Live stream: The top female players to watch at the National Junior Classic
The National Junior Classic over this June weekend will feature some of the best young female basketball talents in Australia. Here is who to keep an eye on.
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Some of Australia’s best young junior talents will be on display at the National Junior Classic.
Teams from across Australia will descend on Melbourne’s southeast this Queen’s Birthday weekend for a huge three days of basketball.
News Corp will live stream 128 games across the weekend thanks to a partnership with Basketball Victoria.
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WATCH THE TOURNAMENT LIVE
Here’s our list of the top South Australian girls prospects across the weekend.
Annaliese Elliot, Norwood under 14s
A player who does a bit of everything. Elliot will be key to her team’s offence with a fantastic ball carrying and shooting ability.
Hannah Gardiner, Forestville under 18s
Gardiner is a prominent member of SA’s state teams having made the under 16 team last year before playing in the under 18 national championships this year. She is an athletic five who excels in the athletic side of the game.
Caitlin Hardin, Norwood under 14s
Hardin is a talented player who will bring relentless defensive pressure throughout the weekend.
Leia Mettallinos, Forestville under 12s
An aggressive player who is quickly developing into a fantastic defender according to the club.
Ella Nicholson, Forestville under 12s
Nicholson is a dual-sport athlete spending time between basketball and netball. She reads the ball well and is renowned as a hard worker.
Mia Parkin, Norwood under 18s
Parkin has cracked into the club’s NBL1 team this season which coincided with her making the SA U18 Metro side. Her development over the past 12 months has been awesome. A player who is athletic, fast and plays both end, -she has become very valuable to the team. Also a scorer who can score from three levels.
Eva Petkovic, Forestville under 18s
An athletic five who rebounds the ball at an elite level. She brings something different to the game often showcasing some of her netball skills as well.
Kulli Ryan, Norwood under 16s
A starting guard with excellent three-point shooting range and a killer crossover. Started playing for Norwood in the under 10s. Her father Shaun is a former SA Metro State basketball coach. She also plays netball.
Polly Turner, Norwood under 16s
Turner is already a state representative and has been playing at Norwood since under 10s. She’s a cross-code specialist as she’s part of the Adelaide Crows’ AFLW Junior Development squad. Turner’s dad, Peter, played footy for Adelaide and Carlton.
Maddi Webber, Norwood under 16s
Webber is her team’s starting centre and has played for Norwood since under 10s. She possess long arms which allows her to rebound strongly and defend well. Her father Andrew is a former NBL1 and SEABL.
Jem Whitton, Norwood under 18s
Whiton is team captain and the do-it-all player that does whatever is required. Having morphed into a point-forward, Jem has added to her skillet, to include being a playmaker. A defensive monster who can guard one through five. She plays tough and hard and is fiercely competitive.
TOP VICTORIAN AND NSW GIRLS PROSPECTS
Addison Baars, Geelong United under 16s
A dynamic playmaker with a flair for the creative with ball in hand, Baars is always making something happen. Whether a bullet pass, deadly shot or instinctive steal, the highlights are never far away when this young lady takes the floor.
Tabitha Betson, Bulleen under 18s
Betson was recently the captain of the Vic Metro side at the under 18 national championships. She has a strong physical presence on the court and can hit big shots.
Gabby Broadbent, Diamond Valley under 14s
A versatile player who plays positions 1-3, both offensively and defensively. Broadbent is very hard working and committed, always working on her game and has a great skill base. She predominantly is an attacking guard, with a scorer‘s mentality. She works hard at training and sets a standard for the team every week. Gabby is a squad member for Basketball Victoria’s Future Development program.
Elisa Brown, Casey under 14s
Brown has recently been part of the Country Metro Challenge and is a Future Development Program member, which is run by Basketball Victoria.
Steele Brown, Casey under 12s
Brown is already on Basketball Victoria’s radar having been named as an under 12 Jamboree representative.
Paige Burrows, Knox under 18s
Part of the Vic Metro gold medal winning under 18 girls national championship. A point guard with great play making skills and greatly improved outside shot.
Lucy Corke, Hornsby Kuringai under 18s
A 5’10”shooting guard, Corke recently played for NSW at the under 18 national championships. She is a knockdown three-point shooter and is her team’s captain. Her sister, Bronte, plays for the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL.
Dakota Crichton, Casey under 18s
Crichton was recently part of the Vic Metro which won gold at the under 18 national championships. She is also a Victorian National Performance Program member.
Emilija Dakic, Casey under 16s
Dakic is an under 16 Vic Metro representative and is also part of the Victorian National Performance Program member.
Hannah Day, Kilsyth under 18s
Day was selected in the 2021 U16 Vic Metro State team but they didn’t attend Nationals due to lockdown. She has been a Kilsyth junior all her life and is a member of the Victorian State Development Program (SDP).
