The top talents to watch as Basketball Qld’s youngest rep stars prepare for the U12 State Champs
Read all about the state’s youngest representative talents as we name the top players to watch at the Basketball Queensland Under-12 Championships. SEE THE LIST
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They look up to some of the biggest stars in the world and Australia but now the state’s youngest representative basketball talents are about to have their time to shine.
Logan Basketball will host the Basketball Queensland Under-12 State Championships for boys and girls starting on Sunday and finishing on June 30 with Rockhampton and Mackay both looking to defend their titles from 2020.
But as part of our Courier-Mail coverage of Basketball Queensland events, we have taken an inside look at some of the top players to watch at the tournament.
See who made the list below.
CAIRNS MARLINS/DOLPHINS
Name: Karesse Luki
Position: Team Captain – Guard
Basketball Idol: LeBron James
Player description: Don’t let the quiet demeanour and smile fool you. This player is a competitor, she is smart and leads with quiet poise and determination.
Name: Nahla Moke
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Shyla Heal
Player description: Small in stature but big every other way. Big voice, big skills, big plays, basketball smart and the heart of a lion.
Name: Taysen Oakley
Position: Forward
Basketball Idol: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Player description: Solid defender and rebounder who can knock down the open shot. Good at finishing in the lane over taller defenders.
Name: Cooper Young
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Steph Curry
Player description: Cooper has good court and space awareness, he is always looking to bring his teammates into the game. Has the ability to take over when needed.
GOLD COAST
Name: Jordan Kaesler
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Devin Booker
Player description: A great player you want on your team. Hard nose defender, has a great work ethic. Jordan has had a great year with making south coast for basketball and AFL. Talented sportsman.
Name: Cooper McGregor
Position: Point guard
Basketball Idol: LeBron James and Steph Curry
Player description: Cooper is a great all around player, his passing ability and scoring this year has been impressive. Tries to lead from the front and has had a great year with making the Queensland schoolboys state team.
Name: Ella Ballantyne
Position: Guard/Forward
Player description: Quiet achiever of the team with a great work ethic and the ability to cover all positions. Developing great vision and also a nice drive and dish. Rebounds well above her size.
Name: Taylor Collis
Position: Point guard
Player description: A quick and hard working point guard who has worked very hard on her passing and reading the play. Has a nice outside shot and rebounds well above her size as well. Works tirelessly both offensively and defensively.
LOGAN THUNDER
Name: Trae Dombroski
Position: Center
Basketball Idol: LeBron James
Player description: Trae is a dominant big man who is a strong presence on both the offensive and defensive end. Trae is a rebounding machine and the team’s defensive anchor.
Name: Eli Buttigieg
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Kobe Bryant
Player description: Eli is a crafty talented scorer who finds a way to get the job done. He is a high energy player with a hard-nosed defensive attitude.
Name: Vitalia Buteux
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Steph Curry
Player description: Vitalia is a quick combo guard who possesses great length. A prolific scorer who has amazing handles with the ability to attack space and get to the rim. She is a solid shooter from any range.
Name: Jay Sebasio
Position: Forward
Basketball Idol: Patty Mills
Player description: Jay has great length and coupled with her footwork in the post, has a great ability to catch defenders out for easy layups along with getting fouled. She has amazing energy and works hard at both ends of the court.
Name: Cruz Rawhiti- Williams
Position: Guard/forward
Basketball Idol: Kobe Bryant
Player description: Cruz is lightning fast, with good ball handling skills. Cruz is a slasher and finisher and is excellent at stealing the ball. Cruz is the captain of the team.
Name: Isaiah Carter/Brooklyn Hennessey (Guard combination)
Position: Point guard/guard
Basketball Idol: Kobe Bryant/Stephen Curry
Player description: Isaiah is a balanced player and competes at both ends of the court. Isaiah, who is the youngest in the team, can finish at the rim and can hit jump shots. Brooklyn is an excellent point guard and can handle the ball under pressure. Brooklyn is a great passer and will find the open man. Brooklyn can finish and shoot well. Often underestimated, Brooklyn proves he can hold his own on the basketball court. Brooklyn is the second youngest on the team at nine-years-old.
NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS
Name: Isabella Ioane
Position: Wing
Basketball Idol: Shyla Heal
Player description: Long, strong, powerful wing who can slash the defence and get to the rim.
