Inexperienced New Zealand team heading to FIBA U17 Oceania basketball champs – Stuff.co.nz

Last updated07:20, June 28 2017

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Charlisse Leger-Walker is expected to play a starring role for New Zealand at the FIBA U17 Womens Oceania Championships in Guam.

A relatively young and inexperienced New Zealand under-18 women's basketball team will contest next month'sFIBAunder-17 Oceania championships in Guam.

However, head coachJodyCameron said that the Guam tournament, which runs from July 9-15, was a chance for the players to step upafter the majority of the Junior Tall Ferns hadmoved on to US college scholarships or were past the age of eligibility.

"The current pool of players has worked hard to get to next level. We are really happy with the commitment from them and their families, and every playerwe'venamed thoroughly deserves their spot in this team," Cameronsaid.

New Zealand will compete inpool B alongsideNew Caledonia, home favourites Guam, and Palau. Favourites Australia are in pool A with Tahiti, Samoa and the Marshall Islands.

READ MORE: * Tall Ferns selected * Wildcats demolish Otago * Youngsters' skills amaze

Despite their youth, one player expected to attract plenty of attention is young Waikato playerCharlisse Leger-Walker who is regarded asone of New Zealand's most exciting youth women's prospects. Leger-Walker played for New Zealand at both theFIBA Oceania under-16 and under-18 women's tournaments over the past two years.

Similar to the Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks, New Zealand age-group teams are also subject to new qualification rules thanks to FIBA's new Asia Zone. Previously New Zealand age-groups teams were required to be number one in Oceania to qualify for a FIBA World Cup. Now, teams are required to be within the top two in Oceania, which qualifies them to play in the FIBA Asia age-group championships.

The team will then have to finish in the top four in that tournament to qualify for the FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

Under-18 New Zealand Women's Team:Aimee Book (Canterbury),Lauryn Hippolite (Canterbury),Grace Hunter (Wellington),Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato), Leah Mafua(Hutt Valley),Lauryn Mapusua(Basketball Queensland),Tsubasa Nisbet (Canterbury),Olivia O'Neill(Otago), Lily Rangi (Counties Manukau),Keeley Tini (Harbour),Lawrin Tipene (Wellington),Charlotte Whittaker(North Canterbury).

-Stuff

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