Gold Coast Rollers and North Gold Coast Seahawks under-16 squad breakdowns
With the under-16 Queensland basketball season in full swing, we have shone a light on the players in each of the top Gold Coast Rollers and North Gold Coast Seahawks boys and girls sides. Check out our in depth analysis of every player here.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Gold Coast has long been a launching pad for some great basketball careers and amid the current crop of Gold Coast under-16 guns, there could be several future stars within the ranks.
Check out our full squad breakdown of every male and female under-16s junior rep player for the North Gold Coast Seahawks and the Gold Coast Rollers.
Rollers girls
Peyton Lowien
A tall and versatile guard, Lowien can play both inside and on the wing.
She moves well off the ball with sharp cuts, has a smooth outside shot, and is a tough defender who isn’t afraid to put her body on the line.
Hannah Petrie
A little pocket rocket with exceptional ball-handling skills using both hands, Petrie is crafty at getting to the hoop.
On defence, she plays with grit and determination, always willing to put her body on the line.
Rhiannon Munro
Tall, long, and athletic, Munro is new to the game but has a bright future ahead.
She is hard to guard, gets to the rim with ease, and is always looking to score.
With great vision of the floor and strong passing ability, she creates opportunities for her teammates as well.
Denali Lowe
A crafty guard with a strong understanding of the game, Lowe excels at penetrating the key and running the plays effectively.
She has a smooth three-point shot and a strong ability to finish at the rim.
Lucy Pluss
A tall and versatile wing, Pluss is a deadly shooter from the outside with exceptional court vision and passing ability.
She also makes a big impact on defence, using her height and timing to block shots effectively.
Grace Wolff
A highly versatile player, Wolff can dominate in any position from point guard to post.
She is a sharpshooter with a powerful defensive presence, making her a key asset on both ends of the floor.
Masina Solomona
A relentless defender, Solomona is always assigned to shut down the toughest opponents with her strength and speed.
She plays with intensity every minute and is a fearless driver to the hoop, making her tough to guard.
Georgia Petrie
An extremely versatile guard with a well-rounded skill set, Petrie can finish with both hands, score at all three levels, and defend multiple positions.
Her adaptability and all-round game make her a valuable asset to any team.
Lani Warneke
A crafty guard with excellent ball-handling, Warneke plays with an aggressive attacking mentality and quick foot speed on defence.
Her ability to create shots off the dribble and explode off the bounce makes her a dangerous offensive threat.
Georgia Morecroft
A dominant presence in the paint, Morecroft is an aggressive offensive threat down low, using her strength to finish around the basket.
Her ability to seal defenders in the restricted area and provide a strong defensive presence makes her invaluable to any team.
Rollers boys
Steve Kerr is coach of the Rollers boys’ team and had nothing but praise for the 10 players in his squad.
Ty Khomenko
“He’s our starting guard, he reads the game well, controls the pace and got a great shot on him,” Kerr said.
Khomenko has an incredible ability to execute the right move at the right time under pressure.
Bob Henderson
The guard has an impressive jumpshot in his arsenal and can make an impact close to the rim as well.
“He runs the lanes well and finds open space for teammates,” Kerr said.
Hunter Cream
A versatile option who can make his mark inside the paint with his strong finishing ability.
Along with being a threat close to the basket, the forward can score from outside as well.
Thomas Petrie
The big man can play at power forward or centre and is a force.
He brings a strong inside presence and is impressive in the low post.
“He runs the floor well and is just a great rebounder,” Kerr said.
Tavite Nasio
“He’s also a big, a great passer, solid in defence and a great communicator,” Kerr said.
Tiago Basile
The guard is a strong on-ball defender who can lockdown several opponents with ease.
Basile is also a strong shooter and can provide some handy points off the bench.
Isaiah Fruean
A guard who has a good jumpshot and provides strong support in defence.
Luca Boras
The power forward brigs a strong inside presence and attacks the rim hard.
He runs the lanes well and is solid on the defensive end.
Cooper McGregor
“A versatile player, can play inside and out, he shoots the right shots and is always composed,” Kerr said.
Hamilton Ding
The forward brings a solid inside presence, is a strong rebounder and has a good shot on him
.
Seahawks girls
Dave Gurney is coach of the North Gold Coast Seahawks girls’ team and labelled the squad as a “phenomenal bunch of kids”.
“They are good basketballers, but even better kids,” he said.
Esther Taleni
The starting point guard is the team leader who dictates the flow of the game and is an electric scorer.
“She runs our team, gets us through offences, she can shoot the ball well from three and the free throw line,” Gurney said.
