Players to watch at the Victorian Junior Basketball Country Championships (BV Country Championships)
From future Boomers and Opals to the children of former AFL players, here are the players to watch at the Victorian Junior Basketball Country Championships.
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Regional Victoria’s next generation of basketball stars are ready to put their names up in lights at the Victorian Country Championships this weekend.
Players from across the state will descend on Bendigo this weekend with the Herald Sun set to live stream 40 games across two courts of action.
You can see the full live stream draw for the weekend below.
WATCH THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE FROM 9AM SATURDAY
Among the key figures on the courts will be sons and daughters of former AFL footballers, family members of former Australian representatives and the brother of Australia’s next NBA hopeful.
Here are the players to watch in Bendigo this weekend.
JEMMA AMOORE
Ballarat (U18 Girls)
The Ballarat young gun recently worked her way into state calculations after earning selection in the Vic Country under 18 team for the national championships in April.
KRYSTAL ARNASON
Korumburra (U16 Girls)
Arnason is a tall who has a terrific game inside and outside the paint. She has been one of her team’s biggest improvers in the last six months.
TYLEAH BARR
Portland (U18 Girls)
Another member of Portland’s Country Basketball League grand final winning team. Barr also recently impressed at the Bendigo Junior Classic where she showed off her long range ability.
ASHA BOYD
Korumburra (U18 Girls)
On offence, Boyd is a guard who will look to run the floor on the transition. She also has a fantastic defensive game.
HUGH BUCKBY
Geelong United (U16 Boys)
Buckby is an elite talent who could make the highlights reel given he can dunk at just 13. He’s an elite shooter.
MONTANNA BURKE
Shepparton (U16 Girls)
Burke has shone on the representative stage before, whether it has been with the Gators or North East Bushrangers. She has developed a reputation as being a strong player in the big moments.
DASH DANIELS
Bendigo (U18 Boys)
Daniels is the brother of NBA hopeful, Dyson, who is currently playing in the G-League in the United States. Dash is tipped to have a big career himself having earned selection on Victorian state teams in the past. He is also the son of Bendigo legend Ricky, who enjoyed a strong career in the SEABL competition.
MONTANA DAVIES
Swan Hill (U16 Girls)
In the words of her coach, Stephen Davies, “don’t let her size fool you (because) her defensive pressure causes plenty of turnovers”.
HARRY DEAN
Wodonga (U16 Boys)
Dean is the son of former Carlton defender Peter, who played 248 games for the Blues. Like his dad, Harry is considered a strong defensive talent who consistently looks to interrupt the opposition’s offence.
BOSTON DOWLING
Shepparton (U18 Boys)
The young gun was recently named in the Vic Country team for the under 18 national championships. He is one of five top age players in the Gators line-up heading into this weekend.
HOLLY EGAN
Shepparton (U18 Girls)
Egan often forms a dynamic partnership with her teammate Isabel Whitelaw to help tear opposition defences apart. She is another Shepparton product who has spent time around the Victorian set-up.
SALUTA FELISE
Mildura (U16 Boys)
A tough and fast guard, Felise plays above his years and height being a consistent standout on the court for the club from the state’s northwest.
ALANNAH AND MEG FOLEY
Wodonga (U18 and U16 Girls)
The sisters are nieces of Australian representative Jess who went on to play in the AFLW for Adelaide. Alannah will represent the club’s under 18s team with Meg set to feature for the under 16s.
CHELSEA FOX
Korumburra (U16 Girls)
Fox is a creative point guard who consistently hit her shots from deep. She is a player who will always look to make something happen for her side.
JAIME GALLATLY
Maffra (U18 Girls)
Gallatly is Maffra through and through, having played representative basketball for the club since the under 10s. Now in her last year, she’s hopeful of leading her team to a state title. She’s previously represented Vic Country and will do so again at the upcoming national championships. Gallatly is also a Victorian National Performance Pathway athlete.
ALEX GRAY
Macedon Ranges (U16 Boys)
Gray, who is a guard, brings great speed to the game with his fantastic movement across the court. He is an important pillar to his team’s offence with the ability to score inside and outside.
INDI GREY
Swan Hill (U16 Girls)
One of the strongest parts of Grey’s game is her aggressive post play but she also has the ability to step outside the paint and hit a jumper.
BRADY HALL
Geelong United (U18 Boys)
Hall is a lightning quick guard who is able to break the game open with a moment of brilliance.
WILLEM HANEGRAAF
Macedon Ranges (U16 Boys)
Hanegraaf is a big bodied guard who has a scoring threat from inside and outside. He is considered to be one of his team’s leaders and consistently plays with a high intensity.
SIENNA HARVEY
Geelong United (U18 Girls)
Another Geelong local who has earned state selection. Harvey is a talented player with plenty of upside who can quickly turn a game.
