Today Basketball New Zealand announced the players that will represent New Zealand in four under-16 age-group teams, who will travel to Australia in June and July to take on some of Australia's top junior teams.
The New Zealand U16 teams will play in the Australian State Championships from June 29 to July 10, in Melbourne. This tournament is the most prestigious age-group national basketball event in Australia, where the best of the best juniors in Australia and New Zealand compete.
The New Zealand 'A' U16 boys and girls teams will compete in the Medibank Classic from June 9 to June 14, which is an invitational competition primarily for clubs. 2016 will be the first year that New Zealand team has been invited to this tournament.
Coach of the New Zealand Under 16 Boys team, Dave MacKay, says these events will be a big test.
"Both of these competitions bring together the most talented junior players in Australia. While the ultimate goal for any junior basketballer is to get to the World Championships, we will treat these Australian tournaments with equal respect because it's the task that's right in front of us and the competition is tough.
"I know our players relish the chance to test themselves at these respected Australian events, especially when they all know it's the same tournaments where the likes of NBA stars Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills competed and developed as juniors."
MacKay says the State Champs and the Medibank Classic are all part of the long-term preparation for these junior players. While the ultimate goal is to compete at 2018 World Championships, they must first qualify through the 2017 FIBA Asia Pacific Championships.