Taylor Collis
Collis is a superstar and is one of the leading three-point shooters in the competition.
The guard is a an energetic presence who is enthusiastic at both ends with Gurney labelling her a “tenacious on-ball defender”.
Lana Francesconi
A wing player who is crucial to the Seahawks system.
She has several standouts attributes which make her a strong all-round player.
Gurney said Francesconi is the glue for the team and does all the hard work which often goes unnoticed on the box score.
“She is a real quiet achiever and a massive piece to our puzzle,” he said.
“She fills a lot of gaps, a great defender, is unselfish and can score.”
Bella Ioane
Ioane plays the small forward and power forward positions.
“She is literally a powerhouse,” Gurney said.
“An extremely strong lady who has a very determined defensive skillset.
“(She is) one of the leaders in the group and is just phenomenally athletic.”
Isabel Crump
“She plays our centre position and she’s a rebounding machine and she’s one of those kids that does everything for us,” Gurney said.
“Can guard any position on the floor and she is a pivotal piece to how we go as a team.”
Abigail Kriel
“Is an extremely hard working kid, very defensive minded and unselfish player,” Gurney said.
“And is willing to do whatever it takes to win which is a positive for our team.”
Kiani Ranga
“A long athletic kid, she plays the two and the three for us and sometimes plays the point,” Gurney said.
“She has the ability to get really hot from three point world and she’s very capable at getting to the rim, playing defence and brings energy.”
Jasmine Da Silva Macedo
“A ball of endless energy, she’s developing her game at a tremendous level,” Gurney said.
“She is improving out of sight.
“The amount of effort and hard work she puts in is really impressive.”
Pirihira Kamariera
Gurney believes the future is bright for Kamariera, who has shown great potential as one of the bottom age guns in the team.
“She is a very solid ball handler and an extremely unselfish kid,” he said.
“Her confidence is growing with every game that she plays and we’ve seen her improve across the season a lot.”
Lyla Brochmann
Brochmann plays the power forward and centre positions and is the ultimate coaches’ player.
“She is always the first kid willing to sacrifice her body, get on the ball, chase rebounds, set screens and when she’s on the floor, she’s working extremely hard,” Gurney said.
“She is starting to really improve and come into her own and makes valuable contributions when she gets on the floor.”
Seahawks boys
Dusty Gurney
A bottom-age point guard who plays with plenty of heart.
He may be undersized compared to others but he is an elite shooter and is also a part of the state and national performance programs.
“I’m in those programs as a coach and he’s definitely progressed this year in terms of his IQ and intensity,” Seahawks coach Kenta Shimizu said.
Alex Roodt
A strong guard who plays elite defence and is good at driving to the rim.
Roodt is an athletic presence and can break open the game in the paint.
Josh Phipson
“He’s a knockdown shooter, the best shooter on my team,” Shimizu said.
Phipson plays the small forward role and brings plenty of size to match his shooting ability.
“He’s very good at understanding the timing on his shots and he can space out and allow our point guard to attack and if they go off him, it’s lights out, he knocks down three or four (threes) a game,” Shimizu said.
Tyler Lauaki
Lauaki is the starting power forward and is very physical and good a driving to the rim.
Along with being a menace on the offensive, end, he does not let up on his defensive duties, playing tough defence and attacking the boards to claim rebounds.
Tyler Phillips
A tall centre with a long wingspan, Phillips is an elite rim protector and an anchor on defence.
“Offensively, he’s a rim running centre, runs in transition from rim to rim and gets the boards,” Shimizu said.
Luca Williams
A strong athletic forward, who is a slasher and wants to get to the rim at every possible opportunity.
Jett Swanson
The bottom age gun slots in at the shooting guard and small forward positions and is a great shooter with high basketball IQ.
“He routinely makes smart decisions and is a good connector,” Shimizu said.
“He swings the ball a lot and makes the right read when driving and getting doubled.”
Fynn Williams
A versatile swingman who can play the shooting guard, small forward and power forward roles.
Williams is a crafty left-hander who is an energiser off the bench and brings tough defence.
Lewis Buckland
Shimizu described Buckland as a “super athlete”.
Buckland is a track and field star and brings his impressive physical ability to the court, with a strong rebounding ability and impressive motor.
REVEALED: Athletes to watch at Youth Volleyball Championships
With the Australian Youth Volleyball Championships kicking off on the Gold Coast, we reveal the athletes set to star this week.
Top sports club president’s shame: ‘Truly sorry I offended you’
A major Gold Coast cricket club’s president has faced investigation after a complaint - and issued an emotional apology to a fellow club member. Full story