Youngsters set for top coaching

READY FOR THE ROAD: Eleven local youngsters were travelling from Gisborne to Napier to take part in a Steven Adams basketball camp that started today. All set for the trip are, back (from left): Seb Wilson, Jayrus Ruru-Rutene, Cody Tarei, Duke Hauiti, William Collier and coach Harriet Peipi. Front: Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Dom Wilson, Seth Miller and Weighn Wilson. Absent: Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai and Trieste Wilson. Picture by Liam Clayton

BASKETBALL

They’re bursting.

For 300 youngsters, Pettigrew Green Arena at Taradale, Napier — the venue for NBA centre Steven Adams’s camp today — is the centre of everything.

Weighn Wilson, selected as the Meadow Fresh winner for Adams’s clinic in 2018, and 10 other Gisborne gym-rats who love basketball are among the 300.

Session 1 from 9am to midday today catered for 150 players aged nine to 12, the 12.30pm-to-3pm block in the community camp being set aside for players aged 13 to 17.

Under her youth movement Gisborne Sports Development, Gizzy Hoops Club founder Harriet Peipi was given 10 free tickets by the Steven Adams network in recognition of her effort, passion and time devoted to youth in the community.

“I’d like to acknowledge Steven Adams, Spencer Webster (Steven Adams Camp), Kenny McFadden (New Zealand Basketball Association), Rob Tuilave (Sport Pathways) and Meadow Fresh (sponsors) for this amazing opportunity, accommodating us by holding the camp closer to Gisborne and giving me a heads-up on that before it was announced publicly,” Peipi said.

“I feel honoured and blessed — we’re very excited.”

The 10 selected by Peipi took part in a 10-week fitness programme, and worked hard at school as good citizens. They were introduced to water awareness, and learned to prepare meals and other important valuable life skills.

Two players who are part of McFaden’s NZBA and live in Wellington — Mako Blackman and Braydon Martin — made a strong impression while playing for Gizzy Hoops at the Hoop Nations tournament in Tauranga last year.

They were selected for their leadership qualities.

Adams’s networks have kept in close contact with Peipi’s Gizzy Hoops Club.

“It’s an amazing basketball-driven initiative,” she said.

“We aim to collaborate with other youth organisations and sponsors to help develop basketball all year round. One day we hope to have a community stadium big enough to hold tournaments for all codes, and bring Steve to put Gisborne on the map.”