Queensland U18 basketball national championships teams revealed
National championship medals seem to be the normal for Queensland in recent years but here are the star junior athletes aiming to win a gold medal on their home court. FULL LIST
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The future stars of Queensland basketball will have a chance to win a national championship on their home court next month when the Australian Under-18 Championships are played in Brisbane.
Preparations are in full swing for the tournament, which will run from April 9-16 at the home of Northside Wizards at the South Pine Sports Complex at Brendale, with the Queensland North and South teams having high hopes of taking home a gold medal.
News Corp Australia will livestream the tournament but before then, meet the Queensland athletes representing their state on the big stage.
QUEENSLAND NORTH MEN
JACOB BEATTIE
A really aggressive mindset and tough physical body. He likes using his quickness to get into lanes and get steals and sprinting ahead for lay-ups in transition. Undersized at the small or power forward positions but is one of the best athletes on the team so can guard above his size. The perfect sixth man – versatile and a game changer.
KYNAN MCMAHON
A tough shooting guard who is elite at getting to the rim and finding teammates. Excels in the full court and loves to play with pace. McMahon was the third top scorer at the state championships for Townsville and was a silver medallist for North at under-16s in 2021.
TRAVIS DRINNAN
A strong and physical four man, who has scouts from rugby league all over him, especially the North Queensland Cowboys. Uses his athleticism to finish above the rim, won silver in under-16s tournament in 2021 and just under eight points and three rebounds last year in Ballarat.
RILEY DOWNES
One of the best three-point shooters in the country, Riley Downes has also shown the ability to be a great defender in the full court using his speed to annoy opposition point guards. Averaged 7.5 points per game last year in Ballarat for the under-18 nationals and was an under-16s silver medallist two years ago.
KEAHN TUAKURA
A strong power forward, who is a bottom age player currently on scholarship at Toowoomba Grammar. An aggressive scorer around the rim and has now developed a three-point shot to add to his game. Averaged 10.3 points per game in Perth at last year’s under-16 nationals shooting at more than 50 per cent from the field.
LOGAN REBETZKE
Logan Rebetzke may be the smallest player at the nationals but will make up for it with IQ and heart. He is a dynamic playmaker in pick and roll situations and is a high percentage three-point shooter and will play a vital role off the bench for North. Rebetzke shot the three at 46 per cent last year in Perth at under-16 nationals.
BLAIR WILLIAMSON
A workhorse type power forward who will set great screens, rebound at both ends and guard the opposition’s best big. Has been an excellent player in Shane Froling’s Townsville Heat for the past two years and will look to bring that form to nationals for Queensland North.
MAHAL MARTIN
A player that will cover many positions and play as hard as he can. Rebounds well, pushes the ball in transition and can finish around the rim as well as hit an open three. A fierce competitor, who was part of the silver medal winning team at under-16 nationals in Darwin two years ago.
ANDRE SMITH
Andre was in the North squad last year until a dislocated and broken ankle sidelined him for seven months. He is the biggest player on this year’s side and the North will need all of his six foot eight stature at both ends of the floor. Smith is a good rebounder and finishes around the rim at a high percentage. Can step out and shoot the three as well.
TYSON CREES
A versatile guard who can play several positions on the floor, is a high IQ player who can make reads on the offensive end, creating for himself and others. Has been a star at the junior level for Cairns Basketball for years and will look to lead his North team at the national championships.
QUEENSLAND NORTH WOMEN
CHARLI BLISS
A hardworking centre who leads the way for any team she is in with her competitive spirit and ability to do all the dirty work. Bliss has been incredible for Mackay throughout her junior career and will give all she’s got to try and help her talented North side win a medal at nationals.
MONIQUE BOBONGIE
One of the top juniors in the country, Monique Bobongie is a guard who can do it all. Forming a dynamic backcourt pairing with Teyahna Bond, the Mackay player has the handles to attack the basket and finish at the rim and also can hit the perimeter shot from anywhere. The Australian junior representative will be one of the top talents to watch at nationals.
TEYAHNA BOND
An elite athlete, Teyahna Bond is damaging in transition, using her speed to get out in the open court and attack the basket. The Cairns junior can also shoot the three and will be hard to stop for opposing defences at nationals, especially with Bobongie alongside her. Bond also impressed in her rookie NBL1 season last year.
ADRIANNA FRANCIS
A tough and versatile forward who can bring the physicality defensively alongside Bliss but can also give the North a boost offensively as well. The Cairns Dolphin can attack the basket but also hit the perimeter shot, giving the North space on the inside for others to do their work offensively.
ASHLEE FARRELL
Described as “tough as nails” Farrell is a talented point guard who is a great perimeter defender. Can lead from the front with her toughness as well as her ability to defend opposing players in the full court.
ELLA WATSON
A straight-up sharpshooter from the perimeter, who led state championships in three-point field goals made. Will be a key part of North’s medal hopes with her ability to space the floor with her three-point shooting and is also a good athlete to go along with it.
SOFIA AHMED
A big who is continuing to develop and will add a lot to North with her length and size. Ahmed will provide a much-needed impact in the paint defensively, impacting shots and providing rim protection.
SOPHIE DRISCOLL
An impressive athlete who has good length, adding to a North side full of athletes who can impact the game at both ends of the floor. Along with Watson, is a player who can get going from the perimeter as well.
HANNAH JENSEN
A pass-first point guard with elite quickness and has been part of many big games over the years with the Mackay Meteorettes junior team. Along with several other teammates, is a defender who can pick up full court and is also a high IQ player.
