First time internationally lucky for teen
A young basketballer is dribbling her way to success only a year after getting into the sport.
D’Jonaye Nui-Hinga, 14, also known as ‘Smiley’, has made her family and region proud after working her way up to playing at an international level.
Hawera-based Nui-Hinga has an all round ‘sporty’ background but said she had only just found her love for basketball.
So much love in fact, she would never stop smiling.
‘‘They call me Smiley because even when I’m dribbling or shooting, anything, I’m just always smiling,’’ Nui-hinga laughed.
The 14-year-old has just got back from the New Zealand Maori Basketball Tournament in Rotorua where her under-15 girls’ team received the bronze medal.
Her highlight before this was the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in New South Wales.
‘‘I loved it. I love big sports things like this, meeting new people, making new friends,’’ the Nui-Hinga said.
Her New Zealand under-16 girls’ team came seventh out of over 100 teams after only training together once before jumping on the plane.
Nui-Hinga made has made her way from junior secondary school basketball to a national team in 12 months while juggling other sports too.
Her mother, Stanella Nui said her daughter was very successful in everything she did, but basketball was her true talent.
‘‘Last year was just crazy, we barely had a night free and she was constantly tired from trying to get to all the trainings,’’ Nui said.
‘‘This year I’ve said ‘you need to focus on one sport’.’’
Nui-Hinga had been asked to play for her school, Hawera High School’s, senior team as a 13-yearold too.
‘‘Everyone’s so proud of me, and I love doing that, making other people proud,’’ she said.
Nui said her daughter’s talent was financially hard, but it was worth it.
‘‘It’s not a cheap sport that’s for sure. It’s dragging me broke, but it’s all good. You do what you’ve got to do for your kids that’s for sure,’’ she said.
‘‘And she’ll only get better with the more confidence, and for the seniors to say to her ‘aw come play for us’ that’s a buzz in itself.’’
Nui-Hinga was among other Taranaki players who went away to Australia after being selected in a nationwide search.