Basketball: Top talent to clash at nationals

Breakers development player Tai Wynyard will lead Rangitoto's efforts. Photo / Dean Purcell

Some of the best young basketball talent in the country will face off next week at the 2015 Secondary Schools National Championships in Palmerston North.

For at least three young Kiwis, the Boys AA tournament will be a final opportunity to win a major championship with their schoolmates before they head to college in the United States.

Tai Wynyard, Matt Freeman and Sam Timmins tasted success as New Zealand teammates when they won the 3X3 under-18 World Championships in June, but the trio will be rivals next week.

Wynyard will head to the tournament from Townsville, where he is currently aiding the Breakers' efforts at the pre-season Blitz tournament. The Tall Blacks centre will lead Rangitoto College at nationals, linking with four members of the New Zealand team that recently contested the under-16 Oceania Championships - Sam Waardenburg, Daniel Fotu, Brayden Inger and Cameron Stone.

Timmins, who was last year's MVP after helping Otago Boys High School take the title, will represent Middleton Grange School, while Freeman will suit up for last year's beaten finalists Westlake Boys High School.

The trio of stars have already committing to NCAA Division 1 colleges, with Wynyard heading to the University of Kentucky, the most successful team in Division 1 history. Timmins is off to the University of Washington Huskies and Freeman will play at Oklahoma University.

Meanwhile, 23 teams will contest the girls' AA championship, with New Plymouth Girls High School returning to defend their title and Wellington Girls College - led by Tegan Graham - out to avenge their loss in the 2014 final.

Last year's losing semifinalists Westlake Girls High School and St Peter's School be among the other challengers. Westlake recently lost to Rangitoto College in the final of the zone 1 premiership but, with age group internationals Zara Jillings, Tiarna Clarke and Katelyn Noyer spearheading their effort, they will prove tough competition. The same must be said of St Peter's, particularly with the talented sister duo of Charlisse and Krystal Leger-Walker.

Another pair of sisters, Nicole and Aleisha Ruske, will head zone 4 winners St Hilda's Collegiate. The Dunedin school is pitched in the same group as Rangitoto, who will be paced by Coola Baudry, Sophie Bond and Rebecca Hughes.