Basketball: Victorian young guns to watch at under 16 national championships
Victoria will have some future basketball stars on show at the under 16 national championships starting on Sunday. Here’s who to look out for.
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Four Victorian teams, with some of the country’s hottest basketball prospects, are set to take on the country’s best.
Basketball Victoria has selected two Country and Metro teams – one female and male for each region – to contest the National Under 16 Championships in Perth starting on Sunday.
It will be the first time Victoria has had teams compete in the event since 2019.
Josh Waight, coach of the Vic Country under 16 men’s team, said he was excited about the week-long event.
“It’s fantastic to have Victoria’s best young players back together again,” he said.
“Despite the distances apart, in terms of where our players live, we’ve been able to train together for about 10 sessions.
“In that time we’ve built a really good culture and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead.
“Let’s hope for some success for all the Victorian teams.”
Stacked with talent, here are some of the players to watch.
Krystal Arnason, Vic Country women
The Korumburra Wildcat has capped off a stunning rise in the past 12 months to make her way into state calculations. Arnason, who plays as a big, has the class to impact the game on the inside and outside. She recently played at the National Junior Classic with her club.
Harrison Beauchamp, Vic Metro men
One of four Hawthorn Magic representatives on the Vic Metro side. Beauchamp has length and athleticism which makes him a must watch player. He has a tremendous ability to get up and down the floor. Also an impressive defender.
Ryder Cheesman, Vic Metro men
The young gun was recently part of Hawthorn’s under 16 National Junior Classic where he played an integral role. He has the ability to hit shots from deep but also has a canny ability to get to the ring. His passing range is also impressive.
Emilija Dakic, Vic Metro women
Hailing from Casey, Dakic recently represented the Cavaliers on the big stage at the National Junior Classic. She will carry good form into the tournament having scored consistently in the Victorian Junior Basketball League.
Dash Daniels, Vic Country men
Hailing from a basketball family with plenty of talent. Daniels’ brother, Dyson was recently drafted into the NBA. Dash is his own player who has a fantastic feel for the occasion. He possesses an outstanding passing ability but can also score in a big way.
Tayli DiMarco, Vic Country women
A star on the rise, DiMarco is a representative of Gippsland United and Sale. Her exploits with Gippsland have seen her play against some of metro Melbourne’s best juniors at a level where she has shown her class.
Cooper Duff-Tytler, Vic Country men
The Macedon Ranges and Sunbury product is one of the co-captains of an exciting country team. He has shown a fantastic ability to score in bunches at representative level in Victoria. Duff-Tytler is also a talented footballer.
Alice Magnanini, Vic Metro women
She was recently part of the Melbourne Tigers under 16s side that enjoyed a fourth-place finish at the National Junior Classic. She is one of the best pure scorers in the Metro side, consistently finding her way into double figures.
Daisy Nousis, Vic Metro women
The McKinnon young gun has been selected in the side as a bottom-age player. She has enjoyed a strong scoring season for the Cougars, consistently in double figures. Nousis has also been in fine form in school basketball.
Henry Sewell, Vic Metro men
Hailing from the Dandenong Rangers’ basketball program, Sewell looks set to have his biggest impact inside the paint. He has consistent put up big numbers at local level including a 28-point outing against Mornington.
Sophie Taylor, Vic Country women
A player who spends who spends her time between the Dandenong and Warragul basketball programs. Taylor recently put together a weekend of strong performances at the National Junior Classic where she five games in double figures including 29 points in a big win over Frankston.
Cooper York, Vic Country men
The other co-captain for Vic Country. The Diamond Valley junior has been hailed by the team’s coaching staff as a fantastic leader who will do what it takes to win games. York has played at the National Junior Classic and Junior Country Championships (with Whittlesea) this year.
SELECTED TEAMS
COUNTRY MEN: Ben Shinkfield, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Cooper Newton, Cooper York, Dash Daniels, Jesse Brock, Joel Robinson, Lachlan Kanngiesser, Riley Morehu, Sa Pilmai. Coach: Josh Waight.
COUNTRY WOMEN: Brylee Anderson, Eve Covey, Grace Larkins, Indiana De Dios, Krystal Arnason, Mia Harvey, Poppy Myers, Rachel Stewart, Sophie Taylor, Tayli DiMarco. Coach: Mat Holmes.
METRO MEN: Austin Foxwell, Edward Brammall, Harrison Beauchamp, Henry Sewell, James Coleman, Jamie Gilchrist, Kofi Aden, Louis Emmett, Nick Beattie, Ryder Cheesman. Coach: Scott Christiansen.
METRO WOMEN: Alice Magnanini, Daisy Nousis, Emijia Dakic, Isobelle Wightman, Jaymee Wadey, Kendra Rivet, Sierra Woolhouse, Sitaya Fagan, Victoria Meredith, Zoe Shanahan. Coach: Jacqui O’Neill.
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