Ella Gale, Hornsby Kuring-Gai under 18s
A 6’1” shooting guard and small forward, Gale has been part of the Basketball NSW High Performance Program for the past three years. A bottom aged, player she is also the leading three-point shooter in NSW’s Junior Premier Leaguer competition. The under 16 NSW state reserve averaged 27 points a game last season.
Taya Hanan-Datson, Diamond Valley under 14s
A versatile player who plays between positions 3, 4 and 5, offensively and defensively. She has a great scoring ability, basketball IQ and can play from inside and outside making her a tough matchup for the opposition. She is competitive, shows commitment to her team and her game with always wanting to improve. Hanan-Datson is a squad member for Basketball Victoria‘s Future Development program.
Jacqueline Ibarburu, Manly under 12s
A smaller guard with outstanding ball skills. She is a good rebounder for her size and also a good defender. This is her second year in Manly’s division 1 team.
Bridgette Kata, Casey under 14s
Kata has recently been part of the Country Metro Challenge and is a Future Development Program member, which is run by Basketball Victoria.
Tanaya Kumbara, Dandenong under 16s
A very smart player, Kumbara is a high IQ facilitating point guard. She has a unique ability to be able to bring her teammates into the game and consistently makes big decisions at critical moments While Kumbara’s scoring ability is one of her strengths, with a strong pull up game, she is also an intelligent defender.
Amy Kurkowski, Sandringham under 18s
Kurkowski is a small forward who combines her great shooting ability and vision to excel on the court. She was recently part of Vic Metro’s gold medal winning campaign at the under 18 national championships. She is part of the Sabres’ NBL1 South program.
Georgia McBean, Kilsyth under 18s
McBean is a star point guard and one of the players to watch this weekend. She recently represented Vic Metro at the under 18 national championships, winning the gold medal. She also attended the Australian under 17 women’s camp.
Victoria Meredith, Casey under 16s
A player who has already performed on the big stage having previously represented Vic Metro at under 16 level.
Mia Minshall, Sydney Comets under 14s
In her fifth year representing the Comets, the guard-forward is the only member of her side to have previously attended the event. She won a gold medal with the Sydney South West team at the NSWPSSA tournament in 2019. Her experience will be crucial for her side.
Paisley Rice, Casey under 12s
Rice is part of Basketball Victoria’s Jamboree under 12 program highlighting her young talent.
Sophie Richardson, Camberwell under 14s
Richardson is a forward who is involved in some of Basketball Victoria’s pathway programs. She is a strong scorer who can add 15 points a game.
Missy Richmond, Geelong United under 16s
A promising young forward who has continued to blossom throughout the season, Richmond presents an exciting combination of size, athleticism and strength. Her agility at both ends of the floor creates a dual threat, whether on the defensive glass or slashing to the rim.
Madison Ryan, Sandringham under 14s
Ryan is a 13-year-old athlete with potential which has staff at the Sabres very excited. She has been selected in Basketball Victoria’s under 14 Future Development Program.
Jayda Scarafilo, Keilor under 14s
Scarafilo is an up and coming player with loads of potential. She can score by getting to the rim or hitting a point shot from deep. Her defence is intense and reading the play ability above her age group. The club believes she has a big future ahead.
Zoe Shaw, Knox under 18s
An elite full court defender with great foot speed and ability to shut down the opposition’s best back-court players while still being an offensive threat.
Sophie Taylor, Dandenong under 16s
Taylor is a vital part of the team as she is an all-round athlete and can contribute heavily on both ends. Playing with a high basketball IQ, Taylor is key factor to the success of the team. She is an elite scorer with beautiful technique. Her athleticism is a real strength of hers and enables her to do things only few can do. She is also a Vic Country representative.
Matilda Trout, Manly Warringah under 14s
The best way to describe her Trout according to her coach is as a Swiss Army knife in that she does a bit of everything on both ends of the floor. She’s currently leading the NSW Junior Premier League in scoring at 17.4 points per game.
Olive Waters, Manly under 12s
Waters is a taller guard who is a great rebounder. She also is able to guard multiple positions from the opposition team. She has just represented Sydney North at the NSWPSSA State carnival.
Kyra Webb, Casey under 18s
Webb has already performed on the big stage having represented Vic Country.
Milly White, Camberwell under 14s
A shooting guard who can consistently score over 20 points. She put together a huge game earlier in the season with 41 points.
Hannah Wickstrom, Sandringham under 18s
One of the stars of a Sabres’ team who could easily push for the under 18s title. Wickstrom already impressed on the national stage with Vic Metro and you’d expect her to do it again.
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