COREY HASTINGS
Southern Peninsula Sharks (U18s Boys)
At a young age, Hastings has already shown an outstanding ability to get the job on both ends of the floor. A Vic Country representative, he’s considered to be an elite shooter and fantastic defender who has the ability to change games.
LUCY HOWARD
Bellarine (U18 Girls)
Opposition talls can have a difficult time limiting Howard’s impact on a game given her strong ability to get inside. She also is outstanding at getting up and down the court at the same level as guards.
LUCAS IMPEY
Ballarat (U18 Boys)
Impey is a three-time Victorian representative who has also earned a place on the Victorian National Performance Pathway. He can guard 1 through to 5 and is considered a strong leader of his team. He’s tipped to be a future Boomer.
CHANTELLE JAMES
Sale Sonics (U18 Girls)
James is one of two Sale players with experience in the Victorian state set-up. She is also a representative of Frankston in the VJBL but is a player the Sonics will be able to rely on.
MILLIE JENNINGS
Portland (U18 Girls)
The young gun enters the competition in red hot form fresh off helping the Portland Coasters women’s team to the Country Basketball League southwest title. Jennings scored a team-high 21 in the final which proves she’s a player for the big stage.
COOPER LANTING
Pakenham (U18 Boys)
Lanting was recently selected in the state development program after impressing the Basketball Victoria coaching staff. Coach Brett Small described him as a “competitive player who brings energy and passion to our team”.
FINLAY LOCKHART
Bendigo (U16 Boys)
Lockhart will be one of the best pure scoring wings in action on the weekend. He is part of a strong Bendigo side which also features Dash Daniels.
MACEY MCGLEAD
Korumburra (U18 Girls)
McGlead is the star name in the Wildcats line-up and will play a big role in her team’s chances. She has been named as an emergency for the Vic Country under 18s. She plays a wing who uses her height and athleticism to attack from the perimeter.
ALEX MOLAN
Ballarat (U18 Boys)
Molan comes from a talented family with his siblings Charlie and Sophie (who plays AFLW for Richmond) having both also earned state selection. Molan has pulled on Victorian colours four times. His coach describes him as an elite defender who can ensure key opposition players are given a nightmare on offence. He can also run the show for his team.
RILEY MOREHU
Warragul (U16 Boys)
Morehu is poised with the ball in his hands and plays mature basketball. He is considered to be an elite shooter.
CONNOR O’SULLIVAN
Wodonga (U18 Boys)
If the Wolves are to go deep into the competition, O’Sullivan will have a big say in his team’s fortunes. In his first year with the club, he has impressed with his athleticism for a big man.
RILEY ONLEY
Shepparton (U16 Boys)
Onley has previously found himself on the radar of Basketball Victoria having earned a place in its state development program last year.
NED RENFREE
Ballarat (U18 Boys)
Renfree is an explosive and crafty guard who has the ability to quickly put a big score on the board if given the chance.
JOEL ROBINSON
Phillip Island (U16 Boys)
Robinson narrowly missed selection in the Vic Country under 16 team last year after he was named as an emergency. Standing at 6’ 3” he’s shown an ability to score heavily even against the best defenders.
INDY SCHWARZ
Geelong United (U16 Girls)
The daughter of former Melbourne AFL player David, Indy is quickly making a name for herself in her sport of choice. She is a player who can play all positions but most notably has a strong presence inside the paint. Schwarz made the Vic Country under 16 team as a bottom ager in 2021.
MAEVE SHELDRICK
Swan Hill (U16 Girls)
Sheldrick is a terrific athlete who moves well up and down the court. She also has silky skills with the ball in her possession.
SIENNA STEWART
Bellarine (U18 Girls)
The young gun is set to be one of the elite defenders on show throughout the weekend of competition. With the ball in her possession, Stewart has consistently shown she can finish at the ring or make her way to the free throw line.
KYRA WEBB
Sale Sonics (U18 Girls)
Webb is a young gun on the rise having recently been named in the Vic Country under 18 team for the upcoming national championships in Ballarat. She also has experience playing with Casey in the VJBL alongside teammate Katelyn Field.
DEACON WHITE
Hamilton Hurricanes (U18 Boys)
White has an impressive athletic profile and is a player who can consistently get to the ring for his side. But most importantly you know you’ll get 100 per cent effort from him for 40 minutes.
Isabel Whitelaw
Shepparton (U18 Girls)
Whitelaw is continuing her preparations for the upcoming national championships where she will represent Vic Country. She has an outstanding ability to hit the scoreboard quickly.
JACK AND MATT WHITLOCK
Shepparton (U18 Boys)
The twins are two of the must watch players heading into this weekend’s tournament. Both players were recently named as emergencies for the upcoming national championships.
MAX ZALAKOS
Geelong United (U18 Boys)
Zalakos will feature at the upcoming national championships after being named on the Vic Country team. At the Bendigo Junior Classic in January, he was a consistent threat from deep and you’d expect the same this week.
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