Basketball: Youngster brings 'no fear' attitude into squad

Northcote College student Jessica McCormack was yesterday named in the Tall Ferns squad after only two years playing basketball.

At 1.93m, the 15-year-old certainly has the height to be a basketballer.

And she comes from basketballing pedigree. Father Neil (1.94m) played for Waikato and Canterbury and mother Jane (1.82m) was a Waikato basketball and netball rep.

Jessica picked the game up at 13, and by 14 was in the national under-16 side sent to a tournament in Perth.

That was one year ago. Now, after a good season with the North Harbour WNBL team, she has been selected as a centre in the squad to contest the William Jones Cup in Taiwan in mid-July.

Jessica is believed to be the youngest national basketballing representative.

New Tall Ferns coach Mike McHugh admitted yesterday that he thought McCormack was older when he named her in the 12-woman squad that is vastly changed from the last Ferns outfit.

"From what I saw of her in three days at camp, Jess has all the tools to be a quality international player down the track. It's time for us to put her on that track and give her a taste of what it's like," McHugh said.

"She came into camp without any fear of who she was up against and responded to everything we asked her to do."

On having her age confirmed, McHugh said: "If you're good enough, you're old enough."

Father Neil agrees. He is not worried about Jessica getting knocked around and intimidated.

"You get that in basketball anyway.

"I don't expect Basketball New Zealand to throw her in the deep end; there's no advantage to them in burning her out early. We see it as an opportunity to develop and with good coaching to support her she will develop her skills."

Jessica was very self-driven, he said, and had no trouble balancing basketball and schooling.

She has already shown the Aussies what she can do, taking top rebounding honours at the recent Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

McHugh wants to team her up with the Breakers' big former NBL centre John Dorge for training advice, so Dorge can tell her how best to use her size.

The Ferns have lost seven players from their last squad. Leanne Walker and Aneka Kerr are unavailable through injury, Kim Wheelan/Crocker is pregnant, and Tania Tupu and Sally Farmer have retired. Gina Farmer is still with her team in Hungary and unavailable. Megan Compain has taken a new job in Germany and is unsure of her future involvement.

Returning to the squad are Rebecca Cotton, Donna Loffhagen, Angela Merino, Julie Ofsoski and Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe.

Junior Tall Ferns Lisa Wallbutton and Micaela Cocks step up and fellow Harbour Breeze player Noni Wharemate is back from the University of Texas.

The William Jones Cup tournament will include teams from Chinese Taipei, Korea, Japan, India and Australia.

The squad is likely to change with the inclusion of Gina Farmer and others for the series against Australia in August.

Tall Ferns

Jody Cameron, Micaela Cocks (Harbour Breeze), Rebecca Cotton, Donna Loffhagen (Canberra Capitals), Stacey Mabey (Canterbury Wildcats), Angela Marino (Canberra Capitals), Jessica McCormack (Harbour Breeze), Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Cairns), Julie Ofsoski (Frankston), Lisa Pardon (NW Tasmania), Lisa Wallbutton, Noni Wharemate (Harbour Breeze).