Australian U17 Women's squad selected ahead of U16's Nationals
The road to the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women is underway, with Australia selecting a 23-player squad ahead of a July training camp.
Photo Credit: Basketball Australia/Kangaroo Photos
Australian U17 Women’s Training Camp Roster
Rebecca Abel - QLD
Ella Batish - VIC
Callie Bourne - ACT
Lucy Cochrane - VIC
Abby Cubillo - NT
Chelsea D’Angelo - VIC
Najvada George - VIC
Miela Goodchild - QLD
Shyla Heal - QLD
Hannah Lehmann - SA
Cassidy McLean - NSW
Lara McSpadden - NSW
Ezi Magbegor - VIC
Taylor Mole - TAS
Ula Motuga - QLD
Rebecca Pizzey - VIC
Darcy Rees - SA
Kiera Rowe - VIC
Mia Satie - WA
Jazmin Shelley - VIC
Jasmine Simmons - NSW
Samantha Simons - SA
Tayla Wynne - VIC
These athletes will have the chance to impress at the U16's Australian Junior Championships at the start of July, where this squad will be cut to 16 for a selection camp later in the month. This is all in preparation for the FIBA Oceania U16 Championships, held from August 15-18 in New Zealand – with the winner qualifying for the FIBA U17 World Championship in 2016.
Headlining the squad are Centre of Excellence scholarship holders Ezi Magbegor and Jasmine Simmons. Magbegor has emerged as one of the premier talents in her age group, with the 6'4 centre also being selected to the Australian U19 Gems squad for this year.
Jasmine Simmons - NSW Country | Photo credit: Basketball Australia/Kangaroo Photo's
As is generally the case, a number of players from Victoria have been selected to this squad. Among them are star guard Najvada George, as well as the versatile Kiera Rowe. George performed well for VIC Metro at this year's U18's Australian Junior Championships and has already begun to receive interest from a number of division 1 colleges.
Rebecca Abel is only one of two Tasmanians to make this squad but she's already shown that she can score the ball at a high level. The 5'7 guard has the potential to be a key guard for this squad throughout the 2-year campaign. Samantha Simons is another backcourt player who has had a lot of success, leading her SA Metro squad to a championship at last year's U16's Australian Junior Championships.
Rebecca Abel | Photo credit: Basketball Australia/Kangaroo Photo's
We'll get a chance to see a lot of these athletes at the U16's Australian Junior Championships, held at Ulverstone, Tasmania from July 4-11.
Last year's Australian U17's women's squad struggled in the early games at the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women but regained their form to finish with an admirable 5th place finish.
This group of potential 'Sapphires' are also expected to have a lot of success, with their first test coming at the FIBA Oceania U16 Championship later this year - facing New Zealand, New Caledonia and Tahiti.