Twenty-one Hawke's Bay student basketballers can cross meeting Kiwi basketball legend Steven Adams off their bucket list.
The Swish Toki Basketball team, made up of players from various Hawke's Bay schools aged 13 to 15, travelled to the US on March 8.
Manager Suzie Hiha says the boys experienced Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach and attended NBA games while they were there which was the highlight.
"They went to Lakers-Celtics NBA Game, then flew into San Antonio and went to the Spurs -Bucks game," Hiha said.
"Steven Adams gave us tickets [for OKC-Miami Heat], we met him on the court and this was the highlight."
On March 15, the day of the Christchurch mosque shootings, the team performed the Tika Tonu haka in front of Adams on his home court at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma.
Denim Tuala-Fata led the haka, and was joined by Ayden and Codey Montgomerie, Tama Heather, Xavier Clarke-Lloyd, Sam Start, Braxton Payne, Ryan McGuire, Elijah and Laker Brown and with coaches Shane Brown and Peleti Tuala-Fata.
"Steve was engaged with the boys in the moment, asking them questions about
themselves, the food, their trip so far.
"He was so gracious with his time, such a Kiwi - he was really cool. Then he came back to our hotel, signed the boy's gear, had another chat and took pics.
"We gave him some Peanut Slabs and snake lollies."
After the excitement of meeting Adams wore off, the team's reaction was "shock" regarding the mosque shootings, says Hiha.
"We were all in shock. Boys were encouraged to check in with family back home.
"My sister lives in Christchurch so I had immediately contacted her, she was scared but fine just waiting for her 11-year-old son to be let out of the lockdown at his school."
To commemorate the victims of the mosque shootings the team visited the Oklahoma city bombings memorial.
"At first the significance wasn't truly felt by the group, but that soon changed to the chilling realisation and the impact for the whole group was powerful.
"Different situation but definitely we could relate.
"After we left the memorial we came together "circled up" like you do in basketball games and talked about our whanau in NZ and how real this situation is and was. And took a few moments just to reflect."
The team has now returned to New Zealand.
"This trip exceeded all our expectations and we would go back tomorrow," Hiha said.
Swish Kids is a Basketball Club providing opportunities and experiences for all children aged 4 to 18 in a fun and safe environment.
"We have teams that play in the local primary, intermediate and high school Leagues. Usually these kids can't get into school teams because they missed taking their permission slips, too many players in the teams, they don't train or they don't have coaches, many kids and parents want a great experience playing basketball and this is what Swish Kids provides."