Basketball Australia U16 National Championships 2023 live blog – Day 4

What’s better than getting some national championships advice from an MVP and gold medallist? When that basketball star is your sister. Read more in the U16 Nationals live blog.

A phone call from an MVP and gold medallist filled Kira Juffermans with the confidence she needed to go out and dominate for NSW Country at the U16 National Championships.

Plus, it helps when the well-accomplished basketball star on the other end of the phone is your big sister.

Kira, 15, younger sister of reigning U20 nationals MVP and Australian Gems gold medal-winner Isla Juffermans, says her star elder sibling has set a shining example for her to follow.

U16 NATIONALS HUB: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, SCHEDULES, DAILY LINKS

NSW Country's Kira Juffermans (13) in action at the Under-16 National Championships. Picture: Mike Farnell

NSW star Isla Juffermans at the Basketball Australia Under-20 National Championships.

And Isla, who led NSW to U20s gold in Geelong, Victoria, earlier this year, was quickly on the phone after Kira’s side was beaten in their tournament opener on Sunday.

“She actually called me this morning and she said ‘just go out there with a mindset that you’re better than them, that will give you the confidence you need’,” Kira said after her side bounced back on Monday with an 81-58 win over WA Country.

“It’s really cool to have a sister who has done so much because it shows you that it’s possible to get that far and achieve such high standards.

“We lost against Queensland South, but that was our first win, so that was a cool thing to get done.”

In the win, captain Kira’s imposing presence made a difference as she stuffed the stat sheet with a full line of 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

She’s a bubbly bundle of joy to speak with, smiling and laughing as she praised her big sister, revealed her love for her Country teammates and shouted out ‘Grannie’ Laurie who passed on her love for the roundball to the girls.

“My family is very into basketball,” Kira said.

“My sister’s obviously always played, my Grannie’s always been into basketball, it’s always just run in the family and I automatically loved it as soon as I picked up the ball.”

While Isla is a bullocking powerhouse with a soft touch and no obvious weaknesses, Kira is more wiry and offensively raw, but the pair shares a rabid desire to clean the glass.

“My main goal is to get all the rebounds,” Kira said.

Kira Juffermans with older sister and fellow NSW representative basketballer Isla and brother Dylan at the Under-20s National Championships earlier this year.

“But I really try to focus on finishing with two feet – I’ve been fading away, but I want to finish at the basket because it makes it harder to block my shot and I’m then also there for the rebound if I miss.

“It’s very physical out there, there were girls full pushing me, so it made me realise I had to stay strong and be just as physical.”

Isla, who holds a scholarship at the elite Basketball Centre of Excellence and is still eligible for next year’s U20 nationals, calls Kira’s rebounding “relentless”.

“She is a very strong, versatile big with a tough inside game and she isn’t scared to pull the outside shot,” Isla said.

“She’s one of the scoring leaders in the Junior Premier League.”

Standing at 185cm – 6’1” in the old scale – at 15, Kira has plenty of time to get taller, although there’s a little disagreement over whether or not she can top Isla at 194cm (6’4”).

“She doesn’t reckon I’m going to catch her but I don’t know, I reckon I can catch her, hopefully ... fingers crossed,” Kira said.

Whether or not she reaches big sissy’s height is up for debate, but she hopes to follow Isla’s path through the nationals and into a junior Australian jersey.

Isla was only too happy to oblige with a swath of photos of Kira, mum Cristi and little bro Dylan – mostly decked out in NSW blue – when asked.

NBL GUARD HAS MASSIVE WRAPS ON KID BRO

There’s one giant hooper who is impossible to miss at this year’s U16 National Championships in Perth.

Hometown hero Kuron Swaka Lo Buluk is the 15-year-old man-child brother of Illawarra Hawks NBL dynamo Wani Swaka Lo Buluk who has fast become the softly-spoken cult hero of the tournament.

Drawing comparisons to 198cm, 125kg Memphis Grizzlies beast Kenny Lofton Jr, the big-bodied teen in WA gold has been instrumental in WA Metro’s 2-1 start to the champs, displaying a silky unique skillset with the ability to handle the rock, score inside-outside and a willingness to find his teammates.

WA Metro big man Kuron Swaka Lo Buluk during the Under-16 National Championships. Picture: Michael Farnell

“I can play any position but right now I’m playing 4-5, I just do what the coach needs,” Kuron said.

“I love playing in the post, but if I get on the outside, I love shooting a lot and I love finding my teammates and getting them open for easy scores.”

It’s a package that has surprised even brother Wani, who, at 22, stands the same height as his 198cm ‘little’ brother.

“That guy’s massive!” Wani laughed, when asked about Kuron.

“He’s a very humble kid. He’s picked up so many different skills, not only from me, but just being around basketball and being around the game.

“He’s smooth, got good handles, he can shoot and he’s pretty skilled.

“But it’s his passing ability for his height. People say how good of a player is and how he can score so easily and has a nice touch. But being able to pass at that height, I was thinking like Lofton Jr or maybe a (Nikola) Jokic type player. I’m glad he’s like that, he’s very unique and different to me.

“He could be one of the best players to come out of that tournament and I think he knows it, but I just hope he has fun.”

Wani had plenty of fun at the national junior tournaments, winning the U18 title with WA Metro alongside Cleveland Cavaliers NBA draft pick Luke Travers and Fremantle Dockers AFL big man Luke Jackson.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk plays with the Hawks in the NBL.

Kuron is already the same height as his older brother. Picture: Michael Farnell

Wani had 16 points and six assists in the decider, WA Metro’s first U18 title since 2001 and says that gold medal, coupled with his FIBA Asia Cup gold, won with the Boomers last year, gives him the edge in the battle with Kuron for the basketball bragging rights.

Kuron had 13 points and six boards in Metro’s 119-52 hammering of ACT and backed that up with 16 points, eight boards and two dimes in a 128-55 result over Northern Teritory.

His versatility has been a pleasant surprise to Metro coach Michael Van Lit, who lauded his young gun’s commitment.

“He’s got some point guard skills that we didn’t know about until this week,” Van Lit said.

“He’s the first to do his recovery and he’s got a high basketball IQ.

“We use him as an impact player off the bench, he comes in and gives us a spark, then we give him a rest and he tells us when he’s ready to go again.”

The youngest of nine children, Kuron was born in WA after his parents fled South Sudan for a better life. He took up basketball at the age of seven, inspired by Wani, and has followed in his footsteps in representing the Warwick Senators - the home club at Warwick Basketball Stadium, which is host to this year’s U16 nationals.

The NBA is the ultimate goal but at this point, getting paid to play professionally, just as big bro does, is Kuron’s dream.

“Obviously make it to the NBA, but I’d love to play in the NBL like my brother,” Kuron said.

“I don’t get to see him as much because he’s over in Illawarra and travelling a lot, but I do get to message him a lot and he tells me to stay healthy and be committed and ready for the next game, to make sacrifices and always give 100 per cent effort.”

Originally published as Basketball Australia U16 National Championships 2023 live blog – Day 4