Waikato teen gets Tall Ferns look-in
Waikato teenager Charlisse LegerWalker has had a week to remember.
The 15-year-old was named as a member of the Tall Ferns selection camp to be held in Auckland next month, just days after being chosen as New Zealand’s best female junior basketballer at the national awards.
Leger-Walker may still be a long-shot to be selected in the NZ women’s basketball side for their tour of China and Singapore before the team contests the first Fiba Women’s Asia Cup.
But she’s a precocious talent with a big future and it shouldn’t be long before she joins older sister Krystal in gaining senior national representative honours.
Last year, Leger-Walker was named the Most Valuable Player for the under17 and New Zealand secondary schools championships and starred for the Junior Tall Ferns team. The Year 11 student at St Peter’s Cambridge was also part of the NZ team that finished fifth at the Fiba u-18 3x3 world championships in Kazakhstan.
Tall Ferns head coach Kennedy Kereama has named a blend of youth and experience in his selection camp squad.
‘‘The staff and I are very excited about the list of players that will be available. We are very confident that the group of players that we have selected is the best to choose from.
‘‘We have managed to bring in most of our more experienced line-up with a mix of potential players who will no doubt play a part in the future of the Tall Ferns programme.
‘‘There are some exciting new names on the list such as Kayla Manuirirangi, Georgia Agnew and Charlisse LegerWalker.’’
Former Waikato product Agnew is now studying physiotherapy in Auckland after spending four years at Utah Valley University.
Krystal Leger-Walker, having recently completed her first year at the University of Northern Colorado, will be out of action during the camp with an ankle injury.
The Asia Cup will be held in Bangalore from July 23-29, with NZ and Australia competing alongside six Asian teams in Division A. New Zealand has been drawn in Pool A alongside perennial powerhouse China, Chinese Taipei and the DPR of Korea.
The top four teams from the tournament will qualify for the 2018 Fiba Women’s World Cup.