AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND JR. NBA GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP ASIA PACIFIC SELECTION CAMP
The Australian trio will participate in the camp on June 15 and 16 with the aim to be selected in the final team to represent Asia Pacific at the second edition of the Jr. NBA Global Championship in August.
Athletes from ten countries around Asia Pacific will attend the camp and from the 64 attending players, ten boys and ten girls will be selected.
Dent competed at last year’s Under-14 Boys Club Championships for the Hawks and led them to fourth place by averaging 24.4 points per game, finishing as the tournament’s third leading scorer.
Hanson has impressed as she has risen through the Queensland Basketball Junior Competition while late last year, she was selected to Basketball Queensland’s National Performance Program for 2019.
“Summah and Joshua will have a great basketball and cultural experience at the camp, and I know they will represent Australia and their local associations wonderfully well,” said Director of High Performance Coaching & Talent Identification, Peter Lonergan.
“They have the opportunity to attend this great event after nominations were sent in from the states and territories which were then reviewed by a selection panel from Basketball Australia’s High Performance department and the NBA Global Academy.”
The Jr. NBA Global Championship has expanded their selection process after the inaugural tournament last year that saw the winners of the Australian Under-14 Club Championships, Eltham Wildcats and Bulleen Boomers, represent Asia Pacific.
Bulleen advanced to the International Final, finishing as the second-best team outside the USA while Eltham, led by coach Stratford, reached the Semi-Finals.
“To be part of the Wildcats team selected to represent the Asia Pacific region last year was amazing,” said Stratford.
“Travelling internationally with our families in support to compete against teams from around the globe is an experience we will never forget.
“I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to attend the Asia Pacific selection camp this year.
“Participating in a camp hosted by the Jr. NBA and attended by other selected coaches and talented youth athletes from within the Asia Pacific region is going to be another great experience.”
Craig Stratford (far left) and the Eltham Wildcats.
Dent and Hanson were equally enthusiastic about the opportunity.
“I’m pretty excited for the camp,” said Dent.
“l am most looking forward to getting the opportunity to travel overseas to compete against and with some of the best guys my age outside of Australia.”
“What I’m most excited about is the fact that I’m travelling overseas to have a basketball camp with lots of different girls from different countries,” added Hanson.
“I am so excited and still cannot believe that I was chosen. I am extremely honoured and committed to do my absolute best. I cannot wait!”
Basketball Australia
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