Geelong’s Jasmine King eyes medal at 2025 Basketball Australia U18 National Championships
She’s fresh off lighting up the NBL1 from long-range and now Jasmine King will head north with sights set on a repeat of last year’s bronze – or better – at the U18 national championships.
Basketball Live Stream
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball Live Stream. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Buoyed by a breakout NBL1 performance, Geelong teen Jasmine King is firmly locked in on medalling at this week’s Basketball Australia Under-18 National Championships.
King, in just her seventh NBL1 appearance, lit up the three-point line in Geelong United’s season-opening win over Mount Gambier on Saturday night, coming off the bench to shoot 4-6 from long-range.
Her focus quickly turns to Vic Country duties, with nationals starting in Queensland from Sunday.
Half of King’s state U18 team is made up of Geelong United names, including Poppy Stevens, Ayisha Balogun, Nyapath Machot, Poppy Myers and Willow Smith.
WATCH THE U18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE HERE
King, along with Machot and Myers, claimed bronze as a bottom-age player at last year’s championships, defeating South Australia in their medal match, though Vic Country will hope to topple reigning gold and silver medallists NSW and Queensland from their mantle this year.
“We’re really excited,” King said ahead of nationals.
“We’re looking at doing a repeat, or even better, 100 per cent (gold or silver), we’re looking for that.”
Averaging 3.75 points across eight games at last year’s championships, King will look to play a bigger role with another season under her belt.
Playing alongside Geelong United WNBL players Gemma Potter, Hannah Hank, and Jaz Shelley in this year’s NBL1 squad, 16-year-old King showed poise beyond her years with her 12 points – all from three – and two assists in 12 minutes in Saturday’s opener.
The return was well up on her previous average of 0.5 points in 7.5 minutes from six games last year at 15.
Sinking threes in both the second and third terms, King, along with Stevens, would later go off with a sea of threes, both teens putting up two each in the final two minutes to ice a 40-point win.
“It felt really good for us girls, we were pretty young at the end so to get together, stick together and get those threes, it was really good for the team and (the) energy was really great.” King said.
“It’s really different from last year, this year we (United) feel really connected.
“Last year to now is such a big difference.”
King has embraced the opportunity to train and play alongside the calibre of players in Potter, Hank and Shelley, revealing the WNBL trio instilled belief in their younger teammates.
“It’s awesome, you idolise them and looking up to their game makes you feel like okay, I’m part of such a good, connected team, they support me to do good, because I know how good they are so I want to be up there with them,” King said.
Originally published as Geelong’s Jasmine King eyes medal at 2025 Basketball Australia U18 National Championships
Live stream: U18 & Junior Wheelchair Nationals, Semi-Finals
An all-Victorian showdown between the Metro and Country girls will be the main attraction as we hit the final four at the U18 Nationals. Watch every semi-final LIVE here.
Basketball Australia U18 Nationals Hub: How to watch live, schedules, key info
We’re down to crunch time at the Under-18 and Junior Wheelchair National Championships as top talents take centre stage in finals. See how to watch every match LIVE here.