in transition to create scoring opportunities for Queensland North and will also be able to use her length defensively in the passing lanes.
ISABEL SMITH
An exciting prospect from Mackay, who has great athleticism and skill as a bottom-age athlete attending her first national championships. Smith is both a strong driver with great footwork and finishing in the key.
MAGGIE THORBURN
Another Mackay talent who is a tough and aggressive guard who reads the game well creating opportunities for herself and others with cuts off the ball. Thorburn is always first to the floor for loose balls and always looking for a defensive challenge.
QUEENSLAND NORTH U16 BOYS
ANDREW WATENE
Watene is a bottom-age athletic point guard, who shows incredible maturity and plays years above his age. The Rockhampton product has vision and a passing game that is second-to-none and is also a player who can score at will.
NOAH ANDERSEN
The Townsville guard is a floor general for any team he plays in and is a talent with a nose for the ball. Andersen is also super fast defender with great hands, who can pick your pocket before you know it.
REGAN BLACHFORD
A sharpshooter with an absolute flamethrower from the perimeter, Regan Blachford not only shines with his shooting ability but also his ability to do the tough stuff. The Townsville product is an all-round great player at both ends of the floor.
BRAITH TURNER
Braith Turner is one of those players you don’t want to go up against with the Townsville guard being an absolute pest defensively. Turner is known for doing all the little things players receive no credit for but can also catch fire on the offensive end.
KAI HUGHES
Kai Hughes is a wing with great length and rebounding ability. The Townsville talent is a smart player who can read the game and has a great touch around the hoop.
JACKSON ALDERSON
Another wing with great length and foot speed to go alongside Kai Hughes. Jackson Alderson from Townsville is someone who can get to the basket at will and burn opposition teams in transition.
SAXON TOYNE
This Cairns product is a power forward with a very well-rounded game. Saxon Toyne is great at attacking off the bounce, can cause problems with his back to the basket and also boasts a solid outside shot to go along with all of those skills.
JOSHUA HOSKING
Another forward from Cairns, Hosking is a talent, who plays physical, is a fantastic communicator on defence with the ability to multiple positions on the court. Hosking is also someone who can bully his way to the basket on the offensive end.
ISAAC WELDON
A centre who anchors the defence for his teams with his length giving him an unbelievable ability to change and block shots, which will be invaluable at the national championships tournament.
ELIJAH GIRDLER
A Rockhampton centre who can score in bunches, Girdley has fantastic touch around the basket along with a great mid-range shot and teams can definitely not afford to sleep on him from the outside.
QUEENSLAND SOUTH U16 GIRLS
JADE SHERRINGTON
This Gold Coast Rollers young gun is a player with great court vision and passing ability, who helps push the pace for her team and is continuing to improve quickly as a threat with her shot from the perimeter.
OLIVIA OLECHNOWICZ
Southern Districts Spartans product Olivia Olechnowicz is not only regarded as an elite on-ball defender around Queensland but also around Australia after previously winning the defensive player of the tournament at Club National Championships. She is also some who can attack the paint to create for herself and others.
GIA VUKONA
Another Spartan in this state team, Gia Vukona – the daughter of NBL legend Mika Vukona – is an extremely versatile player, who can defend multiple positions. She can play inside and out, and will be a leader for Queensland at the nationals.
MYA MOKE
A Spartans guard who is a great offensive decision-maker with good basketball IQ. Mya Moke can do a lot of damage on the offensive end with her decision making but she is also a great shot-maker and is someone who uses her length to be disruptive defensively.
MIA GURNEY
Representing the North Gold Coast Seahawks in the state squad, Mia Gurney is a young player who reads the play extremely well at both ends of the floor. The daughter of former Brisbane Bullets player, Mia is a disruptive defender and a good shooter.
SINAI FOAI
Like Mia Gurney, Sinai Foai is the sole representative of her club (Logan) in the state team and is an athletic prospect who can defend multiple positions at a high level. Foai is also good at getting in the keyway and creating with her great passing ability.
JOVANA ILIC
One of two Brisbane Capitals talents in the team, Jovana Ilic is a long and athletic player, who runs hard in transition and a great finisher around the basket. She uses her athleticism and length to be a disruptive presence in the paint defensively.
SAMANTHA MELKSHAM
A Northside Wizards junior, Samantha Melksham is someone who brings a lot to the Queensland South team with her ability to run hard to the basket to create scoring and rebounding opportunities. She also protects the basket well.
VIOLET JOHNSON
Another Southern Districts young gun in the Queensland team, Violet Johnson is known for her ability to crash the rebounds hard and create opportunities for herself and her team. Johnson also uses her length and athleticism to protect the basket defensively.
LAILA KEFU
Laila Kefu from the Brisbane Capitals is a very smart offensive player, with great passing skills and a talent who can create for herself and others. Kefu also has a good mid-range jump shot and can finish inside against bigger bodies.
QUEENSLAND SOUTH U16 BOYS
JAYDEN CECIL
An exciting junior prospect out of the Gold Coast, Jayden Cecil will be a vocal leader for Queensland South, who will also do damage as a ball handler out of the pick and roll and can also shoot from the perimeter.
MITCHELL CHEN
A big man with guard skills, North Gold Coast young gun Mitchell Chen will prove a tough task for opposition teams to stop at nationals. Not only can he go to work inside the paint with his size and touch, he can also create from the perimeter with his shot and handle.
HARRY COOK
A Brisbane Capitals junior who adds a big long frame to the Queensland South team, which will have a big presence inside the paint as he protects the rim at national championships.
ANGUS KEARNEY
A Northside Wizards guard, who was among the top scorers during the SQJBC season and will look to continue that form for Queensland. Kearney is someone who plays with a huge heart and engine and is a full court transition threat.
NOAH KIRK
Another one of many guards in the Queensland South team who can handle the ball and make plays off screens is Southern Districts gun Noah Kirk. Having helped lead Spartans to the state championship, Kirk is a great on ball defender and can also hit the outside shot.
SAMUEL MCDOWELL-WHITE
One of the youngest in a long line of McDowell-White’s who have represented Queensland, Sam is a player who can give his team an offensive spark but is also a cagey defender, who can cause problems at the other end of the floor.
SAM SCOTT
A big man from the Gold Coast, Sam Scott is someone who is a high post operator and can create for himself from that area or find others. Scott is also a hard-nosed defender, who out rebounds his position.
NOAH STAUBER
Another talent from the North Gold Coast, Noah Stauber is a great passer for a big man who also has a big voice which every team needs. Stauber is also a solid shooter to go along with his other skills.
ELIJAH TUUPO
A versatile bottom-age player from the Gold Coast Rollers, who can play and defend multiple positions on the court. Can also bring a lot to his team on the offensive end with his mid-range game.
CHARLIE WINKS
A long, rangy wing player from the Brisbane Capitals who adds to the athleticism in this Queensland South team. Winks is a player who slashes well and gets to the rim – adding a lot of firepower to his team.
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