Live stream: Basketball Australia U20s and Ivor Burge National Championships (U20's & Ivor Burge National Championships)

With AFL great Jim Stynes as a father, Tiernan Stynes is used to the spotlight. As he makes his own mark on the sporting world, here’s the story behind his now famous Brownlow Medal attire.

Just like his legendary father Jimmy, Tiernan Stynes is following a path in elite-level sport he hopes he can one day make a living out of.

But it is basketball, rather than Australian rules, that has lured the son of the celebrated Melbourne Brownlow medallist.

The 17-year-old is among the cavalcade of next-gen teen girls and boys who will be on show at this month’s U20 National Championships, many with regal sporting breeding — and some already playing at the highest level of their craft.

The National Championships will be exclusively LIVE STREAMED by KommunityTV from February 14-19 as part of a multi-year partnership between News Corp Australia and Basketball Australia.

Tiernan Stynes will be a key cog for the Victorian Navy U20 boys team.

A young Tiernan, who will represent Vic Navy in Geelong, made a mature choice in the early years of secondary college. He liked playing the game that had made his pioneering late father a household name in Australia — but he loved basketball.

“I played a lot of footy but when I started playing domestic and then rep basketball, I just enjoyed it more,” he said.

“I felt like I had more passion for basketball and if I really wanted to make a living out of one of them, I had to put all my effort into one sport.

“I knew I would be more motivated with training to be better at basketball.

“I still love watching footy, but I just enjoy playing basketball more.”

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It is a love that drives him, but also gives him perspective.

“I’m just trying to take basketball as far as it can take me,” he said.

“But I’m happy playing at any level. Whether it’s NBL1, NBL there’s loads of colleges and that looks like a really good experience.

“There’s so many opportunities around the world in basketball — if you love the game, you really don’t mind what level you’re playing, as long as you’re playing and you’re competing.”

Jim Stynes played 264 games for Melbourne in a 12-year career.

DAD AND DETERMINATION

Just seven when his larger-than-life father passed away after a brave battle with brain cancer, Tiernan Stynes already stands 195cm — 4cm shorter than the Demons’ ruck great — and he hopes there are more growth spurts to come.

“At the same age, we’re about the same height but he was a bit of a late bloomer,” Tiernan Stynes, who has the telescopic arms of his father, said.

“When he was 18 or 19, that’s when he really grew into his body. He was very skinny when he was younger because he was a cross country and distance runner.

Jim Stynes is a Demons legend..

Stynes kicked 130 goals in his career.

“When he got older he got much bigger and stronger.”

And that’s the goal for Malvern-born Tiernan, too, who was picked in what is considered the state’s second team but won’t be in Geelong to make up the numbers.

“We’re not just going there for the experience, we’re trying to get some upsets and make a big impact on the tournament,” a bullish Tiernan told News Corp.

“We have a really good shooting team — we’re not the tallest team, but we’re very quick and we’ve got a very smart group of boys.”

The 17-year-old Stynes has a former Boomer in his corner.

EXPERT HELP

Versatile Tiernan projects as a small forward, but has the ability to play one-through-four and is honing his game under the tutelage of 400-game NBL legend and former Boomer Adam Gibson.

Gibbo likes what he sees.

“He was MVP in their grand final Nunawading v Knox last youth league season — he killed it,” Gibson said.

“He has skills, great passer, can shoot it, can do a little bit of everything.

“He’s like a wing-point — a slasher who can get on the hoop and finish or kick it to the open man.”

Tiernan is excited to learn from Gibson — especially on the other side of the ball, given the two-time NBL champion is a previous Defensive Player of the Year — as he prepares to step up into Nunawading’s NBL1 senior team this season.

“Adam’s been great, he’s taught me so much and he’s going to be teaching me most of my defence,” Tiernan said.

“He’s helped a lot with my shooting and to become a more complete player. He has so much knowledge.”

A young Tiernan with his late dad, sister Matisse and mum Samantha.

THOSE BROWNLOW SHOES

Tiernan, with sister Matisse Stynes, carries on the legacy of their father, each year presenting a community leadership award on Brownlow Medal night, named in his honour.

The teenager has become a cult hit on the night, pairing a flowing mullet with his now signature Jordan XI Concords — one of the most-iconic basketball sneakers ever produced.

He’s aware the kicks have become a bit of a story.

“Yeah, back when I was going to do it, I was like, ‘Oh, because I obviously love basketball and I see the NBA players who all wear Jordans to their events, so I was like ‘why don’t I do it’,” he said.

“It’s a good excuse to wear Jordans in a fancy way. The Concords are just the iconic shoes, they’re an elite level shoe and it was just a good spin on it.

“I obviously had to ask Channel 7 at the time if they’re all right and they gave it the green light.”

Stynes ‘can do a bit of everything’ on the basketball court.

ADMIRABLE TRAITS

Like every kid, Tiernan loves to see flashy players — former NBL Next Stars RJ Hampton, LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey piqued his interest in the NBL — but he says he’s a sucker for a hard-worker who gets the most out of themselves.

So it’s no surprise he counts feisty Boomers and Adelaide point guard Mitch McCarron among his NBL favourites.

“I love Mitch McCarron — he’s an elite-level passer and he plays NBL1,” he said.

“I love the people who aren’t as tall or not as strong but because of their skills and smarts they can make a huge impact on the game.

“I just watch him play for Adelaide and see him killing it with his no-look passes and getting his teammates involved. You just want to play like that.”

A long-time Kevin Durant fan, Tiernan knows he’s probably not going to be that type of player — few are. So he takes his cues from thinking man’s NBA players — from past great Manu Ginobili to gifted Dallas superstar Luka Doncic, Warriors’ big improver Jordan Poole and even former sharpshooter JJ Redick.

Dash Daniels, brother of Dyson, will be playing in Geelong.

OTHER FAMOUS FACES

One of the biggest names — and most-talented players — at the championships will be Dash Daniels, little brother of NBA lottery pick Dyson.

Dyson has done great things in his first season in New Orleans and his elite defence makes him a long-term NBA project. But, Dash, still only 15 and part of the elite NBA Global Academy, is tipped to be a level up from the brother he learned from.

Melbourne Tigers’ legend Mark Bradtke will be watching the champs with interest, son Jensen Bradtke is in a Vic team that features AJ Magbegor — brother of Opals superstar and new Seattle Storm WNBA arrival Ezi Magbegor.

Alex Toohey is one of the biggest names at the tournament. He will represent the ACT and is expected to tear up the competition, given he has already made his senior Boomers’ debut.

The McDowell-White brother-sister combo, who will represent Queensland, are the children of Brisbane Lions triple-AFL premiership player Darryl White and siblings of Boomers point guard William, a nominee for the NBL’s Most Improved Player award and a key figure in the New Zealand Breakers’ finals campaign.

The Queenslanders have another daughter of a gun in Jessica Petrie, whose father Anthony spent 10 years in the NBL, winning its MIP in 2010.

Perth Wildcats great and Boomers legend Andrew Vlahov will also have a keen interest, his daughter Ruby Vlahov in the WA team, while Aleisha Cadee — cousin of out-of-contract Bullet Jason Cadee and daughter of former NBL man Grant Cadee — is in the Vic Navy team.

Fiery Illawarra point guard Lachlan Dent’s NBL career is in its infancy and little brother Joshua Dent will help spearhead the NSW assault on the championships. He represented the Australian U17 team at last year’s World Cup in Spain and was the NSW Country Junior male player of the year.