QUEENSLAND SOUTH MEN
ROMAN SIULEPA
One of the most highly-touted juniors in the country, Roman Siulepa along with Rocco Zikarsky and Lebron Brooks, will lead Queensland’s national title defence after winning in 2022. Siulepa is dominant at the junior level with his imposing physicality and ability to play above the rim offensively.
ROCCO ZIKARSKY
The seven foot two towering big man, who is already on NBA radars, will be looking to add to his long list of achievements with another national championship on his home court at the Northside Wizards next month. Zikarsky gives Queensland an imposing presence on both ends of the floor and will be key for the team’s gold medal hopes.
LEBRON BROOKS
A Northside Wizards junior whose greatest attribute is his fierce competitiveness and ability to lead from the front with his actions. The hard-nosed guard has championship experience having won nationals and state championships with Northside and along with Siulepa and Zikarsky will look to take Queensland to another gold medal.
ASH MCGRATH
A sharpshooting guard who gives Queensland South a much-needed perimeter threat outside of their length and size, giving the likes of Siulepa and Zikarsky space on the inside to attack the basket. The Logan Thunder junior is back on the national stage after representing Queensland South at the under-16s level last year.
COOPER ROWLINGS
Another towering figure for Queensland South, Cooper Rowlings comes into the team after helping lead the Brisbane Capitals to both the SQJBC and state championship titles this past season. Rowlings is a dynamic athlete for his size and along with Zikarsky is going to make the lives of opponents hell on the defensive end.
MASON HONEYMAN
The Southern Districts Spartans junior was an integral part of this team’s national title in Darwin two years ago and is back on the court after some time off with injury. Honeyman is a smart combo guard who can attack the paint and create opportunities for himself and for others.
HARMON HAILEMICHAEL
The South West Metro Pirates big man adds to the imposing height in the Queensland South team alongside Zikarsky and Rowlings and with his ability to finish around the basket and create havoc on the defensive end with his length, Hailemichael will be an exciting talent to watch at nationals.
KYE VAN BEEST
An NBL type athlete with huge upside, who has only being playing basketball for a couple years and has a volleyball background. Is a St Peters with Cooper Rowlings and is an athletic defender with good size and with shooting range he can take out to the three-point line.
INDY COTTON
Another highly-touted junior from the Gold Coast, Cotton has already played on Australian junior teams and helps Queensland boast an impressive guard line-up along with their imposing bigs. Cotton is one of the best guards in the country with his work off on-ball screens and ability to create space being some of his best qualities.
JACOB MILES-WRENCY
A Southern Districts Spartans junior who comes into the state team after a leg injury but adds a lot to Sean Carroll’s side with his length and athleticism and ability to play several positions on the court. Miles-Wrency can play in transition, can knock down a perimeter shot from beyond the three-point line but can also defend at a high level and will have a significant impact on a team expected to contend for a gold medal at the national championships.
QUEENSLAND SOUTH WOMEN
HILARY FULLER
A versatile and athletic forward, Fuller will be one of the main offensive weapons for the Queensland South women with her ability to shoot the ball from the outside but also attack the basket. Fuller, a Brisbane Capitals product, was also part of South’s silver medal winning team in Ballarat last year.
ALICE DART
Another member of the 2022 silver medal winning team, Alice Dart leads the way with Fuller after an impressive under-18s representative season with the Southern Districts Spartans. The talented guard can score in bunches and is also a tough and physical defender. Continues her family’s trend of representing Queensland after he older sister, Lil, played at the under-20 nationals earlier in the year.
SHARNI REISINGER
A hard-nosed guard/forward with the versatility to guard all five positions on the court and does all the dirty work to help her teams win. Reisinger, who can also provide a punch offensively, is one of five Logan Thunder players selected in the team after winning the state championship on the Gold Coast in January.
EMMA PETRIE
Just like Alice Dart, Emma Petrie is also preparing to represent Queensland after her older sister Jess competed at the under-20 nationals earlier in the year. Coming from rich basketball history with both her parents, Anthony and Sarah, having played professionally – the Gold Coast junior is a high IQ forward who can impact the game by scoring or creating for others.
TIANNA APELU
Also a talented netballer, Tianna Apelu provides something different for the Queensland South team with an offensive presence from the post. The Logan Thunder junior’s ability to score from the block will be a big bonus for Queensland as they look to try and win a medal at the national championships in their own backyard.
ALLEAH HANSON
Adding to the team’s athleticism and length is forward/centre Alleah Hanson from the Logan Thunder. A mobile big who can run the floor with the best of them, can impact shots on the defensive end and attack the basket offensively. Her older sister (Summah Hanson) played at the under-20 nationals this year.
JAYA LOWE
The Gold Coast Basketball junior is a smart point guard who can create for others and also score the ball and comes into the team after an impressive under-18s representative season. Lowe can also hit the three ball and gives South a different look.
ATAWHAI PEPENE-DAVIS
A quick combo guard, Atawhai Pepene-Davis leads the way defensively with her ability to guard opposition players full court and cause problems for an opponent’s offence. Also can attack the basket with her speed and hit the perimeter shot after connecting on seven three-pointers in the state championship grand final.
PRASAYUS NOTOA
Coming back after spending the past two months out with a knee injury, Prasayus Notoa’s addition will be a big bonus for Queensland South with her ability to run a team and have a big impact on both ends of the floor. Notoa will be looking for a big tournament after missing the under-16 nationals last year with illness.
CLAIRE FRASER
An athletic guard/forward who switches allegiances from North to South after moving from Mackay to Brisbane last year. The Brisbane Capitals player is a difficult player to stop when she gets out in transition, runs the floor and attacks the basket. Can also have a big impact on the defensive end with her length.
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