The AIS will welcome 105 of the best young basketballers in the country including 21 NSW athletes through their doors during March as the Centre of Excellence (COE) hosts four junior national squad camps.
With a busy schedule of FIBA youth events scheduled for 2022, the Under 17 Women and Men will start preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA World Cup while the Under 19 squads also commence their journies to the FIBA Oceania Championships.
Athletes for the four squads have been identified from performances at the 2021 Australian Junior Championships, as well as their respective State Performance Programs as part of the National Performance Pathway.
The Under 17 Men (athletes born in 2005 and 2006) will be the first to come together, meeting at the COE March 8-10 to start their journey towards the FIBA Asia Under 17 Cup, to be held in Kuwait, June 12-19. Melbourne United NBL championship Assistant Coach Justin Schueller will be at the helm of the team for the 2022 campaign.
The WNBL Bendigo Spirit’s Head Coach Tracy York will lead the Under 17 Women (Sapphires), who have FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Jordan in June, leading into a potential World Cup in Hungary in July. The Sapphires will be in camp March 21-23 as they gear up for a big year for this talented young group.
Both men and women Under 19 squads will meet at the CoE from March 18-20 for a 3-day intensive camp. David Herbert will once again coach the Under 19 women, after leading the Gems to a silver medal at the 2021 FIBA Under 19 World Cup while CoE head coach Robbie McKinlay will lead the Under 19 Men as the Emus come together for the first time for the March 18 camp.
Congratulations to the following NSW representatives:
U17 Aus Goannas (8-10 March Camp at CoE)
Brad Ballinger – Illawarra Hawks
Josh Dent – Illawarra / NBA GA
Will Mortimore – Maitland Mustangs
Anthony Mundine – Sydney Comets
James O’Donnell – Norths Bears
Noah Pagotto – Illawarra Hawks
U17 Aus Sapphires (21-23 March Camp at CoE)
Opal Bird – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles / CoE
Meera Coburn – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Emma Donnelly – Sydney Comets
Isla Juffermans – Coffs Harbour Suns / CoE
Caitlyn Martin – Penrith Panthers
Ella Leasuasu – Hornsby Ku-Ring Gai Spiders
Saffron Shiels – Newcastle Falcons / CoE
U19 Aus Emus (18-20 March Camp at CoE)
Harrison Evans – Norths Bears / Inner West Bulls
Tyrese Proctor – Sutherland Sharks / NBA GA
Head Coach Rob McKinlay – Sutherland Sharks / CoE
U19 Aus Gems (18-20 March Camp at CoE)
Jada Crawshaw – Sydney Comets
Emily Foy – Newcastle Falcons
Amelia Hassett – Cootamundra Cougars
Felicity Henderson – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Rose Nelson – Penrith Panthers
Carla Pitman – Hornsby Ku-Ring Gai Spiders
Media Release: Basketball Australia