Name: Ether Taleni
Position: Point Forward
Basketball Idol: Liahonat Taleni
Player description: Safe, controlled and crafty point forward who uses her size and strength to orchestrate her team and create plays.
Name: Dusty Gurney
Position: Point Guard
Basketball Idol: Devin Booker
Player description: Crafty and dynamic playmaking point guard who can score, facilitate and control the tempo of the game.
Name: Hamilton Ding
Position: Power Forward
Basketball Idol: Damian Lillard
Player description: Strong, powerful rebounding forward who has the ability to create off the dribble and shoot it from the perimeter.
ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS
Name: Corben Huff
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Steph Curry
Player description: Great scorer and willing defender. Corben wants the ball when game is on the line.
Name: Samson Murphy
Position: Forward/Centre
Basketball Idol: LeBron James
Player description: Hard working defender and inside scorer, Sam goes after every rebound offensively and defensively. Sam is a major focal point of Rockhampton’s offence.
Name: Ava Tranberg
Position: Forward
Basketball Idol: Michael Jordan and Shyla Heal
Player description: Versatile athletic forward who is a presence inside and out.
Name: Sienna Bayles
Position: Shooting Guard
Basketball Idol: Rachael Duncan
Player description: Fast and smart guard who brings energy to the team.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS
Name: Rachel Kaufusi
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Tiana Mangakahia
Player description: Great ball skills and vision, high basketball IQ for her age
Name: Cassie Karaitiana
Position: Centre
Basketball Idol: Ashleigh Karaitiana
Player description: Dominant under the basket, a silent assassin with a great shot
Name: Phoenix Jones
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Russell Westbrook/Devin Booker
Player description: An outstanding defender and an offensive threat, devoted team player who continuously takes his game to the next level
Name: Alek Klaric
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Kobe Bryant
Player description: An all-rounder with many offensive weapons, a passionate, dedicated and leaves everything on the court
Name: Chase Quinn
Position: Point Guard
Basketball Idol: Stephen Curry
Player description: Chase’s has unyielding tenacity and relentless determination to steal the ball from his opponent and speed down the court for a quick layup. Watch out for his defensive pressure and ability to pick the pocket of his opponent.
Name: Logan Hunter
Position: Point Guard
Basketball Idol: Trae Young
Player description: Logan has strong ball handling and passing skills which are well beyond his years. Watch out for his ability to get the ball up the court quickly and his ’laser like’ vision helps him find a teammate anywhere on the floor for an easy bucket.
SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES
Name: Ethan Lu
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Steph Curry
Player description:: Slasher with guard skills and a tenacious defender
Name: Benjamin Reid
Position: Forward
Basketball Idol: Trae Young
Player description: Relentless worker, inside game and excellent floor runner
Name: Chelsea Chiang
Position: Point Guard
Basketball Idol: Mitch Creek
Player description: Strong defensively and loves to play fast on offense
Name: Isabella Daly
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Nathan Sobey
Player description: Hard worker and tough as nails!
SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX
Name: Nevaeh Sammon
Position: Forward
Basketball Idol: Rachael McCully
Player description: True team player who leads by example on and off the court, hard worker always wanting to improve her game.
Name: Eden Levin
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Rachael McCully
Player description: Phoenix’s “pocket rocket” fiercely competitive and determined.
TOWNSVILLE
Name: Ella Duroux
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Lauren Nicholson
Player description: Ella is a great shooter and dynamic ball handler when put under pressure. She is a great communicator and leader of this team who the other girls follow into battle.
Name: Addison Davey
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Lara McSpadden (Addi is a type 1 diabetic like Lara and is inspired by what she has done)
Player description: Addi is a dynamic player who loves to attack the rim. She is a tenacious defender with great length and speed and reads the game well to pick up lots of steals.
Name: Rayneil Vanguardia
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Steph Curry
Player description: Ray is the silent assassin and is a versatile scorer who is hard to stop. He plays with great confidence on offence and displays poise beyond his years.
Name: Kaden Robertson
Position: Guard
Basketball Idol: Steph Curry
Player description: Kaden is the workhorse of the team always looking to out rebound his competitor, hustling and competing harder than anyone on the floor. He is very composed and is a dangerous player on both sides of the ball.
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