Basketball: Local teenagers shoot for US hoops glory

HIGH FLYER: Ashton McQueen is raising funds for next year's Las Vegas Basketball Classic. PHOTO/FILE

Three Tauranga basketball players have won selection to NZ age group teams heading to Las Vegas next July for an invitational tournament to be played in in front of a legion of American university scouts.

Tauranga Boys College players Aston McQueen and Zac Easthope have been selected into the 10-strong under-20 NZ Storm selection while Aquinas College's Courtney Wilson will again make the trip to the Las Vegas Basketball Classic after competing earlier this year.

McQueen, who is holding a shoot-a-thon fundraiser at ASB Arena tomorrow to help towards the $5000 cost of the trip, sees the trip as a ticket to a spot on an American team.

"There's 10 of us going over for a three-day training camp, six-day tournament and last day Disneyland," said McQueen, 18.

"There's scouts from [universities] over there, including Canada and Hawaii, and you play teams from all over the States."

The guard was hoping impressive performances at the tournament would gain him a spot at a major uni basketball programme, especially if that happened to be near the coast.

"Miami would be nice, or anywhere on the coast. I don't have a clue about the schools there. I could go stay with Lebron [James], ask him if he's got a spare bed at his house."

It is a busy time for the Los Angeles Clippers fan, who stopped into the Bay of Plenty Times between a fundraising meeting and a gig mowing lawns.

A development deal with the Nelson Giants is to be confirmed, meaning McQueen is keen to raise as much money as possible before shifting to the South Island early in the new year. There he will study sport and recreation while trying to earn a roster spot.

"It's a massive basketball town, that's all they do. The Tasman Makos play there but basketball is the main game."

McQueen's shoot-a-thon, for which people will donate a certain amount of money for every three-pointer and free throw made, begins at 3pm tomorrow at ASB Arena. He will shoot 100 free throws and 50 three-pointers.