Hoops in Schools initiative providing more opportunities for young people to play basketball

Students from Awapuni School with Tall Black Ethan Rusbatch and Tall Fern Krystal Leger-Walker. Back: Principal Kahu Walker, Ethan Rusbatch, Krystal Leger-Walker. Front: Ford Edmonds-Black, Jobe Takarangi, Rua Mill, Katelyn Rangiwai, Heidi Leach. Picture by Liam Clayton

Tairāwhiti schools were visited by Basketball New Zealand’s Hoops in Schools initiative on Tuesday.

Awapuni, Ormond, Matawai and Riverdale each received hoops and balls from New Zealand Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns internationals Ethan Rusbatch and Krystal Leger-Walker.

Awapuni School students were able to interact with the stars and learn a little more about the sport.

Basketball New Zealand facilities and insight lead Daniel Dawick said the programme was developed to provide more accessible opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi.

“Putting more hoops outdoors gives these opportunities for the young people to play the sport,” he said.

“We’ve done over 100 hoops this year across our projects.

“Seeing the kids smiling and genuinely excited to see these new hoops in their school, it's pretty special.”

Dawick said having international stars Rusbatch and Leger-Walker to bring the hoops to the schools and spending time with them was “awesome”.

“They are the role models and we want to take them to more regional communities.

“These young people can see what can be achieved through basketball and having them both there, it's pretty cool for them, too.”

The drive to provide more and to extend their reach is in plans for the future.

“We want to take it across the country,” Dawick said.

“We want to continue the momentum and Hoops in Schools is growing every single year.

“The long term aim is to continue making an impact across the motu as much as we can do — the more hoops the better.

“The South Island is a big target for us moving forward.”

A key part of the success comes from cooperation from local organisations and acknowledging them “is a big one”.

“Turanga Health and Gisborne Basketball Association — we need their time to make it work — so having those partners onboard is crucial.”