Emus and Gems squads announced for selection camps
The Australian under-19 Emus and Gems squads have been announced in the lead up towards the qualification tournament for next year’s FIBA U19 Oceania Championships.
Matur Marker, the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks’ center Thon, has been named to the squad despite being based overseas. Maker’s inclusion is a positive sign for the family’s relationship with Basketball Australia moving forward.
Angus Glover is the only member from the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championships team to be named to the Emus’ squad. Seven current Centre of Excellence attendants have been selected, including Glover, Andrew Ferguson, Kyle Zunic, Lat Mayen, Matt Kenyon, Samson Froling and Tom Fullarton.
Zunic, Froling and Fullarton were also members of the 2016 U17 World Championships.
In the Gems’ squad, eight players from the gold medal winning U17 side have been selected for the camp. They include Jazmin Shelley, Abby Cubillo, Monique Conti, Jasmine Simmons, Sam Simons, Kiera Rowe, Ezi Magbegor and Lara McSpadden.
Chantel Horvat, who helped guide Australia to a bronze medal at the 2015 U19 FIBA World Championships, has also been named.
The Emus’ camp will be overseen by head coach Adam Caporn and assisted by Mark Radford and Tim Mallon. The camp will be held from September 8-11 on the Sunshine Coast.
Head coach Paul Goriss will control the Gems’ camp, along with a pair of assistant coaches in Al McAughtry and Dee Butler. The Gems’ sessions will be held at the Centre of Excellence in Canberra, from September 16-18.
The FIBA Oceania Qualification tournament will take place from December 5-10, in Suva, Fiji. Eight teams will be in contention, but only one spot for both the men’s and women’s competition is up for grabs.
Both the Emus and Opals advanced in the 2014 qualification tournament.
Emus Selection Camp Squad
Adam LULKA | NSW Andrew FERGUSON | WA/CoE Angus GLOVER | NSW/CoE Ben CARTER | SA Grant ANTICEVIC | NSW Isaac WHITE | SA Jacob RIGONI | SA Kyle ZUNIC | NSW/CoE Gabe HADLEY | Vic Lat MAYEN | SA/CoE Makuach MALUACH | NSW Matt KENYON | NSW/CoE Patrick LANCASTER | NSW Samson FROLING | QLD/CoE Samuel SHORT | Vic Thomas PUPAVAC | Vic Tom FULLARTON | QLD/CoE Matur MAKER | Overseas Brent HANK | SA
Gems Selection Camp Squad
Abby CUBILLO | NT/CoE Jazmin SHELLEY | Vic/CoE Maddison ROCCI | Vic/CoE Chloe MOLLOY | Vic Monique CONTI | Vic Jasmine SIMMONS | NSW/CoE Genna OGIER | Vic Morgan YAEGER | SA Cassidy GOULD | Vic Chantel HORVAT | Vic/CoE Sam SIMONS | SA/CoE Kiera ROWE | Vic/CoE Ezi MAGBEGOR | Vic/CoE Lara MCSPADDEN | NSW/CoE Monique ANDRIUOLO | Vic Chloe BIBBY | Vic Zitina AOKUSA | QLD/CoE Chelsea BROOK | SA